I’ve gotten a few inquiries lately regarding the fate of The Angel building, sitting lonely and vacant at the Western end of Ponce, with only the occasional contractor or parked car to keep it company.

The masses are getting restless.

Speaking as a Ponce Heights resident, it seems I’d gotten a little too used to having such a close option for food and drink. Especially on a Sunday, Little Azio and Tastings are the closest options, and they seem miles away. (I know…my life is so difficult)

But I’ve made my bed and have to lie in it. I got a little ticked at the Angel upon their closing (for reasons I won’t rehash) and since then I’ve had to sit idly by and bite my tongue while slow progress was made on the building’s renovation. (I think The Angel sign just came down a few weeks ago)

But finally we have a tidbit! And we’re so starved for any info on this place, just a little rumble of info classifies as major news/rumor to me. Though we’d been hearing things about it being turned into a “chef-inspired restaurant”, Jeff at Whit’s End tells us that the owner of the property says the Angel will become an “Irish pub”. It ain’t much in terms of detail…but it brings a smile to my face. A pub would be most welcome.

So let’s bury the hatchet and start over Angel. Especially since it seems that we need each other.

More details as they surface.

InDecatur has posted a rather detailed tip about the future of the Angel.

Does an “agreement” mean its still owned by Derek Lawford Pubs? If so, I hope the service is better than the Angel.

Using the words “quality” and “organic” doesn’t give you a free pass. A smile and polite conversation is what will keep me coming back. That and inexpensive alcohol.

Seems we were right to be skeptical about The Angel’s claim that they weren’t open because of a backlog of liquor license applications.  Local resident, Carl, reports that an Angel bartender has said the location will be closed “indefinitely”.

Not promising.

If you’re reading about this for the first time, word across Atlanta is that Derek Lawford Pubs has a serious case of the unpaid taxes.  The Midtown pub, Prince of Wales, has already been sold and signs are down, while the Highland’s Hand in Hand reportedly has been sold to the owner of Dark Horse Tavern.

Anyone wanna buy a British pub with a great patio?

A tipster writes in that he stopped by “The Angel” last night for 1/2 price food only to find a sign on the door that said they were closed due to “technical problems”.

Well, that all seems pretty innocuous until you hear that the Derek Lawford Group, which owns the Angel, (along with Hand in Hand in VaHi, Prince of Wales and Spotted Dog in Midtown) has closed pubs across the city! Why? Well apparently word on the street is that they lost their liquor license because they owed lots of back taxes. (Mick’s was forced to close for similar reasons recently)

So is this a temporary or permanent change? If the fate of Prince of Wales is any indicator, it looks like we may be saying good-bye to half-price food on Mondays and $1 pints on Sunday.

Stay tuned as the situation on the ground develops.

UPDATE: The sign on the door says that they didn’t receive their liquor license in time because there was a backlog of applications, but the pub is still serving lunch and dinner fare. Lights were on, music was blaring, but the parking lot was empty.

If there was a backlog of liquor license applications wouldn’t we be hearing an outcry from various restaurants throughout the city that were losing thousands a day because they couldn’t serve alcohol? I’m skeptical…

UPDATE2: Ok, perhaps there is a backlog? Midtown Arts Cinema’s license has also lapsed.

UPDATE3: The Angel is closed indefinitely according to a sign on the door

OK, one more thing. I’m a little attached to this story because the Angel is a stone’s throw from my house, and a good alternative when we want a quick pint or don’t want to wait in line at the Brick Store. But if the Angel is gone for good, I hope a new owner will snatch it up and open another great Decatur pub in this excellent space. (Brick Store…I’m looking in your direction. Don’t you need a satellite location??)

(Photo courtesy of Classic City Brew)