Iconic soul food institution Busy Bee Café is expanding its legacy with a new 4,000-square-foot location at Atlantic Station, set to open in Spring 2026.
The family-owned restaurant, a beloved fixture on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive since 1947, will bring its famous fried chicken, smothered pork chops, and made-from-scratch sides to the bustling Midtown development.
Busy Bee To Open Second Atlanta Location
The new space marks the first expansion in the restaurant’s 78-year history.
Owners Tracey and Karl Scott announced that the Atlantic Station outpost will feature an expanded menu with new dinner entrees, a selective full bar offering craft cocktails and local beers, and a spacious outdoor patio for al fresco dining.
“We’re thrilled to share Busy Bee with a new generation and a new neighborhood while keeping the same love and quality our customers have counted on for decades,” said Tracey Scott. “This location will have the soul of the original, just with a few more seats and a great patio.”
The second Busy Bee will join Atlantic Station’s growing lineup of Black-owned and local restaurants, adding to the area’s reputation as a dining destination in the heart of Atlanta.
The original Busy Bee Café on MLK Jr. Drive will remain open and continue serving its classic lunch menu Monday through Friday.
Construction on the new location is expected to begin early next year, with an anticipated opening in late spring 2026.
Final Word
For more than seven decades, Busy Bee has been a community gathering spot and a must-visit for celebrities, politicians, and locals alike. The expansion ensures that one of Atlanta’s most cherished culinary traditions will keep sizzling for years to come.
Busy Bee is one of the best black restaurants in Atlanta, and there are plenty others. If you like barbecue, see our list of the Best Atlanta BBQ Restaurants.
As for eateries below I-20, these Southside Atlanta restaurants have developed quite a following.
The craze hasn’t escaped metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene, which has seen a bar explosion in recent years.
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