The Asheville favorite has been serving southern favorites in since 2000, and recently started to expand their concept. The restaurant opened a second Asheville location in early 2010 and just opened their first out-of- state location in Knoxville, Tennessee earlier this week.
Not surprisingly, sources say that Decatur is the likely local target for the restaurant's planned Atlanta area expansion. I had the pleasure of dining at their original location earlier this summer, and would describe the restaurant as a cross between the original Flying Biscuit Cafe and Another Broken Egg Cafe.
Destin-based Another Broken Egg Cafe and Lincolnshire, Illinois-based Egg Harbor Cafe have both entered the Atlanta market with multiple locations open and more in the works.
Ruby Tuesday in Decatur is obviously one of the most prominent spaces available, but its location, basically next to Thumbs Up Diner, makes it less likely for Tupelo Honey.
Another Asheville-based restaurant, Chai Pani (literally "tea and water" and also slang in India for going out for a cup of tea, a tasty bite, a snack, or “a little something”) recently signed a lease on the former Watershed space in Decatur, and should open early next year. Chai Pani's Asheville location is located not far from the original Tupelo Honey, and serves a variety of Indian street food.
So yeah, what's going on with this Asheville/Atlanta import/export business? Decatur-based Farm Burger is opening in Asheville in March, joining Atlanta-based Doc Chey's Noodle House, and now Chai Pani and possibly Tupelo Honey are coming to the ATL.
What Asheville-based restaurant would you love to see come to Atlanta? Early Girl? French Broad Chocolates? Have an idea for a concept that would do really well in Asheville? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.