Georgia
Eats reopens in West End and more from Atlanta’s dining scene
The Eats sign from the original building was restored inside Wild Heaven’s West End brewery in the Lee + White development. (Courtesy of Wild Heaven)
This week on the Atlanta food and dining scene: A comfort-food classic was resurrected, a group of chefs was recognized by the state for their work with local farmers, a new cocktail bar opened in west Midtown and more.
Eats has brought the same menu, staff and equipment to Wild Heaven’s brewery in the Lee + White development. (Courtesy of Wild Heaven)
Comfort-food favorite Eats is now open at Wild Heaven West End
Eats has officially risen from the dead after closing its iconic location on Ponce de Leon Avenue in October.
The new location opened Thursday inside Wild Heaven’s West End brewery at the Lee + White development with much of the original menu, decor and staff.
Longtime manager Levi Nichols was retained and continues to lead the kitchen, according to a news release.

The new location of Eats has the same menu of comfort-food favorites as the original. (Courtesy of Wild Heaven)
“Eats has always been about consistency, value and food people come back for again and again,” Wild Heaven co-president Nick Purdy said in a press statement. “When the opportunity came to keep that alive, we took it seriously. The same kitchen team led by Levi Nichols is here, much of the original equipment is still in use, and we’ve even brought over furniture and memorabilia from the Ponce location.”
Eats at Wild Heaven will be open daily.
1010 White St. SW, Atlanta. 404-254-2232, wildheavenbeer.com

Front row (from left): Chef Burns Sullivan, GRA President & CEO Stephanie Fischer, Chef Holly Chute, Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper, Chef Laura Orellana, Chef Taylor Mead, Chef Hudson Terrell
Back row (from left): Chef Christian Bell, Chef Gary Caldwell, Pitmaster Kyle Bryner, Chef Holden McKinstry. Not pictured: Chef Ben Vaughn. (Brandon Amato/Courtesy of Georgia Grown)
Georgia chefs honored for ties to local farmers
Georgia’s Department of Agriculture and the Georgia Restaurant Association named nine chefs to its Georgia Grown Executive Chefs program Monday, according to a news release.
The Georgia Grown program is a statewide initiative meant to develop closer relationships between farmers and chefs.
“These chefs were selected not only for their outstanding culinary abilities, but also for their commitment to sourcing Georgia Grown products directly from Georgia farmers,” Agriculture Commissioner Tyler J. Harper said in a press statement.
The 2026 class of Georgia Grown executive chefs includes:
- Ben Vaughn of White Oak Kitchen & Cocktails (Atlanta)
- Burns Sullivan of 5 & 10 (Athens)
- Christian Bell of Oreatha’s at the Point (Atlanta)
- Gary Caldwell of Marcus Bar & Grille (Atlanta)
- Holden McKinstry of Vice Steak Bar (Alpharetta)
- Hudson Terrell of Animal Farm and Gabagool (Columbus)
- Kyle Bryner of Blue Hound Barbecue (Dillard)
- Laura Orellana of Osteria Mattone (Roswell)
- Taylor Mead of the Atlanta Botanical Gardens (Atlanta)
georgiagrown.com
Local developer plans to reinvigorate Virginia-Highland retail
Third & Urban, a local real estate development firm, recently announced an investment in one of the Virginia-Highland neighborhood’s primary retail and restaurant corridors, Urbanize Atlanta reported.
The developers have assembled more than 60,000 square feet of retail space along North Highland Avenue near the nightlife cluster of Neighbor’s Pub, Atkins Park Restaurant and Dark Horse Tavern, according to the real estate-focused publication. Third & Urban will spend more than $3 million on streetscape upgrades for the project, which has been named the Atkins Park Collection. Construction will reportedly begin later this spring.
thirdandurban.com
More metro Atlanta food happenings

Jardi Chocolates is selling a special Eid collection. (Brandon Amato/Courtesy of Jardi Chocolates)
Local chocolate shop celebrates Eid
Jardi Chocolates is offering a limited-edition collection celebrating the end of Ramadan. The chocolates are made without alcohol in flavors like caramel cashew crunch, apricot almond, honey cake and date and vanilla. A box containing four chocolates, one of each flavor, costs $12. Orders can be placed online and local pickup is available 24/7 from the climate-controlled lockers by Jardi’s production facility in Chamblee.
3400 W. Hospital Ave., Chamblee. 470-240-8353, jardichocolates.com
Mural opportunity for local artists
Johns Creek couple Steve and Randi Rubin, who are working to open a Toastique franchise in their area, are holding a contest for local artists to paint a mural in their forthcoming restaurant. The contest will award three prizes; first prize will win $2,500 in cash and a $500 Toastique gift card and second prize will win $1,000 in cash and a $250 gift card. Third prize will win a $500 Toastique gift card.
Entries should include a digital mural concept, portfolio samples and a short artist statement. Submissions are due Friday and can be made by emailing ToastiqueJohnsCreekMural@gmail.com.
3005 Old Alabama Road, Johns Creek. toastique.com
Restaurant openings and announcements

