A longtime Atlanta restaurant is generating buzz with their announcement of a new location.
Busy Bee Cafe plans to open a second location at Atlantic Station in 2026. According to an announcement, the 4,000-square-foot restaurant will feature indoor and outdoor patio seating, an expanded menu and a full bar.
A self-taught cook named Lucy Jackson opened Busy Bee Cafe in Atlanta’s Vine City neighborhood in 1947. The restaurant is now operated by Tracy Gates, whose father became the owner in the 1980s.
Busy Bee Cafe can currently be found at 810 M.L.K. Jr Drive SW, offering take-out and catering services. The menu features soul food and Southern favorites, including fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, banana pudding and more.
Busy Bee Cafe was named an American Classic by the James Beard Foundation in 2022. The restaurant received the Michelin Bib Gourmand Award in 2023 and in 2024. Gates was also inducted into the 2023 Atlanta Hospitality Hall of Fame.
“At Busy Bee, it’s never just been about the food — it’s about the feeling it brings,” Gates said in a statement. “Every plate is a piece of our history, and we’ve worked hard to deliver that same comfort, joy, and flavor every single time. We didn’t chase the spotlight — we honored our roots, stayed true to the recipe, and let the love speak for itself.”
Several notable people have visited Busy Bee Cafe in recent years, including former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2023.
Follow on Instagram @thebusybeeatl.
I don’t believe it. They have been planning to move to another location for over 30 years. Time will tell