New Social Club, Mario’s Kitchen and Bar, to Open on Metropolitan Pkwy.

According to a recent building permit application, a new social club is coming to 2149 Metropolitan Pkwy SW.

Called Mario’s Kitchen and Bar, the project is owned by Mario Johnson, founder and current owner of The Sleepy Potato (formerly MoJo’s Motown Eatery) – a family-style restaurant with two locations on Candler Rd. and Cleveland Ave., serving gourmet loaded potatoes and other eats. According to a Facebook post, a third Sleepy Potato location is coming soon to 1560 Southlake Pkwy in Morrow.

In a phone call with What Now Atlanta, Johnson said he is hoping to fully open the club, which will offer a typical tapas menu, in January.

A Facebook page has already been set up for Mario’s Kitchen and Bar and based on posts, the project has been in the works for quite some time. In May, photos were posted showing Johnson signing the lease for the building and new framing and walls going up. Before that, photos posted back in 2020 show work being done on the deck and floors, and a new central air and heating unit being installed.

It appears that at one point the project was going to be called KOUSINS: A Member Only Club.

Per the permit, the club is taking over the space of a former restaurant and making some pretty significant changes with a projected construction cost of $9,000. The 1,200-square-foot space will include a bar, lounge, and outdoor patio.

Note: This article has been updated since its original publication to include comment from the owner.