5th Street Cafe Shuts Down After 78 Days In Business

By caleb j. spivak + on October 27, 2010

5th street cafe atlanta now closed for business ~ what now, atlanta?

Two Restaurant Concept Failures At The Same Space In Less Than 10 Months

We are shocked to confirm that 5th Street Cafe, located at 800 Peachtree street in Midtown, closed after dinner service last night, October 26, on their 78th day in business.

Taking space that originally opened as Eno By Zaza at the turn of the year, 5th Street Cafe opened Thursday, August 9, with a bistro-style decor by Patti Krohngold.

The restaurant is owned by Atlanta Hawk Zaza Pachulia and ADI Restaurants’ Ian Winslade and A.D. Allushi.

“We were losing a tremendous amount of money at 5th Street Cafe,” Allushi said. “Our projected revenues were nowhere near our actual sales.”

Allushi added that fixed costs and rent which, when weighed against sales, made staying in business senseless.

“Most restaurateur’s in Atlanta won’t cease operation because of pride. I’m not too prideful to let go.”

5th Street Cafe
800 Peachtree street
Atlanta, GA 30308

closing midtown

About caleb j. spivak

CJS is the Founder of What Now Atlanta. He was recently featured in The New York Times, Creative Loafing's "20 People to Watch in 2012," named "Lifestyle Blogger You Need To Know" by Rolling Out Magazine and highlighted as Atlanta's Metropolitan Male in fashion magazine, 944. WNA was named "Best of Atlanta" by Creative Loafing and Atlanta Magazine.

17 Comments

JoeATL

October 27, 2010 at 4:05 pm

I assume the mini bakery/cafe adjacent will be closing as well? I loved ENO but felt the food was overpriced after it became 5th street cafe.

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Johnny

October 27, 2010 at 4:57 pm

I guess the free Yelp Elite party put them in the red. No one will remember this place by Friday. I smell a burger joint coming in.

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jack trent

October 27, 2010 at 7:19 pm

umm how much did the build out cost? Maybe $200,000+ ? Thats what I call a waste of money, looks like Adi is just playing with daddy’s (ZAZA) money.

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jack trent

October 27, 2010 at 7:21 pm

I wouldn’t be prideful either if it wasn’t my money

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RickD

October 27, 2010 at 8:06 pm

We had a celebratory dinner there and the service and food was excellent. As a competitor less than 1500 feet from this location, we learned that ‘on the cheap’ is where it’s at during hard times. NO telling how much crap the City/county Inspectors put them through. Probably just enough to kill them.

Loved the logo.

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MH Lines

October 28, 2010 at 1:15 pm

The food was incredible, I’m beyond sad to lose this neighbor just after we found it.

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Aida Flamm

October 28, 2010 at 1:52 pm

Soo Sad, just too many places to try keeping busy..
It was great befor going to The Fox!

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Michael

October 28, 2010 at 6:33 pm

Very sad news and pretty amazing given that they last such a short time. They must have had very little cash in reserves before opening OR like its been suggested, the build-out went over budget.

Thats two places within a block of one another in a week!

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inthenabe

October 28, 2010 at 9:20 pm

It’s unfortunate that they closed. I live in the nabe. I never went to the 5th Street Cafe. I knew from the moment it opened, it would close, although I didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. I was, however, certain that they would not last. Too much to get into here. I’ve walked past the location dozens of times. One problem was the menu, placed near the window but probably a foot back, and written (if I recall) in a small, “fancy” font. I was unable to read it — and I never took the extra step of finding their online presence. Being unable to read that menu was one of the reasons I never made it into the restaurant. I observed other things, and never had any desire to even try the restaurant. Hopefully, someone will come in with an idea – one that will be embraced by the residents of this neighborhood.

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brian herzog

November 3, 2010 at 11:08 am

the concept wasnt well developed.. needed more wow for this city.. in another city in the densest part of the city with thousands of condos it would be successful. not in atlanta where you have to have some gimmick for people to eat out.. i lived a few blocks away.. all these restaurants below these condos are dying. because the residents go to publix and cook their simple meals and dont go out unless its a special occassion or friday/saturday.. their are some exceptions but for the most part atlantans want some special gimmick to go out to dine.. 5th street should have focused on lunch business buffets or something.. the south sucks..

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funnygirl

November 10, 2010 at 3:50 pm

I worked there for a minute and they were complete idiots! Adi has no idea what this city wants and is more concerned with his hair then running his business. He’s nice but also a real douche! The management was the only thing worse! Alex (GM) was an even bigger idiot. One minute he wanted us to be a casual serving restaurant and the next we were told fine dining then no, café style. The regular customers would come in and literally ask what they should expect that day. They paid the employees with the most experience the least and the ones with the least experience the most. I quit right before they closed because it was so stupid and I could see the money practically walking out the door. Well that or into Adis’ pocket for his new luxury sports car!

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NC Josh

December 6, 2010 at 11:37 pm

I am in the biz and while I always find myself very opinionated (I think we all are). I am not under the impression that I know everything about everything. That said, I constantly stand in amazement when people open businesses in failed locations.

There are number of reasons why restaurants and other businesses fail, but unless you are absolutely certain that whatever you are doing is SO much better than the person before you AND that your concept or product will have people thinking of you as their new REGULAR place over their current and/or other favorite place, I think you are a moron. And the number one reason I think restaurants fail is the LOCATION. If someone else can’t make it their, chances are VERY good that you can’t either.

Look at the businesses that are successful and ask yourself why; don’t just assume you can turn around a white elephant.

Just my opinion.

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