CIM Group announced that The Busy Bee, one of Atlanta’s most storied restaurants, has signed a lease for a new 2,985-square-foot location at The Mitchell residential tower in Centennial Yards, the $5 billion, 50-acre mixed-use redevelopment in Downtown Atlanta.
Renowned for its from-scratch Southern cooking — particularly its award-winning fried chicken —The Busy Bee has been a cornerstone of Atlanta’s culinary and cultural heritage for nearly eight decades.
“As we continue to build Centennial Yards into Atlanta’s next great neighborhood, we’re extremely proud to welcome The Busy Bee, a legacy restaurant that represents the very best of Atlanta’s history, and hospitality,” said Brian McGowan, president of Centennial Yards Company. “This lease underscores our vision to create a district that is authentic to Atlanta, where global entertainment meets local culture.”
The Mitchell, Centennial Yards’ first ground-up residential building with 304 homes and 16,000 square feet of retail, is part of the development’s residential offerings alongside The Lofts at Centennial Yards South. At The Mitchell, The Busy Bee will introduce a quick-service format centered on slow-cooked flavors and soul. For the first time in its nearly 80-year history, The Busy Bee will also introduce a bar program, marking the restaurant’s debut offering of beer, wine and cocktails.
“The Busy Bee has always been about love, tradition and doing things the right way — slow, from scratch and with care,” said Tracy Gates, Owner of The Busy Bee, who has carried forward her family’s legacy since joining her father at the restaurant in 1987. “Centennial Yards lets us honor our Downtown Atlanta roots while welcoming new guests to the neighborhood. We’re bringing the same intentional flavors people grew up with, preparing true Southern dishes with seasonal ingredients and trusted farmer relationships that keep our cooking consistent year after year. We’re even introducing a bar program for the first time in our history to give guests a full experience while keeping our traditions intact. We’re proud to continue that tradition in this next chapter.”
Centennial Yards’ 50-acre site, located where Atlanta was founded, is being transformed into a dynamic mixed-use destination encompassing several new city blocks with 8 million square feet of new development. Plans include 1,800 hotel guest rooms, 2,000 residential units, and more than 2 million square feet of world class office and retail space. The district is anchored by premier entertainment partners and features a dynamic public realm with open-air plazas, walkable streets, and gathering spaces designed to welcome Atlantans and visitors alike. Centennial Yards Company was created by CIM Group to act as the owner and master developer of Centennial Yards.
