More dining options are added to the Athens menu

ATHENS — New dining options are coming to Athens, including a steakhouse at the former Haney Equipment site.

In addition, downtown businesses are expanding and renovating to provide more dining choices.

At Monday’s Athens City Council meeting, the Council approved economic development project agreements for:

• Texas Roadhouse and 7 Brew Drive-Thru Coffee, U.S. 72 at the former Haney Equipment site
• Five Guys and Nothing Bundt Cakes, Kelli Drive adjacent to TJ Maxx
• Athens Alehouse and Cellar, new Marion Street location on The Square
• Ro’s Grille, Jefferson Street on The Square

“To be a vibrant community, Athens has to offer diverse options for dining and shopping in order to support the local economy,” Mayor Ronnie Marks said. “We need the franchises, and we need the small businesses. Tonight, the City Council approved agreements that support both, which helps keep sales tax dollars in Athens to support city services and schools.”

The city’s agreement with JHR Athens Property and Gunnabel Athens LLC includes the development of Texas Roadhouse along with 7 Brew, which recently opened.

It includes 170 new jobs, retail space of over 8,700 square feet, gross annual retail sales of approximately $6 million and an investment in the property of over $17 million. It also includes a new public street, and the potential for future retail at the site. The anticipated return on investment is five to six years.

The City Council agreed to an incentive where it pays back to the developer 100% of City sales tax for eight years or until $900,000 total is paid, whichever is first.

The city’s agreement with PBHG Athens Properties includes the development of a Five Guys and Nothing Bundt Cakes, the creation of approximately 45 new jobs and an investment of approximately $7.5 million. The development anticipates generating annual taxable sales of approximately $2 million. The anticipated return on investment is two to three years.

The City Council agreed to an incentive where it pays back to the developer 100% of city sales tax for five years or until $180,000 total is paid, whichever is first.

The two downtown Athens restaurants will receive their funding from Athens Main Street. The Athens City Council previously allocated $50,000 to Athens Main Street to administer a façade grant program for downtown Athens. 

Athens Main Street awarded, and the Council reviewed and ratified, a $20,000 grant to Alehouse for its renovation work at its new location on Marion Street. The site will increase Alehouse’s seating and number of employees, and allow owners to expand its menu. There will be indoor and outdoor dining options.

“This project brought life back to a vacant, historic building and will add to the downtown atmosphere,” Marks said. 

Athens Main Street awarded, and the Council reviewed and ratified, a $19,797.26 grant to Ro’s for an expansion to provide outdoor dining. This work will increase seating at the restaurant, a popular destination for lunch and supper. 

“If you’ve tried to get in to eat at Ro’s, you know the additional seating is needed, and this will enhance that corner,” Marks said. 

Athens Main Street Director Tere Richardson said the two projects will increase the vibrancy of downtown.

“We are now known for our outdoor dining,” she said. “This will mean more dining, more sales and more sales tax.”

Another restaurant, Eggs Up Grill, underwent its public hearing for an alcohol license. That restaurant is locating at 22083 U.S. 72 East. 

The Council also approved an agreement with JLB Capital to give the owner permission to install a grease trap and other sidewalk/curb improvements along Green Street for the Shops at High Cotton. The Shops at High Cotton, located in a renovated cotton warehouse in downtown Athens, currently has a boutique and plans to add additional retail and a restaurant.

Marks said his office continues to work with other developers on retail opportunities, both shopping and dining.

“This increases the sales tax revenue for the City of Athens and for the Athens City Schools,” he said. “Sales tax makes up about 40 percent of our budget, and the school system receives a portion of our sales tax, so growing our revenue base is a priority.”