Legal Sea Foods is closing downtown after more than a decade.
The restaurant’s last day in business will be December 18, a company representative in an email told What Now Atlanta (WNA) Monday.
“With our 10-year lease expiring in downtown Atlanta on December 31, 2018, we have decided not to extend at that particular location,” the spokesperson said.
“We are, however, looking at alternative sites, including the airport.”
Legal Sea Foods has anchored the corner of Luckie Street and Park Avenue West, in the Hilton Garden Inn Atlanta Downtown hotel, since 2008.
With the closure could come 78 layoffs, according to a notice submitted by Legal Sea Foods, LLC to the Georgia Department of Labor through it’s “WARN” (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act) system.
WARN “requires employers to provide advance notification of layoffs and plant closings in order to provide workers with sufficient time to seek other employment or retraining opportunities.”
“Employees were given over two months’ notice, and we are offering financial incentives to associates who continue working through the restaurant’s closure date,” the spokesperson said.
“We will close on December 18, 2018, to allow employees the opportunity to spend time with their families during the holiday season. We are discussing opportunities for employees who would like to transfer to our other restaurants, to help fill open positions resulting from our northeast expansion.”
It’s unclear what, if anything, is set to replace the restaurant, at 275 Baker Street NW.
“Our landlord Legacy Ventures has expressed interested in speaking with our employees about opportunities within their restaurants. And we are working with representatives from the Georgia Department of Labor, Rapid Response, who provide resources and assistance in the areas of job training, search and placement.”
Atlanta is one of at least two markets where Legal Sea Foods is making changes.
[Editor’s note: an earlier version of this article incorrectly listed the restaurant’s last day as December 9.]
I only ate there once – and that was enough – overpriced and poor quality. Nothing like I experienced in Boston.
Agreed. It was terrible. The only reason it stayed open was because of tourists.
This provides an opportunity for a new restaurant to take over the spot. Great location.
Please keep me informed when you relocate.
Thank you
i bought several gift cards for alot of people for christmas what do i do now?