Category: Business

Atlanta’s inaugural halal food festival is set to ignite the city’s summer vibe on Saturday, July 19 at Atlantic Station.

Hosted by the Atlanta Muslim Festival Collective (AMFC), the Atlanta Summer Halal Food Festival will be a vibrant celebration of halal cuisine, culture, and community, welcoming everyone to join in.

What Is Halal Cuisine?

Halal cuisine refers to food and drinks prepared and consumed in accordance with Islamic dietary laws, as outlined in the Quran and Sunnah. The term “halal” means “permissible” in Arabic, and these guidelines ensure food Gomukeshwar Templefood is ethically sourced, properly slaughtered, and free from forbidden ingredients like pork or alcohol.

Key aspects of halal cuisine include:

• Meat: Must come from animals like cattle, sheep, or poultry slaughtered by a Muslim with a specific ritual cut to the throat, ensuring quick and humane death, and the meat must be drained of blood.
• Prohibited items: Pork, blood, alcohol, and intoxicants are not allowed.
• Cross-contamination: Halal food must not come into contact with non-halal substances or utensils used for non-halal foods.
• Preparation: Food must be handled with care to maintain purity and integrity, similar to kosher or vegan standards.

Expect over 50 Southeast vendors dishing out diverse, halal-compliant flavors—from sizzling kabobs and gourmet burgers to decadent desserts and refreshing drinks. Halal cuisine, crafted with care and respect for dietary values, is approachable for all, much like kosher or plant-based dishes. Educational signage and videos will highlight what halal means, ensuring everyone feels included while exploring bold, global flavors.

“We’re thrilled to bring Atlanta its first halal food festival,” said Hasnain Lakhani, Festival Co-Founder and local restaurateur. “As a metro Atlanta native, I’ve always been passionate about this community. This festival unites Muslims and non-Muslims to celebrate our city’s diversity through incredible food, small business vendors, and unique experiences.”

Beyond food, enjoy free water, live Atlanta performances, cultural acts, family-friendly games, a petting zoo, a kids’ area, and an artisan market with local handmade goods. Capture memories at a scenic photo booth, with part of the proceeds supporting local charities.

Final Word

We love the kids! That’s why we’re showing you all the good things happening in the city this weekend. But there’s more: Check out what’s going on in downtown Atlanta. That’s where some of the best restaurants are as well as where the visitors, namely tourists, are. Downtown Atlanta or Midtown often has something cool going on!  While it’s warm, take advantage of the outdoors. Don’t miss these awesome festivals.

Yet another retailer is closing stores in Atlanta, Georgia. Popular grocery store Kroger is set to close several locations in Georgia’s largest city.

The closures, scheduled between July and October 2025, reflect Kroger’s strategic consolidation amid economic uncertainty and a focus on more profitable stores. Affected employees will be offered transfers to nearby Kroger locations, the company has said.

List of Kroger Locations Closing in Atlanta

Why Are Atlanta Kroger Locations Closing?

Several Atlanta Kroger locations are closing as part of the company’s plan to shutter 60 underperforming stores nationwide over the next 18 months. The specific reasons for these closures include:

Declining Sales and Profitability

Kroger cited declining sales and negative profit over extended periods as key factors. First-quarter 2025 sales dropped slightly to $45.1 billion from $45.3 billion the previous year, reflecting broader challenges like changing consumer habits, inflation, and competition from discount chains and online retailers.

Underperforming Locations

The four metro Atlanta stores—in Alpharetta (11877 Douglas Road), Atlanta (2452 Morosgo Way), Brookhaven (3855 Buford Highway), and Decatur (3479 Memorial Drive)—were identified as underperforming. For instance, the Brookhaven store is small by modern standards, limiting its ability to offer high-margin items, while the Decatur store, despite offering fuel, is outdated.

Operational Efficiency

Kroger aims to streamline operations and ensure long-term business health by closing unprofitable stores. The company expects a “modest financial benefit” from these closures, with savings reinvested into customer experience initiatives at remaining locations.

Market Competition

In Atlanta, Kroger faces stiff competition, particularly from Publix, which has a growing presence. Data from 2024 shows Kroger’s market share in Atlanta dropped to 21.3% compared to Publix’s 20.5%, with Publix operating more stores (159 vs. Kroger’s 124). New Publix locations in areas like Buckhead and Brookhaven may have impacted Kroger’s performance.

