Avondale Estates, Georgia has seen the closure of a beloved local eatery. Taylor’d Bar-B-Q, which opened in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, announced its impending shut-down on November 27. The reason cited was the ongoing construction projects in the area.

"The Impact of Construction on a Local Restaurant's Journey"

Opening Amidst a Pandemic

The restaurant's journey began in 2020, a time when the world was grappling with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. It managed to have a fantastic start to 2024, achieving its best month ever in May. However, since then, sales have taken a significant downturn. First, it was the Dekalb Water Project in June, and then the Avondale road diet project in July. This project, officially called the North Avondale Complete Street Project, is estimated to be completed in the first quarter of 2026. After five months of a 20% drop in sales, the decision to close was made, and the doors will shut this Sunday, December 1.

The Burglary Incident

Owner Joshua McDowell has been voicing his concerns for weeks about the negative impact of the road diet on his company's bottom line. In September, burglars targeted the business and managed to steal only $60 but caused significant damage to the building. This added to the challenges faced by the restaurant.

The Impact on the Community

Avondale Estates Mayor Jonathan Elmore expressed his sadness at the closure of Taylor’d. He emphasized that the city does not want any business to fail and will do everything possible to support them. The city officially broke ground on the North Avondale Complete Street Project in June, acknowledging that it would be disruptive. To support local businesses during this time, the city launched a campaign called the Shop Local Throw Down.U.S. 278, the main drag in Avondale Estates, runs through the city and its historic downtown. Known as East College Avenue and North Avondale Road, the project includes a road diet that reduces the travel lanes from five to three between Sam’s Crossing and Ashton Place. The project corridor is 1.15 miles, and many businesses are located on North Avondale Road. The project also includes a 10-foot path along the north side of the street, new traffic lights and streetlights, a center median, and a five-foot sidewalk on the south side between South Avondale Road and Sam’s Crossing. There will be some on-street parking as well. The total cost of the construction is approximately $8.5 million.As the road construction shakes up the streets, the city encourages residents and visitors to unite and support their beloved businesses. From cozy cafes to boutique shops, every purchase matters in keeping the community thriving. Let's turn detours into discoveries and construction chaos into a celebration of our local treasures.