ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 1, 2026--
CIM Group announced today that The Busy Bee, one of Atlanta’s most storied restaurants, has signed a lease for a new 2,985-square-foot location at The Mitchell residential tower in Centennial Yards, the $5 billion, 50-acre mixed-use redevelopment transforming Downtown Atlanta.
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Founded in 1947, The Busy Bee is a historic icon that has been a cornerstone of Atlanta’s culinary and cultural heritage for nearly eight decades. Renowned for its from-scratch Southern cooking – particularly its award-winning fried chicken – The Busy Bee has earned national recognition including the James Beard Foundation’s America’s Classics Award (2022) and MICHELIN Bib Gourmand honors (2023, 2024, 2025). Rooted in the city’s Westside and Vine City communities along the Martin Luther King Jr. corridor, Busy Bee’s legacy continues to reflect the authentic flavors, consistency, and hospitality that define Atlanta.
“As we continue to build Centennial Yards into Atlanta’s next great neighborhood, we’re extremely proud to welcome The Busy Bee, a legacy restaurant that represents the very best of Atlanta’s history, and hospitality,” said Brian McGowan, President of Centennial Yards Company. “This lease underscores our vision to create a district that is authentic to Atlanta, where global entertainment meets local culture.”
The Mitchell, Centennial Yards’ first ground-up residential building with 304 homes and 16,000 square feet of retail, is part of the development’s residential offerings alongside The Lofts at Centennial Yards South. At The Mitchell, The Busy Bee will introduce a quick-service format centered on the slow-cooked flavors and soul the restaurant is known for. The menu will be tailored for high-traffic event days, destination dining, and casual meetups, featuring its signature chicken, classic Southern sides, and desserts, with both indoor and outdoor seating across the street from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. For the first time in its nearly 80-year history, The Busy Bee will also introduce a bar program, marking the restaurant’s debut offering of beer, wine, and cocktails.
“The Busy Bee has always been about love, tradition, and doing things the right way – slow, from scratch, and with care,” said Tracy Gates, Owner of The Busy Bee, who has carried forward her family’s legacy since joining her father at the restaurant in 1987. “Centennial Yards lets us honor our Downtown Atlanta roots while welcoming new guests to the neighborhood. We’re bringing the same intentional flavors people grew up with, preparing true Southern dishes with seasonal ingredients and trusted farmer relationships that keep our cooking consistent year after year. We’re even introducing a bar program for the first time in our history to give guests a full experience while keeping our traditions intact. We’re proud to continue that tradition in this next chapter.”
The Busy Bee’s new location at The Mitchell in Centennial Yards marks a major milestone in one of the largest and most ambitious city center redevelopments in the country. The 50-acre site, located where Atlanta was founded, is being transformed into a dynamic mixed-use destination encompassing several new city blocks with 8 million square feet of new development. Plans include 1,800 hotel guest rooms, 2,000 residential units, and more than 2 million square feet of world class office and retail space. The district is anchored by premier entertainment partners and features a dynamic public realm with open-air plazas, walkable streets, and gathering spaces designed to welcome Atlantans and visitors alike. Centennial Yards Company was created by CIM Group to act as the owner and master developer of Centennial Yards.
In addition to The Busy Bee and The Mitchell, existing developments at Centennial Yards include the 162-unit The Lofts at Centennial Yards South. The 292-key Hotel Phoenix opened on December 1. Khao Thai Isan, a Thai Tapas concept from Atlanta-based 26 Thai, is expected to open at The Mitchell in spring 2026. Cosm’s immersive sporting experience and Shake Shack’s first downtown location plan to open in 2026 and a 5,300-seat Live Nation venue, announced earlier this year, is expected to open in 2027.
“The Busy Bee represents the type of authentic cultural pillar that ensures Centennial Yards reflects the soul of Atlanta while creating a destination with global appeal,” said Shaul Kuba, Co-Founder and Principal, CIM Group.
Across the street from The Mitchell, the Entertainment District at Centennial Yards is revitalizing underutilized land in the heart of Downtown Atlanta into a hub with immersive venues, restaurants, retail, and hospitality offerings adjacent to Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena. With major tenants like Live Nation and Cosm already announced, the district is set to become one of the Southeast’s premier destinations for live entertainment and culinary experiences.
ABOUT THE BUSY BEE
Established in 1947 by self-taught cook Lucy Jackson, The Busy Bee has become an iconic soul food destination rooted in tradition, consistency, and community. Known for its welcoming hospitality and unforgettable flavors, the Vine City restaurant has served generations of Atlantans and earned national acclaim, including the 2022 James Beard America’s Classics Award and multiple Michelin Bib Gourmand honors. In 1983, the restaurant was purchased by Milton Gates, and since 1987, his daughter Tracy Gates has led The Busy Bee with passion and purpose — preserving family recipes, investing in her team, and keeping Lucy’s legacy alive. From local legends to global visitors, The Busy Bee remains a treasured part of Atlanta’s culinary and cultural landscape. For more information, visit thebusybee.com.
ABOUT CENTENNIAL YARDS
Centennial Yards is a $5 billion transformational mixed-use development in Atlanta, the Southeast’s biggest and most influential market. As one of the largest and most ambitious city-center developments in the country, Centennial Yards is expected to revitalize 50 acres of underutilized land in the heart of Downtown Atlanta to connect surrounding communities and create several new city blocks at the junction of the rail lines where the city was founded. Once complete, Centennial Yards is expected to offer 8 million square feet of world-class new commercial and residential space comprised of 4 million square feet of dynamic retail, entertainment, modern office, and hotel, and 4 million square feet of new residential, as well as a vibrant public realm that will provide outdoor gathering spaces to all Atlantans and visitors of Centennial Yards. Centennial Yards recently announced the additions of a Live Nation music venue and Cosm to the entertainment district.
For more information, visit www.centennialyards.com.
ABOUT CIM GROUP
CIM is a community-focused real estate and infrastructure owner, operator, lender and developer. Since 1994, CIM has sought to create value in projects and positively impact the lives of people in communities across the Americas by delivering more than $60 billion of essential real estate and infrastructure projects. CIM’s diverse team of experts applies its broad knowledge and disciplined approach through hands-on management of real assets from due diligence to operations through disposition. CIM strives to make a meaningful difference in the world by executing key environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives and enhancing each community in which it invests. For more information, visit www.cimgroup.com.
The Busy Bee, one of Atlanta’s most storied restaurants, has signed a lease for a new 2,985-square-foot location at The Mitchell residential tower in Centennial Yards.