Final Word

Kroger has faced some local challenges around Atlanta for sure. Some have mentioned issues like theft and undesirable customer experiences at specific locations, such as the Morosgo Way store, which may have driven away business. However, these are anecdotal and not officially confirmed by Kroger as primary reasons.

Metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene continues to grow with no stops on the horizon. Ready to try something new?

Here Are The Best New Restaurants In Atlanta

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As of Tuesday, June 24, 2025, Uber and Alphabet’s Waymo have launched public robotaxi services in Atlanta, expanding their partnership.

Waymo’s driverless Jaguar I-PACE SUVs, equipped with the Waymo Driver, cover 65 square miles in Atlanta but avoid highways and the airport.

Waymo, Uber Start Robotaxi Service in Atlanta

Perhaps you’ve seen the driverless cars whizzing by on Peachtree Street or somewhere downtown or in Midtown, where there is pedestrian traffic looking for rides.

The companies announced plans in September to bring Waymo One to Atlanta and Austin, with Austin services starting in March, ahead of Tesla’s robotaxi pilot.

Tesla’s invite-only service in Austin, using Model Y SUVs with a human valet, operates daytime-only in a limited area. Unlike Tesla, Waymo’s robotaxis run without human supervisors and use advanced lidar and radar sensors.

Final Word

Don’t be surprised when you see a driverless vehicle next to you in traffic. They are here, courtesy of Waymo. You can expect more companies to join the market.

Tesla, once a driverless leader, now trails Waymo and Chinese competitors like Baidu’s Apollo Go and WeRide, which also partners with Uber. Waymo rides in Atlanta and Austin are booked via Uber’s app, while San Francisco and Los Angeles use the Waymo One app. The Uber-Waymo partnership excludes Uber Eats deliveries.

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• All The Fun Things To Do In North Georgia
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• Feeling adventurous? Here Are Some Outdoorsy Things To Do In ATL

The Atlanta BeltLine’s opened its Westside Trail on Monday, June 23, 2025, marking the expansion with a ribbon-cutting by city officials.

The gathering heralded the unveiling of the longest continuous trail segment to date.

Atlanta Beltine’s Westside Trail Opens

Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, BeltLine Inc. President and CEO Clyde Higgs, city officials, and community leaders gathered to celebrate the launch. Read: Where to eat on the Beltline.

Westside Trail – Segment 4, a 1.3-mile addition, completes the 6.8-mile pathway along historic Washington Park, a century-old Black suburb and cultural hub.

How Far Does the Beltline’s Westside Trail Go?

The Westside Trail stretches 6.7 miles from Pittsburgh Yards in southwest Atlanta to Huff Road in Blandtown, now the longest uninterrupted segment of the BeltLine. Additionally, users can travel 7.2 miles from the Westside BeltLine Connector’s end to Pittsburgh Yards.

“This milestone goes beyond infrastructure—it’s about uniting communities and preserving Atlanta’s rich history,” said Higgs. “The 6.7-mile trail winds through neighborhoods shaped by resilience, built by Black architects and builders, and enriched by generations of pride. This extension honors that legacy as we work toward a complete 22-mile loop by 2030.”

The trail runs from Lena Street North to Law Street, passing streets named for civil rights icons like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Joseph E. Boone, and Joseph Lowery.

Christi Jackson, Board President of Washington Park Conservancy, noted, “The Westside Trail reflects the community’s past and its commitment to growth. Segment 4 celebrates the city’s inclusive vision and the BeltLine’s dedication to engagement, linking diverse areas for outdoor activities, arts, and discovery.”

At the ribbon-cutting, Mayor Dickens said, “In 2014, when I joined the board, west and southside residents, including myself, doubted this would reach us. Now, it’s a reality, mirroring the eastside’s transformation.”

Read more about the Atlanta Beltline Project.

Atlanta is scorching right now, which why public pools are a necessity for kids and adults alike. The city has four of them located in convenient areas.

The city’s Department of Parks & Recreation has opened the pools for the summer season across Atlanta.

What Are Atlanta’s Free Pools?

Here are Atlanta free pools and their locations.

Final Word

Are you trying to beat the heat this summer? There are few things as refreshing as a nice swim in the pool. The good news is that Atlanta’s public pools are open for business!

Select Waffle House locations in metro Atlanta are introducing a new beverage option: cold brew coffee.

The Atlanta-based chain now offers canned cold brew coffee for $3.95, available at these nine locations. Get yours at a local Waffle House near you.

When Did Waffle House Cold Brew Coffee Begin?

Select Waffle House locations in metro Atlanta began offering canned cold brew coffee on June 17, 2025, as part of a limited market test.

