Dave sends in this pic from Clairemont Road, as the new Courtyard by Marriott sign goes up at the old Holiday Inn.

A new era of hospitality is upon us!!  Can you taste it!?

There have been rumblings for a few weeks now, but it looks like it’s finally official.

According to a letter by Private Bank of Buckhead president Charlie Crawford, Judy Turner and Melanie Funk – formerly of Decatur First Bank – will head up a new branch of Private Bank of Buckhead in downtown Decatur called “Private Bank of Decatur”.

Mr. Crawford continues…

These seasoned bankers have long served the Decatur market and are doing so again from the strength of an organization like ours. This is a great opportunity to introduce a broader market — in this case the people of Decatur — to the high-touch service model that Private Bank of Buckhead clients have come to know and embrace.

What do the people of Decatur need to know about us and our name? We take an egalitarian approach, believing that all clients should benefit from the private banking approach other banks reserve for a certain few.

A location for the new bank branch has yet to be announced, but keep an eye out!

Looks like Boutique Karma is “pulling a Little Shop” and moving into the old Rockit! Boutique space on Sycamore onto Decatur Square from their current location right off the Square, next to the old Johnny Pizza.  Groovy!

Dancing Goats Coffee Bar has been a Decatur retail success story for near on, what?  Five years now?  A mix of great coffee, good location and ample parking for both your car and rear-end make it one of the happening-est places in a city happening places.

In that time, the Washington-based coffee company – with a roasting plant here in Atlanta – has not added any other retail locations around metro Atlanta.  But that all changes today…

What Now Atlanta? reports…

Dancing Goats, a coffee bar in Decatur, will open a temporary store in the former auto-service bay area on the corner of Glen Iris and North Avenue at the former City Hall East site, according to Mike Ferguson, business development director for the coffee brand.

The coffee bar will relocate to a permanent 1,000-square-foot space in about two years, Ferguson told What Now Atlanta in a telephone interview Thursday.

Which leads to the obviously premature question of: is Ponce City Market the new Decatur??

Dun, dun, dun.  Dun, dun, dun, dun dun dun…and so on.

It looks like the Decatur half of the AsianCajuns covert-ops-ed it into the soon-to-be Courtyard by Marriott on Clairemont Ave and took some pics of the under-reno interiors!

CLICK over to the Visit Decatur blog to see all of her stealth photos and marvel at how she took pictures of lots of people who obviously had no clue she was there! (I’m pretty sure she was hanging from a zip-line when she took the above pic.)

Dan nah nah…dan nah naaaah.  Dan nah nah, Dan NAH!

Lots of folks have been clamoring for some more info on the new loose tea shop that was reported to be opening in the old “Wild Seed” spot along East Ponce de Leon Ave.  Marla just gave us the name – Cozee Tea’s – and that’s all we needed!  Their website is already up and humming.  Here’s the summary from the “About Us” page…

New to the downtown Decatur area, encompassing that home away from home feel consumers look for, CozeeTea’s is the new hub for comfort, relaxation, and professionalism. This family owned establishment, started by Leigh Canada, who has over 27 years of corporate experience, is sure to be your new sip and socialize spot. The ambiance, with its warm colors and vintage styles, is inviting to people of all ages and backgrounds. The wide selection includes something for every taste bud. The teas are also prepared in numerous ways including, hot, cold, smoothies, latte’s and bubble, which means there is always a perfect cup with your name on it.

According to Decatur Planning Director Amanda Thompson, the owner of the Big H property, Bruce Cohen, has submitted plans to the city’s Planning Office for a Family Dollar at the Oakhurst site, but does not yet have a signed lease in place.

The much-discussed Dollar General in that location also went through the planning stages, but a lease was never signed.

Wondering where the heck “the Big H Property” is?  Here’s a streetview for ya.

First on DM…

Feel like Decatur is due for some good news?  How about this?

Only a few days after it was announced that Eddie’s Attic was being sold by owner Bob Ephlin to well-known concert promoter Alex Cooley and his business partner, Dave Mattingly, vague rumors started swirling around Decatur that the Attic had some “exciting news” that would soon be announced.  Those rumors eventually got more specific, suggesting that founder and namesake, Eddie Owen, would be returning to the Attic to take up his old job as talent booker, just a little over a month after leaving that post to pursue a new opportunity at the Red Clay Theatre in Duluth.

Today DM confirmed it.

Owen tells us that he’ll be back after the sale on December 1st.  He adds, “We agreed last Saturday for me to assist them if they would assist me with Eddie Owen Presents in Duluth. I am honored to associate with [Cooley and Mattingly].”

He also relayed this interesting tidbit, “The 1st concert I ever attended was at the old Atlanta City Auditorium in 1972, the Allman Brothers, Marshall Tucker, and Wet Willie!  Great show and I will never forget it.  And yep…it was Alex Cooley Presents!!”

Welcome back Eddie.

From Eddie’s Attic’s Bob Ephlin…

NEW OWNERS ANNOUNCED FOR EDDIE’S ATTIC

November 10, 2011 – Decatur, Georgia – Legendary concert promoter, Alex Cooley, and his business partner and long time friend, former Delta Captain, Dave Mattingly, will be purchasing Eddie’s Attic effective December 1st, 2011.  In a brief note to the Club’s staff, customers, vendors and performers, current owner Bob Ephlin comments:

“It’s been my privilege to work alongside the dedicated staff at Eddie’s Attic for the past 6 1/2 years.  I’m extremely proud of what we’ve accomplished, and of our stewardship of a brand that, for almost 20 years now, has been dedicated to amplifying the magic of the artist/listener connection in an intimate listening room setting.  I’m grateful for the support and loyalty of our customers and the City of Decatur, and thankful for the many aspiring and accomplished songwriters and musicians that have graced our stage.

I’m confident that Alex and Dave will do a great job taking Eddie’s Attic to the next level.  I believe its best days are ahead of it, and I look forward to supporting its continued success as an advisor, loyal customer, and fan of performing songwriters.

Thank you for your friendship and support these past years, and for helping to remind others that Live Music Matters.”

For more information on the new owners, and their mission, please contact Dave Mattingly at , or Alex Cooley at .

An update on takeover of Decatur First Bank by Fidelity Bank.

Carl Black took this picture of the sign at what was once the main branch of DBF yesterday, which announces that both the main Commerce Drive office and the Kroger satellite locations will close.  Carl reports that Fidelity must provide 30 days notice to customers before doing so, but the plan is to close both branches before Christmas.

In related news, an inside source tells DM that six former Decatur First Bank employees have been laid-off to date due to the change in ownership.