Ontario, Canada-based Teriyaki Experience has closed their lone Atlanta location at the District at Howell Mill. There is no date on the closure notice but it has to have happened in the past ten days or so given I was at the center on a previous trip and the restaurant was open. The closure notice cites
"the tough economy" "operating expenses way to high" as factors contributing to the closure.
"the tough economy" "operating expenses way to high" as factors contributing to the closure.
The District at Howell Mill opened in 2007 and is anchored by a Walmart and also has both a T.J. Maxx and a Ross store. Artuzzi's, a largely unsuccessful fast casual Italian restaurant based here in Atlanta, opened a location within the project, but it closed in 2009. There was talk that Boardwalk Fresh Burgers & Fries would open in its place, but they, too, have had problems and Massage Envy now occupies the former restaurant space. Payless Shoesource closed their location in the project a couple months ago, but overall, the center has been a success. Central City Tavern relocated from Peachtree at Collier to the project, and both Starbucks and Verizon have opened there since the original opening.
I visited Teriyaki Experience a couple of times and always left feeling hungry and ripped off. It's a wonder it lasted as long as it did. The niche they were apparently trying to fill was healthy Asian. They cooked with water rather than oil, as a result, their food tended to lack flavor. Previously, the official branding was "Made in Japan Teriyaki Experience" which was a little odd given the restaurant was started and based in Canada.
The restaurant in Atlanta was actually their first in the U.S. and is listed on the company timeline on the "About Us" page of their website. 50 are locations listed in Canada and 17 internationally in South America, Middle East, Africa and Europe.
According to the chain's website, they have seven locations in the U.S., though I question its accuracy given the Atlanta location remains listed on the site despite its closure.
Did you ever try Teriyaki Experience, if so, what were your thoughts? What do you think should take the vacated space?