Legacy Atlanta Restaurant for Sale
Beloved Peachtree Road restaurant R. Thomas Deluxe Grill is up for sale. But it’s not closing, according to the AJC (paywall).
Linay Thomas Sheltra, the current owner and daughter of founder Richard Thomas, lives in Charlotte and runs a flooring business there. Operating two businesses – one from afar and with an hours-long commute – has become too difficult to manage.
Sheltra tapped longtime family friend and Atlanta entrepreneur Cliff Oxford to help find R. Thomas’ next owners. The two plan to be strategic about who they sell R. Thomas to, given its long history as a dining institution in Atlanta. They hope to secure buyers who will preserve the restaurant’s legacy on Peachtree.
Related stories:
• Meet the late-night regulars of R. Thomas Deluxe Grill
• The legacy of R. Thomas’ Deluxe Grill
R. Thomas Deluxe Grill opened in 1985, becoming known for its extensive menu of organic and vegetarian- and vegan-friendly dishes at a time when such restaurants didn’t exist in Atlanta. Open 24/7 before the pandemic, R. Thomas was also a popular stop for late-night dining, coffee, and breakfast fare in the wee hours of the morning. But its kitschy decor, lush garden, and talkative tropical birds outside the entrance made the rambling restaurant on Peachtree an attraction for locals and visitors alike. Richard Thomas could often be found outside watering the plants and feeding his birds, while chatting with regulars and customers as they entered and exited the restaurant.
Richards died in 2017, leaving the running of the restaurant to his family. There’s no word on what will happen to R. Thomas’ resident tropical birds–Ruby the parrot, and cockatoos Peaches and Cream–once the new owner takes over the restaurant. Stay tuned!
Restaurant Openings
Chef Ryan Smith, owner of Michelin-starred Staplehouse, will open tasting menu restaurant Uberto on April 18 as part of the experience at new luxury guest ranch Quercus in Gay, GA.
Located an hour-and-a-half south of Atlanta, the 30-seat restaurant will include multiple courses from Smith and his team using ingredients grown on the farm at Quercus. You don’t have to be a guest at the ranch to dine at Uberto. A meal here will set you back $255 per person. Optional wine pairings are an additional $125 per person.
Lalani Ventures, the owners behind Underground Atlanta, and Premier Hospitality Group will open Utopia on Upper Alabama Street this Saturday. Billed as an “upscale Latin fusion restaurant and lounge” with “space-age” decor, Utopia will serve everything from Wagyu beef served on hot stones to vegan dishes, paired with cocktails, beer, and wine. Open daily from 11 a.m. until late for brunch, lunch, dinner, and late-night.
Coming Attractions
It appears the second location of Northern China Eatery is getting closer to opening on the Eastside Beltline. Construction fencing is up, and a sign indicates the restaurant is hiring. Last year, owner Fan Zhang told Rough Draft that an in-town location of the popular Buford Highway restaurant, known for its dumplings, would open along this busy section of the trail. This new location will open beside Emerald City Bagels and its bagel sandwich automat.
Fan opened The Dumpling Factory at Westside Paper on West Marietta Street in 2024 and plans to open another location later this year at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.