Find it at these Atlanta-area locations:

– 2812 Buford Hwy NE, Atlanta
– 2264 Cheshire Bridge Road NE, Atlanta
– 5071 Peachtree Ind Blvd, Chamblee
– 4065 Peachtree Road, Atlanta
– 3735 Roswell Road, Atlanta
– 3016 Piedmont Road, Atlanta
– 2581 Piedmont Road NE, Atlanta
– 4532 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Atlanta
– 3916 Flat Shoals Pkwy, Decatur

Cold brew coffee surged in popularity due to a combination of cultural, economic, and sensory factors, particularly in the early 2010s, though its roots go back further. Here’s a concise breakdown of how it became a staple:

1. Craft Coffee Movement: The third-wave coffee movement, starting in the early 2000s, emphasized artisanal, high-quality coffee. Cold brew, with its smooth, less acidic profile, fit perfectly into this trend as consumers sought unique, premium coffee experiences. Specialty shops like Stumptown and Blue Bottle popularized it by offering nitro cold brew—creamy, frothy coffee on tap that resembled craft beer.

2. Taste and Versatility: Cold brew’s steeping process (12–24 hours in cold water) produces a sweeter, less bitter flavor compared to iced coffee made from hot-brewed coffee poured over ice. This appealed to younger demographics, especially millennials, who preferred customizable drinks. Its concentrate form also made it versatile for cocktails, lattes, and at-home brewing.

3. Convenience and Branding: Major chains like Starbucks and Dunkin’ capitalized on the trend, introducing cold brew to mass markets around 2015. Starbucks, for instance, reported cold beverages making up over 50% of sales by 2020. Pre-packaged cans and bottles from brands like La Colombe and Chameleon made it accessible for home consumption, while sleek packaging and social media marketing boosted its “cool” factor.

4. Cultural Shifts: Cold brew aligned with the rise of Instagram culture, where visually appealing drinks (think nitro cold brew’s cascading foam) became social media darlings. Urban cafes and pop-up shops leaned into this aesthetic, making cold brew a lifestyle symbol for younger, trend-conscious consumers.

5. Year-Round Appeal: Unlike traditional iced coffee, which was seasonal, cold brew’s smooth taste and high caffeine content made it a year-round favorite, especially in warmer climates. Its portability in cans and bottles also catered to busy, on-the-go lifestyles.

By 2025, cold brew’s dominance is evident—Waffle House’s recent introduction of canned cold brew at select Atlanta locations reflects its mainstream staying power.

The drink’s rise from niche cafes to global chains showcases how quality, marketing, and cultural trends converged to make it a coffee juggernaut.

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The Atlanta City Council has adopted a new tree protection ordinance, which increases funding for the low-income senior assistance program to $400,000 a year.

The measure also encourages planting over compensation payments, and doubles the fine for illegal tree removal from $100,000 per acre to $200,000 per acre, according to a City Council news release.

Atlanta’s Tree Protection Ordinance (TPO) has been the subject of some major changes after the Community Development Committee advanced a revised TPO despite objections from both developers and tree advocates. Key changes included:

• Higher removal fees to deter clear-cutting.
• Discounts for affordable housing projects to balance development needs.
• Guaranteed funding for arborists to improve enforcement.
• Support for low-income seniors with tree maintenance costs.

 The new measure balances development with conservation, ensuring the city retains its environmental and cultural identity amid growth. For example, the ordinance protects “significant” trees (those with a diameter at breast height of 6 inches or more) and requires mitigation for any approved removals.

With the city’s constant redevelopment, tree protection ordinances in Atlanta are needed for several critical reasons, driven by the city’s unique environmental, urban, and social context:

1. Preserving Urban Canopy

Atlanta is known as the “City in the Forest” due to its extensive tree cover, estimated at 36-47% of the city’s land area, one of the highest in the U.S.

Trees provide essential benefits like cooling urban heat islands (Atlanta’s summer temperatures can exceed 90°F), improving air quality (reducing pollutants like PM2.5), and managing stormwater runoff (critical in a city prone to flash flooding due to its hilly terrain and clay soils).

2. Mitigating Development Pressure

Atlanta’s rapid growth, with a population increase of 18.7% from 2010 to 2020 and ongoing construction booms, puts significant pressure on green spaces.

 Without ordinances, developers might clear-cut trees for new projects, eroding the city’s tree canopy and exacerbating environmental issues like heat and flooding.

