New uses pitched next to Atlanta barbecue institution

One of Atlanta’s most hallowed smoked-meat establishments could be getting new neighbors. 

As eagle-eyed readers have pointed out, a food truck court or new commercial construction is being pitched for a Piedmont Avenue site next to Fat Matt’s Rib Shack, a ramshackle local BBQ legend that’s been dishing indulgent plates for more than 35 years. 

According to brokers with Atlanta Leasing Investment and Unreal Capital, the roughly 1/3-acre land parcel at 1805 Piedmont Ave. is being floated for purchase or built-to-suit. 

The latter option along the retail corridor could include a new 4,000-square-foot commercial building for two tenants, with 16 parking spaces, per site plans. 

The property counts 48 feet of frontage along Piedmont Avenue. 

The cleared site was the longtime home of a former cleaners. Next door, to the south, is the former location of Twist ‘n’ Scoot Motorscooters (that business has relocated to Amsterdam Walk). 

Just south of that is the 60-townhome Beckham Place project completed by Toll Brothers earlier this year. 

Beyond the ribs next door, other walkable perks in the area include Sprouts Farmers Market and Dunkin’, per marketers. Piedmont Park is about 3/4ths of a mile to the south. 

The property, as a former cleaning business, was recently accepted into Georgia Environmental Protection Division’s Brownfield Program, and it could be remediated within about three months of a purchase, according to sellers. 

That would leave “the new owner with zero environmental exposure and dollar-for-dollar property tax credit benefits,” per a property listing. 

Marketers note that another container-based concept could also work at the “highly visible” site, where some 23,000 commuters drive by each day. 

But what, dear Atlantans, would be the best outcome here? 

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