A new Midtown business is set to consume a zany but striking piece of mid-century architecture that puts Atlanta's "parking is paramount" theory to the test. A restaurant and lounge from the proprietor of The Daiquiri Factory called "Cirque" plans to open early next year at 2160 Monroe Drive, the former home of banks and several failed restaurants, Tomorrow's News Today reports. The spaceship-meets-the-circus structure is extraordinary, but it's wedged awkwardly near Interstate 85 and has suffered from a dearth of parking. (Realtor brochures for the property show 40 available parking spaces for the 4,200 square-foot building). But could the property be unique enough to overcome those issues? When the building was a Concentrics modern pizza joint called Piebar, it won the 2007 Urban Design Commission Award of Excellence. Not too shabby.
The structure was built in 1962 by architect Henry Jova to house the Trust Company of Georgia bank, according to the Atlanta History Center. It was later used by Sun Trust bank and was converted in 2005 to Piebar, followed by two relatively short-lived concepts, Eros Tapas Bar and IXTLAN Ultra Lounge. TNT reports The Daiquiri Factory's Kechia Matadin applied for a building permit in July and intends to spend nearly $500,000 on renovations.
· Cirque Coming to the Big Top in Midtown [Tomorrow's News Today]
· Trust Company of Georgia info [Atlanta History Center]
[Above image via Pinterest]
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