In addition to our normal news coverage, What Now Atlanta is tracking ways Atlanta’s businesses are adapting to the novel coronavirus and the challenges it brings to brick-and-mortars.
Lucky’s Burger and Brew has permanently shuttered its Emory Village restaurant.
After five years in business, at 1569 N Decatur Road, Owner Ernie Geyer decided not to renew the lease for Lucky’s once nearby Emory University announced it wouldn’t allow students to return until fall 2020 or later.
“A lot of our business is based on Emory being in session,” Geyer told What Now Atlanta in a telephone interview.
“Since our lease was expiring, and Lucky’s was already temporarily closed, it just wasn’t feasible to keep it open.”
As with all of Atlanta’s “non-essential” businesses, Lucky’s was forced to close its doors in early-April as mandated by the state in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19.
Emory University at the time was already on spring break and transitioned its students to remote learning in late-March.
At the end of April, Emory announced it would look at reopening its campus in the fall.
Lucky’s has three other locations that have since reopened dining rooms: Brookhaven, at 305 Brookhaven Ave #1250, Roswell, at 1144 Alpharetta St., and Marietta, at 68 North Marietta Pkwy NW #102.
“I hate closing because we had a really good following,” Geyer said.
“There’s a lot of money sitting on the table there that I’ll never recoup but more importantly, we’re just trying to keep our people employed.”
[Editor’s note: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic is rapidly evolving as is its effect on Atlanta, and the City’s businesses and its residents. Click here for What Now Atlanta’s ongoing coverage of the crisis. For guidance and updates on the pandemic, please visit the C.D.C. website.]
