Following a couple years of idleness, a prominent Buckhead corner near major shopping hubs is set to become livelier. 

Officials with Atlanta developer and commercial property owner Selig Enterprises announced today they’ve signed a first-to-market restaurant concept for a can’t-miss "prime corner" space at the revised The Block at Phipps, in the 3500 block of Peachtree Road. 

KAI Fusion, an upscale Asian fusion restaurant, has claimed a 7,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor space across the street from Phipps Plaza last occupied by a brewery chain. 

According to Selig officials, KAI Fusion plans to open in summer 2027 with restaurant designs that call for a “seamless indoor-outdoor experience” with patio seating and large operable windows. 

Formerly known as Lenox Marketplace, 9.4-acre The Block at Phipps is situated along Peachtree, Oak Valley, and Wieuca roads and Pritchard Way. It underwent renovations two years ago to make it feel more walkable and vibrant, per Selig reps.  

The corner space, at center, where KAI Fusion will operate. Selig Enterprises/The Block at Phipps

Selig Enterprises/The Block at Phipps

KAI Fusion’s Buckhead plans call for an 18-foot sushi bar and a menu blending Chinese, Japanese, pan-Asian, and Thai cuisine, along with a craft cocktail program and full-service bar. It will be led by restauranteur Sam Dong and his wife, Dia. Dong has previously operated concepts such as Green Papaya and Yume Sushi in markets from New York to Ohio and Miami. 

“We were attracted to the Buckhead neighborhood because it’s one of Atlanta’s most dynamic dining and lifestyle destinations,” said Dong in an announcement. “Additionally, The Block at Phipps offers outstanding visibility along Peachtree Road and is positioned at the center of it all.” 

Delaware-based Iron Hill Brewery opened at the same corner space in late 2020 but shuttered in May 2024, citing low post-pandemic foot traffic and joining a wave of brewery closures across intown Atlanta at the time. 

Shirley Gouffon, Selig’s senior vice president, predicted KAI Fusion will be “a significant addition to The Block at Phipps and a great complement to Buckhead’s dining scene” in today’s announcement. 

Selig Enterprises/The Block at Phipps

The Block at Phipps is anchored by Publix, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Target, with luxury nail salon LaBelle being a more recent addition in 2024.  

Selig’s enhancements included façade changes, wayfinding, landscape updates, and the addition of a 30-foot, open-air paseo that connects the block’s Peachtree Road sidewalks to the parking deck. 

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