New Orleans-based cocktail bar Barrel Proof will open an Atlanta outpost in the space that formerly held Little Trouble. (Courtesy of Barrel Proof)
Barrel Proof, a cocktail bar with a location in New Orleans, opened Friday in the Westside Provisions District, restaurant representatives said.
1170 Howell Mill Road, Atlanta. barrelproofatl.com
Restaurant closures
BrewDog closed on the Atlanta Beltline’s Eastside Trail this week, leaving a large space vacant in one of the city’s busiest pedestrian corridors.
Read more about the closing the brewery chain’s Atlanta location.
Mojave, a modern Latin restaurant in Sandy Springs, and Pinky Promise, a Champagne bar in west Midtown, both closed this month, Tomorrow’s News Today reported.

ICYMI… The AJC has a new system for restaurant reviews
This week, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution added another star to its restaurant rating system, moving from four stars to a maximum of five.
Read more about the change here.
Georgia
Zuckerman eyes MLB Draft after superb baseball season at Georgia Tech
Pennsbury Baseball Zuckerman District One Championship PIAA
Pennsbury junior Brendan Zuckerman smacks an RBI single to left in the Falcons’ 7-run first inning of District One 6A championship victory
Ryan Zuckerman is last on the alphabetical list of the 335 college and high school baseball players attending the June 22-27 MLB Draft Combine in Phoenix.
What the 2023 Pennsbury graduate did in his lone season at Georgia Tech has garnered him plenty of attention from MLB scouts regardless of where his name is on a list that includes Holy Ghost Prep grad Aiden Robbins, a Texas outfield standout who is expected to go as early as late in the first round, fellow Pennsbury graduate Joe Tiroly, an infielder from Virginia, and Pennsbury senior right-handed pitcher Keller Bradley.
MVP of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament for the conference champion Yellow Jackets, second-team All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association and leader in home runs (23) and RBIs (79, tied for eighth in the country) for the high-powered Georgia Tech offense are just a few of Zuckerman’s notable accomplishments heading into the July 11-13 draft. He is projected to go toward the middle of the 20 rounds.
“It’s pretty surreal for sure,” said Zuckerman, 21. “It’s something I dreamed of my whole life.”
In a season filled with memorable moments, perhaps most impressive was Zuckerman being named ACC Tournament MVP after hitting three home runs with six RBIs and batting .571 (8 for 14), culminating in a 13-6 championship game win over North Carolina in Charlotte. He also was a first-team All-ACC selection at third base.
Zuckerman and Georgia Tech went into the NCAA Atlanta regional as the nation’s No. 2 seed. Though the 50-11 Yellow Jackets ended up being eliminated by losing twice to Oklahoma, including 8-7 in 10 innings for the regional title, Zuckerman can only rave about his experience at Georgia Tech.
“If you would have told me that’s how the season for me and each of us on the team would’ve gone, I would’ve been extremely happy,” Zuckerman said. “It was probably the best decision I ever made in my life.”
After a solid sophomore season at Pitt in which he hit .295 with 16 doubles, 13 home runs, 48 RBIs and 48 runs scored, Zuckerman believed transferring would help him develop into a more pro-ready player and allow him to win more games. And Georgia Tech checked all the boxes
In addition to his career-best home run and RBI numbers, Zuckerman led Georgia Tech in 2026 with 24 multi-RBI games while establishing career-highs in batting average (.345), runs (71), hits (80), walks (37), slugging percentage (.720) and on-base percentage (.438). He batted fifth in the order.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Zuckerman, who always had a strong arm, also worked hard to improve his defense at third base, resulting in 15.99 defensive runs saved for the season, which was the 13th-highest total in college baseball.
“I like to say I’m arguably the best third baseman in the country,” he said.
As a senior playing third at Pennsbury, Zuckerman hit .465 with an on-base percentage of .563, plus six doubles, six home runs, 23 RBIs and scored 26 runs.
“In high school, he was incredible for us,” said Pennsbury head coach Joe Pesci. “(A year ago), he decided to go from a mid- to low ACC team to the best team in the ACC. Surrounding himself with amazing players at Georgia Tech, he’s kind of elevated his game.”
Since the conclusion of the collegiate season, Zuckerman has been working out in preparation for the MLB Draft Combine and, ultimately, the draft. He’s been splitting his time between Yardley and Atlanta.
MLB teams have indicated Zuckerman’s power bat and defense are two of his strengths, while he’s focusing on improving his swing selection and making more contact at the plate.
