Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar has a second location in the works. And this time, it’ll be right in the heart of downtown Atlanta.
The new restaurant will be at 822 Marietta St NW, owner Gregory “Gee” Smalls confirmed in a message to What Now Atlanta. It will open in the first quarter of 2022.
Near Georgia Tech, the location is home to a historic two-story building that served as a fire station from 1915 to 1963. It was then used as offices until 2017 when Florida-based BBQ joint, 4 Rivers Smokehouse, took over the space and transformed it into a restaurant with patio and rooftop seating. 4 Rivers closed its doors at the beginning of last year after only three years in the space.
Gregory, along with husband Juan, opened Virgil’s in Spring 2019. The two also own brunch restaurant, The Breakfast Boys. The Breakfast Boys is located at 3387 Main St and Virgil’s is at 3721 Main St, both in College Park. So, this will be the Smalls’ first restaurant foray into the city.
The restaurant was named after the late father and father-in-law of the owners, Virgil F. Smalls. It “was created to provide a space to enjoy great food, amazing service, and an abundance of love, while helping to preserve the Gullah Geechee culture,” a statement from the restaurant’s website reads.
Menu items include Geechee gumbo, crab rice, fried pork chops, greens, and Gullah fries. Brunch, served from 12 PM to 5 PM on Saturdays and Sundays, features lobster bowls, fish and grits, wings and sweet potato waffles, as well as signature mimosa and sangria cocktails.
The Atlanta location for Virgil’s Gullah Kitchen & Bar will be open 11 AM to 12 AM daily and have a seating capacity of 100.
Note: This article has been updated since its original publication to include confirmation from the owner.
