UPDATE - April 4, 2009

Rita’s Water Ice in the Burns Corner shopping Center opened today at 12 noon. It was worth the wait. I meet one of the owners, Kim, a local resident and she was delightful. She said they are excited to be open in Tucker and to keep checking with them for special events.

They are offering a free regular water ice to all customers for the entire week of their grand opening. If you have never had Rita’s you are in for a treat and they are most definitely a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Previously posted on March 24, 2009

If corporate web sites are to be believed, the Tucker Rita’s is slated to open sometime within the next week. The following information has been posted on the calendar for March 27:

‘Look for our Grand Opening at the end of March! The Season is Here…We Will Be Opening Soon! Look for Our Grand Opening Banner! Free Italian Ice at Grand Opening and as always…Free Samples!’

The photo posted was taken on March 18, 2009.  The site also states that the Tucker Rita’s will have ‘Outdoor Seating & Free WIFI’.  Hopefully they will open soon and Tucker residents can finally enjoy our own Ice-Custard-Happiness!

Popularity: 52% [?]

Update - December 1, 2008 - Rita’s has yet to open. I’m sure now that the weather is in the balmy 30s & 40s there is no rush until sometime early next year. Poo.

Oh happy happy day, Rita’s Water Ice is coming to Tucker in the Burns Corners shopping center. If you’ve never had it, Rita’s Water Ice is simply the most refreshing treat you could ever imagine on a hot summer day. Think refreshing, crisp fruit flavors. Think of a icy cool frozen treat made with ice and real fruit. Rita’s Water Ice is much smoother than a snow cone or shaved ice and is made fresh daily. In terms of consistency, Rita’s Water Ice is somewhat of a cross between a slushy and a sorbet.

The logo suggests the name is “Rita’s Ice Custard Happiness” but it is actually “Rita’s Water Ice”. The name is Rita’s and they sell ice and custard and that equals happiness. I was introduced to Rita’s many years ago in Philadelphia where the company originated. My family visited my sister while she was working in Philadelphia and she took us out for the obligatory cheese steaks and then to Rita’s. For the next six months, each week when she flew home to Atlanta, she was accompanied by a Styrofoam cooler packed with Rita’s Watermelon ice and Rita’s lemon ice. Philadelphia is famous for their cheese steaks, pretzels and water ice and has a number of water ice vendors. I did not try any other water ice vendors so … for all I know there may be better but for me, Rita’s Water Ice is a really welcome addition to the neighborhood and I wish them much success.

Rita’s locations have a tradition of giving away free product on Opening day and also on the first day of spring. I hope they have not changed the recipe and I will be there at the new Rita’s in Tucker on opening day consuming watermelon ice, you can bet money on it. I could care less that it is free on opening day because I would gladly pay twice the regular asking price just to experience the flavor of Rita’s again. More than likely I’ll be the one dancing for joy with a really big grin on my face. I only wish my mother was still with us to see it as she loved Rita’s more than me and that is saying a lot.

Popularity: 62% [?]

Tucker, Georgia now has our very own Five Guys Burger & Fries located in the Burns Corners shopping center. Previously, the closest Five Guys locations were in the neighboring areas of Chamblee and Norcross. The Five Guys concept and menu is simple but the execution is usually outstanding. The menu features burgers, hot dogs, french fries, grilled cheese and vegetarian sandwiches. The burgers come in two sizes with either one or two patties and are available with or without cheese and or bacon. All other toppings are free and include such items as lettuce, tomato, jalapeno peppers, sauteed mushrooms, green peppers, onions, fried onions, pickles and relish. Five Guys offers only one side item, french fries. They are available in two sizes and two flavors, regular “Five Guys Style” and “Cajun”. The portions are huge and a minimum of two people is recommended for even the small order.

Everything at Five Guys is cooked to order so … it will not be the fastest times you have ever been served a burger and fries but it will definitely be one of the freshest and the service is consistently friendly. Five Guys makes a really good burger. It isn’t the best burger I have ever had, but it is close and I’ll take quality over speed any day of the week.

Popularity: 89% [?]

Marlow’s Tavern Northlake is scheduled to open on June 24th, 2008. They are located in the newly renovated Doubletree Hotel on Lavista Road, directly across from Best Buy. Marlow’s Tavern was created to offer a food and bar experience that embodies “relaxed professionalism” at a price that encourages frequent use. They promise to deliver “affordable luxury” with “Chef Driven” food and beverage with Marlow’s “World Class Hospitality” in a “corner bar environment”.

The new Marlow’s Northlake aka Marlow’s Tucker is the fifth addition for the local chain.  Marlow’s Tavern features ladies night every Wednesday night, with special martinis at a reduced price, wine flights and beer flights. Every Friday and Saturday Marlow’s @ Northlake will have live entertainment from 8pm till close. The Roof Top Patio can comfortably seat 100 people and has its own bar, half of it which is covered and the other half is open air. Marlow’s will also be providing the food service for the Doubletree Northlake.

To view the menu for Marlow’s Tavern, click here.

Popularity: 70% [?]

The renovation of the old Raddison is complete. We received an email this morning that contained the following information about our newest business in Northlake.

Now open as the first full-service hotel in Tucker, Ga., Doubletree Hotel Atlanta NE/Northlake brings sophisticated comfort to a business savvy community!

This contemporary mid-rise structure features:

183 Guest Rooms and 3 Modern Suites
Two Hospitality Suites
Spacious Hi-tech lobby area with a Wii video gaming area
10,000 Square Feet of Flexible Meeting Space
Outdoor Pool & Large Sun Deck
Precor Fitness Center
Two-story American pub,Marlow’s Tavern, featuring the first city wide rooftop bar

Conveniently located within walking distance of more than 40 restaurants, shopping and entertainment venues, the exquisite hotel offers travelers and locals alike an unsurpassed level of high quality service and unique luxury.

Marlow’s Tavern is scheduled to open on July 24. Luckily this will be just in time to enjoy some cool beverages during our legendary hot summers on the roof-top bar.  If the food and atmosphere is anything like the Marlow’s location in Vinings, it will be a great addition to our area.

Popularity: 75% [?]

The Northlake Movie Tavern is officially open after Grand Opening Festivities were held May 16-18 and included raffles and giveaways all weekend. The Northlake Movie Tavern offers a menu that includes hamburgers, pizza, beer and wine in addition to the standard movie fare of popcorn and sodas. Cinema eateries combine the enjoyment of first-run movies with a dining experience. A full menu of chef-prepared Classic American favorites is available to Movie Tavern guests while they enjoy first-run feature films in state-of-the-art auditoriums.

At the Northlake Movie Tavern Original, patrons will order at a lobby counter and receive a glow-in-the-dark table number. Their food and beverages are then delivered to their table - in the theatre - by Movie Tavern’s staff. This approach to Movie Tavern’s dine-in-theatre experience is known as the Movie Tavern Original concept.

“The counter concept is close to our heart: it’s similar to the model we used in our original Movie Tavern, built in Fort Worth in 2001. We’re excited to bring it to the Atlanta area and hope to eventually have four or five Movie Taverns here,” said Jeffrey Benson, a Dallas native and Movie Tavern’s President and Chief Executive Officer.

It is located at the back of the shopping center next to Toy-r-Us in the building that housed the old AMC 8 Theater that was closed over 10 years ago. Menu, pricing and ticket information can be found Movie Tavern.

Popularity: 87% [?]