Fancy Starbucks Opening in Midtown

Midtown is going to get Atlanta's first "Starbucks Reserve" location at the corner of 7th & Peachtree in Midtown and it will be all about getting back to the basics of coffee.

There was once a free standing Starbucks at this location, which was demolished to make way for the condominiums in which the new outpost will reside.

A manager at the store - which moved to a temporary location at 855 Peachtree Road in the Viewpoint Highrise - told What Now Atlanta in a phone conversation Thursday that the location will be using Clover Press and Black Eagle coffee machines, and that the Starbucks Reserve outpost will be "all about coffee and getting back to the basics of coffee."

The location will also sell baked goods.

When the original Starbucks at the location moved to make way for the new one, it was not announced that the forthcoming coffee shop would headline as Starbucks Reserve.

Last year, Starbucks Corp. announced it would add 500 "reserve bars" to units worldwide. There is currently one Starbucks Reserve Roastery & Tasting Room in Seattle, the company's home city.

I am hoping that part of this store will serve up some wine.  Saw that at a store in Marietta a year ago but haven't since then!

A Cat Cafe is Coming to Atlanta

From the folks at Eater:

Pixabay/Vedanti

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Feline lovers, rejoice

Cat cafes have become a global phenomenon, first gaining prominence in Asia in the late '90s and then popping up in United States cities such as New York, Seattle, and Austin over the past couple of years. At long last, Atlanta is getting one of its own. Owner April Hill tellsCreative Loafing she hopes to open Happy Tabby Cat Cafe this summer.

For those not in the know, a cat cafe is pretty much exactly what it sounds like: a normal coffee shop with the added bonus of a bunch of cuddly cats hanging out. Standard practice calls for the cats to be up for adoption, so if a patron falls in love, they can take home a new companion.

So what can feline-friendly Atlantans expect from Happy Tabby? Hill shared some details with CL.

• Location: Downtown Decatur or Poncey-Highland. "They both want me really really bad so I kind of have the upper hand."
• Amenities: The cafe will serve pre-packaged foods and "standard coffee shop beverages." There will be wifi too.
• The cats: Hill hopes to regularly have 15 to 20 on hand, and they'll all be adoptable. The space will be big enough to accommodate 15 to 20 humans at a time.
• Costs and restrictions: The cafe will likely charge a $5 cover, and patrons will be limited to one-hour windows. Picking up the cats, unfortunately, will be forbidden.

Happy Tabby already has a Facebook page and website where interested parties can sign up to get early discounts on cat visits. Hill tells CL she plans to launch a Kickstarter campaign to help fund opening costs.

Sweet Hut Bakery & Cafe Midtown

My friend and I were looking for a place to have lunch in Midtown and wandered into this spot.  We had planned on going to another place on the block but this was so cute it was pulling us in.  It is located between 10th and 8th street on Peachtree by Fado Irish Pub.  They have salads, sandwiches, apps, coffee drinks and of course baked goods.  There were some people "remote-officing" there as well.  We both had spicy chicken paninis with cucumber side salads and split the samosa appetizer, which comes with 8 tiny samosas.  We then decided we could not leave without trying a dessert and split the chocolate peanut butter doughnut.  YUM!  They apparently have 2 other spots in Doraville and Duluth.  Note:  Get your parking validated and you get 2 hours for free.  We will be back to try other goodies soon.  I can also see myself remote officing someday.  It is a cheery bright alternative to other coffee shops and a welcome Midtown addition.