Zuckerman is looking forward to hearing his name called by one of the 30 major league clubs. Whether a team views him as a third baseman, first baseman, corner outfielder or even second baseman doesn’t really matter to him.
“I think right now I’m in a great position to go and play professional baseball and start my journey up to the big leagues,” Zuckerman said. “The goal is not to get drafted – it’s to play MLB.”
Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.
Georgia
Georgia pair charged with murder after bartender’s dismembered remains found in lake outside Atlanta
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A Georgia pair have been charged with murder after allegedly slaughtering a bartender and dumping his dismembered remains in a lake, according to authorities.
Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, were arrested on Monday for allegedly murdering Jamal Rashad Parker, 37, in a home outside of Atlanta, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
Investigators discovered Parker’s remains in May in the Dog River Reservoir, located about 30 miles outside Atlanta.
Parker’s identity was confirmed using DNA comparison technology after his father contacted authorities to report that the victim’s tattoos matched his son’s ink, local station WSB-TV reported.
MINNESOTA MAN ACCUSED OF DISMEMBERING GIRLFRIENDS, HIDING BODIES IN STORAGE UNITS ENTERS PLEA
Mario Andre Barber, 46, and Brittany Amber Baker, 42, are charged with murder. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators believe the two suspects killed Parker inside a home in Douglasville where Baker lived.
Late last month, investigators were observed leaving the home with a reciprocating saw and cleaning supplies, according to WSB-TV.
Police have not disclosed if Parker knew his alleged killers. However, a GoFundMe created by a family member described the pair as “people he knew and trusted.”
SUZANNE SIMPSON’S DNA FOUND ON MURDER SUSPECT HUSBAND’S SAW THAT CAN CUT METAL
A family member described Jamal Rashad Parker as a bartender, musician and artist with “a beautiful soul and spirit.” (GoFundMe)
The suspects pleaded not guilty in court on Tuesday and are being held without bond. Both have lengthy criminal records, according to reports.
“I want them to be punished. And I don’t even think a life sentence is good enough,” Parker’s dad, Charles Parker, told WSB-TV outside the courthouse.
“It’s the kind of stuff you see on TV, but I mean … they had no remorse,” he added.
In addition to bartending at Ms. Icey’s Kitchen & Bar in Atlanta, the victim was a musician and artist with “a beautiful soul and spirit,” according to the GoFundMe page created to cover burial costs.
Investigators believe the two suspects killed the victim inside a home in Douglasville. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
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“He loved life and the people he met along his journey in life. He was a musical artist, visual artist, and a professional bartender who enjoyed creating new drinks. This has totally devastated our family and friends and has left us heartbroken,” the fundraiser reads.
Georgia
Georgia football trying to flip Grayson CB recruit
The Georgia Bulldogs are trying to flip cornerback recruit Preston Glasco just over a week after he committed to the Connecticut Huskies.
Glasco, a member of the class of 2027, announced his commitment to UConn on June 10. Since committing to UCONN, Georgia has hosted Glasco on an official visit and offered him a scholarship (back on June 18).
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound cornerback has excellent length and size. Glasco has impressive athleticism and ran a 4.47-4.57 second 40-yard dash (hand timed) during a recent workout with the South Carolina Gamecocks.
Glasco plays high school football for Grayson High School in Loganville, Georgia. He’s unranked as a recruit, but that’s bound to change soon. The unranked cornerback plays against a stout level of competition at Grayson, who is a Georgia high school powerhouse.
Glasco has scholarship offers from Army, Yale, Boston College, Penn and more. He’s a great student and appears to be healthy after he was recovering from a surgery around this time last year. The talented Grayson cornerback has also gone on recent visits to South Carolina and Vanderbilt.
Coach Kirby Smart and Georgia currently don’t have any cornerback commitments in the class of 2027.
Georgia football offers Preston Glasco
“Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Georgia,” Glasco said after Georgia offered him.
Glasco visits UGA football
Follow UGA Wire on Instagram, Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) or Threads for more Georgia football recruiting coverage!
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