In case you were looking to open your own restaurant in downtown Decatur – and honestly, who isn’t these days? – the Schumacher Group just posted the Watershed space for lease on their website.

In related news, Patch editor Ralph Ellis snagged a nice little interview with former Watershed chef Scott Peacock about Watershed’s impending move outside of the Decatur city limits.  Here’s a little taste from Peacock…

Watershed and Peacock are often credited with sparking the town’s growth and making Decatur a dining destination. In a telephone interview, Peacock said he doesn’t know if that’s true.

“I’m not somebody who thinks in those terms, though it’s a wonderful thing to hear,” he said.

(Pic above from courtesy of Schumacher)

Creative Loafing’s Omnivore blog reports that Watershed employees were informed today that the Decatur mainstay restaurant would close for good next Saturday.

A message on the Watershed website confirms it.

One of Atlanta’s most iconic southern restaurants reveals its plans for relocation in Atlanta. The new location (to be announced) will combine a fine dining experience with a casual and comfortable atmosphere. The “new” Watershed will continue to serve the outstanding southern-inspired cuisine it has become famous for, including the award winning Southern Fried Chicken and Sunday Brunch. The restaurant design will offer guests a vibrant bar, spacious dining room, large outdoor patio, and ample parking. It will also include a private dining room where neighborhood residents, businesses and other community groups will be able to entertain, conduct business meetings, or celebrate special occasions. Owner Emily Saliers commented, “While it was not an easy decision to leave Decatur, we are unable to offer our guests these added amenities in our current location. We are deeply grateful to the Decatur community for 13 years of support.” Watershed’s Decatur location will be closing after dinner on Saturday evening August 6th so that the owners can begin working on the new restaurant which they anticipate opening by the end of the year.

I guess all good things come to an end, but this will certainly shock more than a couple Decaturites used to their Tuesday Fried Chicken and Sunday brunch.  While Brick Store is largely credited with the revival of the Decatur pub scene, Scott Peacock’s Watershed is generally often cited for making Decatur a high-end dining destination.

Two Decatur chefs are listed among the semi-finalists for this year’s James Beard Foundation awards.

• Scott Peacock of Watershed fame is one of 20 semi-finalists in the Outstanding Chefs category.
• Cakes & Ale’s Billy Allin is one of 20 semi-finalists in the “Best Chef: Southeast” category.

Peacock was an “Outstanding Chef” semi-finalist last year as well. This is Allin’s first nomination.

Congrats to both Decatur semi-finalists!

Jump over to CL’s Omnivore (who also gets the hat-tip!) for a wrap-up of all nominated chef’s with kitchens around Atlanta.  And for the full list of semi-finalists across the nation, click here (PDF).

Photos ripped from the restaurants’ respective websites.

The AJC’s Peach Buzz reports…

Who was that enjoying Southern cuisine at Watershed in Decatur? None other than The Boss herself, Diana Ross, sharing butter bean hummus, salmon croquettes and a hot veggie plate with two lunch companions. First V-103’s Ryan Cameron rang us about this, as he and Atlanta Grammy winner Ciara were there. “The Boss shut it down!” he reported. But Buzz confirmed it with sous chef Robbie Kornacki, who gave the Motown legend’s table a complimentary pimento cheese and celery appetizer. “We do have a lot of celebrities here,” Kornacki said. “but I think people were kind of shocked to see her. I was. But yes, she was here —- hair and all.”

What other celebrities have done Watershed in the past?