However, developers argue that stricter regulations, such as higher tree removal fees (recompense) and preservation standards, could stifle housing development, particularly affordable housing.

For example, the proposed recompense fee increase from $100 per tree plus $30 per inch of diameter to $260 per inch, with the removal of a $5,000-per-acre cap, could significantly raise costs for developers. One developer cited a project’s tree removal cost rising from $20,000 to $155,000 under the new rules.

3. Environmental Justice

Trees are unevenly distributed across Atlanta, with wealthier, predominantly white neighborhoods like Buckhead having denser canopies than lower-income, minority areas like those in South Atlanta.

Ordinances help ensure equitable tree preservation and planting, addressing disparities in access to green benefits.

Key provisions, like preservation standards requiring developers to protect a percentage of trees on lots, were removed after pushback from builders who claimed these would hinder economic development. Tree advocates, such as conservationist Kathryn Kolb, called this a “gross failure of process,” arguing that the revised ordinance weakens protections and may reduce effective recompense compared to current standards.

4. Erosion and Flood Control

 Atlanta’s topography and frequent heavy rainfall make it susceptible to erosion and flooding. 

Trees stabilize soil and absorb rainwater (a single mature tree can absorb 100+ gallons daily), reducing runoff into the city’s strained sewer system, which has faced federal mandates for upgrades due to past overflows.

The ordinance revision process has drawn criticism for insufficient public engagement. Council member Michael Julian Bond abstained from the June 10 vote, citing that the new draft was introduced with little time for review, stating, “To my knowledge, I don’t think anyone has seen it prior to this very moment.”

This lack of transparency frustrated both council members and tree advocates, who urged for more public input and a delay in the vote.

5. Biodiversity and Habitat

 Trees support local wildlife, including birds, insects, and small mammals, maintaining Atlanta’s ecological balance.

Ordinances protect habitats from being destroyed during urban expansion.

The ordinance includes carve-outs, such as up to 100% fee waivers for affordable housing projects, but critics like developer Rod Mullice contend that small-scale developers lack the resources to comply with increased costs, potentially reducing housing supply in tree-heavy suburban areas.

Conversely, tree advocates dismiss this as a “red herring,” emphasizing that the ordinance’s fee adjustments are corrected for inflation and real-world tree replacement costs, which the current $5,000-per-acre cap fails to cover (only 10% of actual planting costs).

Final Word

Trees enhance Atlanta’s aesthetic appeal, boosting property values by up to 15% in tree-lined neighborhoods.

Ordinances ensure this economic benefit is preserved citywide.

The modern restaurant building at the corner of Juniper and Fifth Street in the heart of Midtown Atlanta has had many iterations. It’s never had this, though. SM44, a rebranded Steak Market, ushers in a new chapter under new ownership, spearheaded by former Georgia Tech star, two-time Olympian and ex-Miami Heat player Alade Aminu.

Paying homage to Steak Market’s legacy, the new Atlanta restaurant infuses what was great about it as well as Bar 44 and stirs both into its own vibe.

The main floor offers a refined dining experience, while our downstairs speakeasy provides a laid-back atmosphere with hookah and cigars.

Helming the kitchen is none other than celebrity chef Willie Wallace, who has cooked for such luminaries as Kanye West, Travis Scott, Kris Jenner, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian, Rick Ross, Janelle Monáe, DJ Drama and more.

Photo credit: Chef Willie Wallace/Instagram

When Is SM44 Opening?

SM44 is set to open on Juneteenth, Thursday, June 19, 2025. When you’re done with Atlanta’s Juneteenth events head to SM44 to enjoy a meal.

Where Is SM44 Located?

SM44 s located at 793 Juniper St NE Atlanta, GA 30308. Here’s a map to help you find it.

Final Word

SM44 is one of many of the city’s black-owned restaurants. 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.

Aside from dining at the best new Atlanta restaurants, there are so many Atlanta events popping off every week it’s hard to keep up with it all. That’s why I suggest you subscribe to AtlantaFi.com to get all the freshest gatherings, Atlanta happenings, parties and more delivered to your inbox.

Metro Atlanta’s food and drink scene continues to grow with no stops on the horizon. Ready to try something new?

Ultimate Guide: Where To Eat In Atlanta

Midtown’s pedestrian-friendly streets, centered around Peachtree Street and 10th Street, make it easy to hop between eateries, bars, and cafes. It’s a social hub where locals and visitors mingle, enhanced by proximity to cultural spots like the Fox Theatre and High Museum of Art.