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Restaurants in Atlanta were closed for a second day due to water outages across the city.

Restaurants in Atlanta were closed for a second day due to water outages across the city.

A water main break occurred at 11th and West Peachtree Streets late Friday, May 30. She was gushing again Saturday morning. (Photo by Beth McKibben)

Thousands of Atlanta residents woke up Saturday, June 1, to a second day of low water pressure, or no water at all. Saturday was also marked by a second day of closure of many restaurants, bars and cafes in the city.

Many establishments still had little or no water Saturday and were dealing with a boil water advisory. Some restaurants, bars and cafes remain closed until further notice, while others have reopened with adjusted serving hours, circumventing the boil water notice by purchasing fresh ice, paper products for serving food and bottled water for drinking and cooking.

The city’s water problems began Friday morning when the Department of Watershed Management discovered breaks in a 48-inch main line and a 36-inch transmission line near the intersection of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Parkway. Crews quickly worked on water main breaks on Glenwood Ave. SE, near East Lake Golf Course and E. Beechwood Drive NW in Buckhead.

The affected water outage area extended from the West End to East Atlanta Village and from South Midtown to Downtown. Late Friday afternoon, DWM issued a boil water advisory and subsequently shut off water starting at 5 p.m. to Atlanta residences and businesses to repair the Boone main break.

The water cutoff area affected on May 31 by the Department of Watershed Management. (Provided by DWM)
DWM’s latest boil water advisory card on June 1. (Provided by DWM)

Around 9:30 p.m., two more water main breaks were reported on Atlantic Drive in Home Park and at 11th and West Peachtree streets in Midtown.

RELATED LINK: Updated coverage on Atlanta water outages

The water main break on 11th Street started as a trickle around 9 p.m., just outside the Eleventh Street Pub in Midtown. Two hours later, water gushed from the deteriorated asphalt like a miniature geyser. As of 9:30 a.m. Saturday, the break had not yet been repaired and water was flowing down West Peachtree and pooling at the intersection of 14th Street in front of Whole Foods.

A person affiliated with the Eleventh Street Pub told Rough Draft Saturday morning that there appeared to be no damage to the neighborhood bar, including its kitchen located below street level. Steamhouse Lounge also appeared unscathed. Both restaurants will remain closed until the city confirms they can safely reopen.

On 12th Street near Piedmont Park, the popular Larakin coffee and wine bar closed early on a beautiful Friday afternoon due to low water pressure and out of an abundance of caution. The patio is usually filled with people enjoying coffee and wine on a warm afternoon and evening. Owner Jordan Chambers reopened Larakin Saturday morning for a limited amount of food and drinks.

“We lost water pressure yesterday at noon. There’s still little pressure today, but we’re offering all the cups to go so people have a patio to hang on to,” Chambers said. “We closed as a precaution because we’re not trying to make anyone sick for a few dollars.”

Water flows steadily along West Peachtree toward 14th Street, across from Whole Foods. (Photo by Beth McKibben)
The scene at 9:30 a.m. June 1 next to Eleventh Street Pub in Midtown. (Photo by Beth McKibben)

“I know a lot of people are working hard to repair the damage, but it’s the lack of communication from Watershed Management and the city that is so disappointing,” he added.

Emily and Jen Chan faced a similar situation in Cabbagetown on Friday night. Their neighborhood restaurant, JenChan’s, had water and good water pressure all day. Knowing that the city planned to shut off water service to the affected outage area at 5 p.m., in which DWM’s map indicated JenChan was indeed inside, the couple brought in a mobile hand-washing station . The water at the Carroll Street restaurant continued to flow freely until 8 p.m., when it suddenly lost pressure. The same scenario played out at neighboring restaurants Little’s Food Store and Milltown Arms.

“As a business with a City of Atlanta Watershed account, we have received NO emails, texts or communications. We only received communications through social media posts that people shared,” Emily Chan said of the city’s confusing messages about safety precautions for businesses and restaurants during the power outage. water. “Not a single email or message from our active account with the city, which could mean we’re not affected or they haven’t communicated this through the channels we’re used to.”

JenChan’s reopened for brunch Saturday morning, but not before the Chans made a Costco run for water bottles, paper plates and plastic cups and ordered 400 pounds of fresh ice from Village Emergency Ice . The Chans also plan to serve dinner Saturday night.

Other restaurants like Staplehouse in the Old Fourth Ward, Junior’s Pizza in Summerhill and Little Tart Bakeshop at Krog Street Market closed for the second day in a row. Fridays and Saturdays are the busiest operating days for restaurants and bars, especially when the weather is comfortable and pleasant, as was the case on May 31. These unexpected closures not only affected restaurants and customers, but also the industry’s workforce, many of whom rely on tips. , work every hour, or both.

“Losing a Saturday of business is disastrous for all affected small businesses in Atlanta,” Sarah O’Brien, owner of Little Tart Bakeshop, wrote on Instagram. “Support where you can please!” »

Below are some of the Atlanta restaurants, cafes and bars that were closed or had modified service on Saturday, June 1:

Farm

Junior’s Pizza in Summerhill

Hell yeah gluten free in Inman Park

Revolutionary Donuts in Inman Park

Steamhouse Lounge in Midtown

Eleventh Street Pub in Midtown

Staplehouse in the Old Fourth Ward

Majestic dinner in Poncey-Highland

Bellwood Cafe in East Atlanta Village

Spiller Park Cafe at Ponce City Market and South of Downtown

Small tart bakery at Krog Street Market

Hello ATL to Grant Park

Sun in my belly in Kirkwood

Java Lords in Little Five Points

Birdcage and Firepit Pizza Tavern in Grant Park

Vegan Bar at Ponce City Market

Lazy Betty in Midtown

Adapted service

Larakin in Midtown, open with limited food and drinks

Gigi’s Italian Kitchen in Candler Park, offering a takeout dinner menu

Breaker Breaker in Reynoldstown, offering beer from its container bar

Little Tart Bakeshop in Summerhill fully open, Grant Park location open for pastries and nitro coffee only

Manuel’s Tavern is closed for brunch, service hours updated at 3 p.m.

The Vortex in Little Five Points, but may reopen later

Peoples Town Coffee Bar in Peoplestown, but may reopen later

The Wrecking Bar in Little Five Points, offering takeout service

Little Vinyl Lounge at Star Bar in Little Five Points, window service only

Keep checking restaurants’ social media accounts for updates on closures and adjusted hours, as well as Rough Draft Atlanta for ongoing coverage of water outages across the city.

Collin Kelley and Dyana Bagby contributed to this story.