What could this be?

Among the items on the agenda for tonight’s Decatur City Commission meeting – approving a liquor license for “consumption on premises of beer and wine” to “The Cask Room” at 900 West College Avenue.  That’s the address of the strip which includes, among other businesses – Avellino’s (pizza), Ale Yeah! (beer), and Revolution Doughnuts (well…donuts).  The application notes the new business will “be located in the former yoga studio space to the rear of the commercial building”.

No traces of the online of what “The Cask Room” will be, but it sure sounds interesting.

Screenshot courtesy of Google Streetview

Carl points there’s a new bakeshop open in Decatur as of today.  Ratio: Bakeshop is now open at 755 Commerce Drive Suite T-100 – that’s the Commerce Plaza highrise. (Here’s it’s location on a Google Streetview)

The shop’s Facebook page describes itself as…

We are a modern American patisserie that seeks to elevate the art of creating unforgettable cakes, cheesecakes, pies, brownies, bars, cookies and candies by striking the perfect balance in everything we do—from our use of the finest ingredients and seasonal foods available to our infusion of pure passion and sublime flavor in everything we create. And a little fun with fractions along the way…

Creative Loafing profiled and interviewed Ratio owner Chris Flores back in 2013 when he was working out of a shared kitchen and supplying pastries to many restaurants around Atlanta. Of his creations, Cliff Bostock commented…

I ate my way through a box of his creations recently – some kinda arty, most homey – and loved them. They are exactly what he says, the kind of pastries that transport you to childhood in a flash.

Mama Bath + Body just sent out this announcement…

As Mama Bath + Body approaches its sixth retail store anniversary, its Decatur-based retail store will be moving down the street to a spacious storefront in downtown Avondale Estates at the end of May. And later this summer, the popular handmade soap shop will launch a second location in the newly developed Krog Street Market in the Old Fourth Ward.

Mama opened its flagship store on the outskirts of downtown Decatur in 2009 and has been growing slowly and steadily while looking for retail space number two in the intown Atlanta area.  But the right scenario — a small footprint with heavy foot traffic — didn’t present itself until Krog Street Market was announced last year. In the meantime, owner Emilie Sennebogen Bryant and her team focused on growing their wholesale business and Mama products can currently be found in over 80 stores in 25 states. But now they’re looking forward to expanding locally.

She never intended to open two stores in the same season, but once Krog Street Market became a reality, Sennebogen Bryant realized their tiny shop wouldn’t be able to accommodate the increase in manufacturing necessary to sustain two retail stores and their growing wholesale business. Moving their flagship store less than a mile down the street to a bigger space in downtown Avondale will not only give them more room to manufacture, but they’ll also have a bigger retail sales area, longer store hours and a dedicated classroom to accommodate their growing soap and candle making classes and DIY supplies. And as an added plus, downtown Avondale offers plenty of parking.

Across town, a 400 square foot stall in the Krog Street Market that will open later this summer will give Mama the well-traveled storefront that Sennebogen has been looking for in a second location. The new store’s small footprint will allow the company to focus exclusively on products and customer service and more specifically on consumer education, a big component of the company’s core mission. And they are in good company. Given the quality of the businesses who will occupy the market alongside Mama, Krog Street Market is certain to draw their ideal customer base; shoppers who will be looking for high quality, artisanal products that are made locally.

The Avondale store will have its grand opening event on Saturday, June 7th from 10am to 5pm. The first 30 shoppers will receive swag bags and all attendees can register to win a free soap class.  The new Krog Street store is slated to open late summer. For more information, visit www.loveyourmama.com.

This was passed around on FFAF, but here’s a bit more info – if not a location quite yet.  Arepa Mia, which has its first location in the Sweet Auburn Curb Market, writes on their Facebook page…

Okay… I wanted to wait until May 25th to give you all the news about AREPA MIA coming to Decatur. But since this Sunday is Mother’s Day, and Arepa Mia is inspired by my Mother. What better day to give you the news! YES! Arepa Mia will be in Decatur as a second home opening early June. 

Ariel La Boutique – located in the 330 West Ponce building – has a sign in their window announcing their closing.

The shop opened back in April 2012, replacing the old Fabutique space.