For South Downtown, a whirlwind dash toward a wave of grand openings is afoot, with kickoff for Atlanta’s first 2026 FIFA World Cup match just a week away. 

Jon Birdsong, a partner with Atlanta Ventures (the company with 58 historic structures and 16 total acres of South Downtown in its portfolio), said today his team is working with the city to secure Certificates of Occupancy for all signed tenants as construction continues. 

Other checklist items include life-safety and fire inspections for buildings the South Downtown investors have spent two and ½ years resuscitating.

El Tesoro taqueria has announced it will open its third location on Wednesday along Mitchell Street, though Birdsong says it might not be able to serve alcohol. Glide Pizza and Brewhouse Café are aiming to open Friday, while “some form” of the Broad Street BBQ concept could be in business by this weekend, said Birdsong. 

“I’d say best case, everyone’s open Friday,” Birdsong told Urbanize Atlanta today. “Worst case, it’ll bleed into the beginning of next week.” 

Woodwork at ground level along three Broad Street buildings. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

How El Tesoro's covered patio has come together at the corner of Broad and Mitchell streets. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Businesses with signed leases around South Downtown are: Mule Train (a farm-fresh Southern cuisine concept); Brewhouse Café (second location for the soccer bar); handmade leather goods store KMM & Co.; Glide Pizza; Broad Street BBQ; Delilah’s Everyday Soul; and a breakfast and lunch counter from Todd Ginsberg (The General Muir, Fred’s Meat and Bread) and Josh Kim, among other concepts. 

Along with new office tenants such as Atlanta Tech Village, newer commercial ventures in South Downtown include Village Books, Crates record store, and Smorgasburg Atlanta (a seasonal food fest on Saturdays), plus Spiller Park Coffee and Tyde Tate Kitchen. 

Bottle Rocket burgers and sushi joint, a former Castleberry Hill staple, has also recently opened on Hotel Row. KMM & Co. hosted a grand opening party in late May at 87 Peachtree St. 

The South Downtown team also launched pre-leasing several weeks ago at historic, circa-1899 renovation project 85 Peachtree. That late-Victorian building, considered Atlanta’s original department store, has been remade into 26 loft apartments with retail space below. 

Founders Green, a ½-acre central greenspace made from a former parking lot, was opened during a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month attended by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. That park is bookended by El Tesoro and Broad Street BBQ. 

Sound like a lot? Head up to the gallery for a thorough, pre-World Cup tour that should help it all make sense. 

Also worth noting: Saturday will mark the official South Downtown kickoff, with an event scheduled from 9 to 11 a.m. at Founders Green.  

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