Renovations and a tenant shakeup in recent years are almost finished at a vintage eastside Atlanta retail strip that functions much as it did several generations ago along McLendon Avenue. 

Buildouts are ramping up in Candler Park for the fourth location of local pastry emporium and coffeehouse Little Tart Bakeshop, alongside a sister, Paris-inspired concept called Midi that will serve sandwiches and cocktails. Soft-serve treats will also be offered—including through a new takeout window installed along McLendon Avenue’s sidewalk. 

The historic commercial strip in the 1600 block of McLendon Avenue is located on the southern side of the street, opposite Candler Park Market, Gigi’s Italian Kitchen & Restaurant, and other businesses. 

The storefronts in recent years have seen the relocation of Kelly’s Closet bridal boutique, Flying Biscuit Café (it moved to another nearby space on DeKalb Avenue), and Dr. Bombay's Underwater Tea Party (now in Grant Park). 

Prior to exterior changes, the westernmost storefront of the space in question, where Dr. Bombay's Underwater Tea Party operated next to La Fonda Latina. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

A new takeout window for ice cream and fresh exterior paint schemes along McLendon Avenue in Candler Park. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Midi—led by Little Tart owner Sarah O’Brien—will serve fresh breads from its sister bakeshop and a range of sandwiches, salads, small bites, classic cocktails, and curated wines, alongside ice cream. Business leaders haven’t committed to an opening date but have recently relayed they’re “counting down the days” to the fall debut they’ve predicted for several months. 

Midi’s Instagram page provides recent glimpses at interior designs, including vintage arched doorways and tiled mosaic branding at the front door. Numerous job openings are currently being filled. 

Little Tart and Midi are remaking the former bridal boutique and Dr. Bombay’s space (next to La Fonda Latina). Other Little Tart outposts operate in Grant Park, Summerhill, and at Krog Street Market. 

The Little Tart/Midi retail row in question with new overhead lighting added in recent days. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

The café and bakery aren’t the only recent changes along McLendon Avenue. 

In part of Flying Biscuit’s former space (the original café location, opened in 1993), Atlanta-based writing studio and nonprofit Lostintheletters opened a brick-and-mortar home base last year. That now serves as a bookstore and creative space. 

Immediately next door, to the east, a boutique concept called Lucille’s—described as a “luxury gift store for the romantically inclined”—renovated the corner space and opened this past summer. Events at Lucille’s this month have included, ahem, “Kink for the Curious” and “Sling that Strap,” the latter billed as a “complete guide to strap-on sex with any kind of partner.”  

Now sling—uh, swing—up to the gallery for a closer look and more context. 

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