From UHNA NPU-D Representative Eva Nason;
Last Friday I went to check out Upper West Market and Novare’s Westhouse followed by La Mixteca Tamale. (both have applications for the September 22 meeting)
I talked to a number of people, mentioning why I was there in connection with a relevant Neighborhood Planning Unit meeting on Tuesday night and that the Upper West Market was in the boundaries of the Underwood Hills neighborhood.
Valerie Sewell, the Community Manager for Upper West Market, took me to a door at the back left corner of the big open market space. The door opened to an unfinished space which was to be the Hop City Boiler Room with the possibility of a full bar (if license is soon granted) and patio seating and no food. Presumably, any desired food would come from the few eateries in the market space, of which there will possibly be several more. CEO Kraig Torres was not there, but perhaps it was Jared Butler, Director of Retail Operations, with whom I spoke.
Soon I met Ben Hautt. Below I am going to copy relevant info about Ben and Robles and Upper West Market. You probably remember Ben. He’s come to us before and said he’d been involved with these developments for 5 years. {Ben presented the Adaptive Resue planning application to UHNA which was granted in 2021) He led me through a hall to Summerland, the breakfast/lunch eatery at the front of the Upper West Market with a front entrance (the main market has a side entrance). Summerland is a creation of Anne Quatrano, who was the creator of Bacchanalia and Star Provisions. It looked to be a lovely place, with deliciously displayed food, to have breakfast or lunch, Wednesday through Saturday at present.
But where was the Novare event space which was recently granted a Special Use Permit (SUP) by Atlanta’s Zoning Review Board (ZRB) for a 10-year time-span. At the very back of the property was a smallish rectangular building at a 90 degree angle to the elongated-toward-Collier building which housed the Upper West Market and Summerland. The building was open so I visited and found several beautiful empty spaces, presumably just waiting for the weddings and other events to take place there. I found 2 people walking through the space, one of whom was Kristin St. Hilaire, Senior Account Executive for Novare Events, who gave me a good sense of the level of care that will be involved in events occurring in this space. Also, the Novare building is at the very back of the property with the nextdoor apartment complex not so very close.
Finally, I stopped by La Mixteca Tamale, which is asking for a liquor license after having been open for a year with hours 6a.m,-10p.m. 7 days a week. It is at the opposite end of the strip of businesses with Johnny’s New York Style Pizza at one end. It seemed a very agreeable place to eat.
Details on the Market development-
Robles Partners is the real estate development firm led by founder and managing partner Ben Hautt that created and led the development of the Upper West Market in Atlanta. [1, 2]
Key Details of the Connection
- The Developer: Robles Partners created the market, turning an old warehouse and office space on Collier Road into a community space. [1, 2]
- The Project: Upper West Market is Atlanta’s first indoor, year-round farmers market, located in the Upper Westside/Underwood Hills area. [1, 2]
- The Vision: Ben Hautt of Robles Partners designed the market to focus on local farmers and permanent retail stalls rather than operating as a standard food hall
Thank you Eva for going above and beyond on behalf of the neighborhood!
Details of the next NPU-D meeting September 22 are on the calendar. The Agenda and minutes of the last should be available the day before.