…

DOWNTOWN—Just around the corner from El Tesoro taqueria’s forthcoming third location, construction is well underway on a local barbecue concept that will help form South Downtown’s new “town square” concept, continuing a pattern of reinvigorating long-vacant or underused buildings. 

Broad Street BBQ is converting three storefronts (96, 98, and 100 Broad St.) into fun spaces with communal tables and a takeout window but preserving brick, plaster, and the area’s well-known American flag mural adorning one building, as South Downtown reps tell the AJC. The local proprietors are Jason Furst and Sam Pinner, the pair behind sandwich shop Sammy’s, which opened in Adair Park last month. The goal is to start dishing ’cue and libations such as batch cocktails in time for 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, which start in Atlanta a year from next month. 

As seen last summer, 96 Broad St. (center) and other storefronts planned to be activated as Sammy's barbecue restaurant in time for FIFA World Cup matches next year. Google Maps

Atlanta Ventures partner Jon Birdsong cautioned on social media Broad Street renderings that have whipped ATL development wonks into a tizzy might not exactly come to fruition, but he promised another quality South Downtown destination is on the way:

…

OLD FOURTH WARD—Come next Thursday afternoon, Ponce City Market plans to cut the proverbial (and literal) ribbon on a redesigned wing within the landmark property’s first-floor Central Food Hall called Market East. Expect a grand-opening gala with performances by traditional lion and dragon dancers, a DJ, live art, and samplings from new market stalls. 

Courtesy of Ponce City Market

The new market aesthetic—described as a “colorful, layered, and humble design drawing inspiration from small pedestrian streets and food market culture”—aims to complement three new pan-Asian dining concepts created by the husband-wife duo behind VIỆTVANA, Dinh Tran and Khanh Dang. Those are: Boom Boom Bao (a Vietnamese bao and dim sum restaurant); Lime Tiger (a customizable bento box concept specializing in Southeast Asian street food, open for lunch and dinner service); and Uwu Asian Dessert Co. (a Japanese-inspired concept with sweet treats, desserts, and milk teas). 

…

ARMOUR YARDS—It’s early in the process, but MARTA is considering shaking up designs of its long-planned Clifton Corridor rapid bus route. A feasibility study is underway for the possibility of moving the BRT route’s northern end from MARTA’s current Lindbergh Center station to an infill station Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens proposed last year (along with three other infill stations) at Armour Yards, the AJC relays. The move would put the BRT line closer to the main 22-mile Beltline loop.  

Four red stars represent a rough approximation of where MARTA infill stations will be located, per the mayor's executive order. MARTA/UA

MARTA officials told the newspaper that changing route designs along the Clifton Corridor—considered one of the metro’s largest employment centers without rail connectivity—should not cause further delays. Why? Because redrawing the northern terminus would happen at the same time as other unfinished work, including right-of-way negotiations with CSX rail lines, which remains quite active in the area. 

Following discussions with large employers along the Clifton Corridor and public meetings, MARTA hopes to finalize the new route by late this year.  

...

Follow us on social media: 

Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  

• Analysis declares Atlanta No. 1 'smartest city' in U.S. for 2025 (Urbanize Atlanta)