Exciting Mix of Businesses Coming to The Dale

Residents and visitors will soon be able to dine at new restaurants, enjoy a scoop of award-winning gelato, peruse a bookstore, sip a cocktail from a rooftop bar, and so much more at The Dale in Avondale Estates overlooking the picturesque Town Green.

The mix of offerings at Avondale Estate's new commercial buildings anchoring the Town Green is coming into focus as the businesses customize spaces along the city's main thoroughfare.

The exciting mix of food destinations includes Italian and Tex-Mex restaurants, a rooftop bar and a renowned gelato shop that crafts sweet creations with innovative flavors (think banana pudding and lemon coconut cake) using traditional Italian techniques. A beloved local bookstore will also move into its new space, along with a modern dental office.

The city's Town Green has quickly evolved into a vibrant community hub, complete with an open-air pavilion, performance stage, a children's play area, and expansive green space. This latest development builds on the lively community spot and takes advantage of the dynamic and thoughtfully designed spac. Plus, the buildings will include restroom facilities available to the public during the Town Green's operating hours.

The development team, Healey Weatherholtz Properties and Fabric Developers, designed The Dale to complement the greenspace. Years of planning and collaboration through a public-private partnership between the city, the Avondale Estates Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and the development team have resulted in a community-oriented space designed to align with the city's Downtown Master Plan to build a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly downtown.

"We designed The Dale as a destination to serve the Avondale Estates community," said Coleman Weatherholtz with Healey Weatherholtz Properties. "From the start, the vision has been to create a true extension of the neighborhood-a place where restaurants, shops and businesses work alongside the Town Green.

"We're thrilled to see The Dale come to life, bringing shops, dining and services right to our beloved Town Green. The DDA invested in the Town Green to attract downtown development that would not only benefit residents and draw new businesses but also boost existing businesses by increasing downtown visitors. This growth helps create a healthier balance in the city's tax base, with the commercial district contributing more overall," said Dave Deiters, chair of the DDA.

"It's amazing to see the vision we've worked so hard on over many years coming to life," added Mayor Jonathan Elmore. "The new development symbolizes progress with a purpose. This development serves as a testament to our dedication to smart growth as we continue to work to build a dynamic and inclusive downtown."

Cremalosa Gelato is set to open in this fall, making it the first business to launch at The Dale. Additional establishments will soon follow, with opening dates projected for later this year and early next year.

Anticipated opening: fall of 2025

Cremalosa Gelato:
Owned by Meridith Ford, an acclaimed pastry chef and local food writer, Cremalosa opened in February 2020, a mile away on E. College Ave in Decatur, on the plaza level of the Cortland Decatur East apartment. Known for its handmade gelato and sorbetto, its seasonal menu features traditional Italian flavors (Mediterranean Pistachio, Piedmont Hazelnut, Tiramisu) as well as flavors inspired by Ford's personal background of Southern desserts and American treats (Sweet Potato Pie, Malted Milk Ball).

It's a go-to spot for ice cream lovers, with multiple awards, from "Best of Atlanta" in Atlanta magazine to "Best Ice Cream in Georgia" from Food & Wine magazine.

"I'm so excited to be moving to a larger, more visible location," Ford said, "and I can't wait to see again all the families we've served over the years, once we reopen."

The new, larger location will offer more indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a new dessert case featuring various treats, including traditional tiramisu, Boston Cream Cupcakes, Chess Bars, and Dubai Chocolate Mousse. Ford will also feature a seasonal spritz bar with Aperol, Hugo and Limoncello as mainstays, and seasonal spritzes with house-made syrups, beginning with a Pomegranate Spritz this fall.

Anticipated openings: late 2025/early 2026.

Green Coyote
Expect bold Tex-Mex flavor with fresh ingredients and plenty of Southwest flair at this first-floor restaurant. It's the kind of place where the salsa and guacamole keep coming, the margaritas stay cold, and the vibe will invite you to stick around awhile. Menu highlights include a rotating lineup of tacos from chicken tinga and fried chicken to veggie, shrimp, and a Korean cowboy taco that keeps things fun. Margaritas will be made with house-pressed juices from Persian limes and tangy oranges, balanced with organic agave nectar. They'll also be available in skinny and seasonal varieties, offering fresh takes on a classic.

Parma Tavern
Enjoy a refined neighborhood gathering place for Italian-inspired comfort food in a no-fuss atmosphere. The menu draws from Italian tavern classics, with pizzas crisped in a 600-degree brick oven, fresh pasta tossed in scratch-made sauces, juicy house-ground burgers, and plenty of small plates to share.

Both restaurants are also prioritizing to-go ordering to make it easier for busy families to order and pick up meals.

Bar Top
A rooftop bar above Parma, Bar Top features a spacious covered patio overlooking the Town Green. Inside, a cozy bar complements the outdoor setting, while a fireplace and private event space create a welcoming backdrop. The menu features classic cocktails, delicious mocktails, and light bites, along with a wide selection of local draft and bottled beers, and curated wines.

The three establishments will be operated by MooCoo Group, an Atlanta-based company owned by industry veterans Rob Caswick and Jeff Newsham.

The Book Bird
This cozy independent bookstore in Avondale Estates will soon relocate to an expanded space in The Dale. Known for offering an array of books, including a special section reserved for local authors, the owners created an inviting space with comfy seating areas.

Originally opened in 2023, the bookstore holds a variety of events, including book clubs, thematic events (like a Halloween event on the psychology of being scared) and a "Not Your Mother's Menopause Talk," as well as open mic poetry.

They also host several book clubs, including ones focused on non-fiction, fantasy, romance, and one that reads banned books. They even have a Cookbook Club, which partners with Vivian Lee, local chef and owner of Leftie Lee's.

Co-owners of the bookstore, Avondale residents Brittany Smith and Amie Waltzer emphasize The Book Bird is always about connection-through stories, conversations and community.

"Reading gives us this sense of empathy and self and world awareness that things like social media can whittle away at," said Waltzer. "Like we tell our kids, the store is named The Book Bird because reading allows us to spread our wings and take flight on the adventures books offer."

Smith also stressed that The Book Bird is a "space for anyone and everyone." She said she and Waltzer are deeply committed to curating programming centered around books, authors and stories that create meaningful conversations and real connections.

"We see our move into The Dale as an opportunity to broaden our impact, allowing us to cater to a wider audience where folks can shop, grab a light bite or drink, and engage in some of our book and story-related events that create experiences that are outside the box," said Smith.

Birdi Dental
A modern dental practice with a patient-first approach, Dr. Jalpa Birdi's new location on the upper level of the Dale will offer comprehensive dental services in a calming, contemporary setting.

"I want to be a space that centers around the patient from the very first phone call," said Birdi. "I want to support people who feel anxious about dentistry. No rushing, no judgement, no stress, just personalized care, with a bit of British humor in there."

Birdi completed her undergraduate studies at Queen Mary University of London, England, graduating with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry. She then earned a master's degree in biology from Georgia State University and a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Medical College of Georgia.

Her practice focuses on delivering excellence in dental care and educating patients about their scope of treatment options. She is an avid student of her profession with continuing education courses on implant placement, cosmetic dentistry and conscious sedation.

She is also committed to serving those without adequate access to dental care, having served on annual "Give a Smile Days" a national initiative that provides free oral health care, education and preventive treatments to underserved children, and the Georgia War Veterans "Dentist for Della" project. She also volunteers with The Special Olympics, providing free dental care to athletes.