Photos: Three cheers for this cozy nook in... a drive-to shopping center?

No breaking news here, just a random springtime observation: Not every aspect of Atlanta’s drive-to, suburban-style shopping centers has to be terrible. 

Exploring asphalt-dominated places such as Toco Hill Shopping Center (it’s singular, according to the iconic totem signage in the middle of it) isn’t high on the priority list around here, to be honest. But a chance encounter recently with the “Toco Courtyard” left a crew of birthday party celebrants pleasantly surprised. 

Tucked-away and relatively peaceful, the versatile courtyard was previously home to French restaurant staple Petite Auberge for more than 40 years. Most of the surrounding retail space was reborn in October as a collaboration between Wild Heaven Beer and Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q, which is operating a large taproom and full kitchen with seating for about 100. That’s in addition to outdoor seating with picnic tables, synthetic grass, and the courtyard’s lovely, mature trees. 

Back here, the Toco Hill parking-lot seas seem far removed. 

The Publix-anchored shopping center underwent comprehensive upgrades about six years ago. That included another outdoor greenspace near the Toco Courtyard, where “family and friends naturally gather,” according to property owner Edens, the same South Carolina-based firm behind the ongoing remake of North DeKalb Mall. 

Built in the 1950s, the shopping center today is almost fully leased (but R.I.P. to froyo outpost Menchies), according to Edens.

Which is proof that, while it might lack Main Street charms, something is clearly still working around here.  

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