ATLANTA — For many foodies and visitors to Atlanta, a trip to the Buckhead Diner was a mandatory stop. Though the iconic restaurant had stopped serving food during the pandemic, there was hope it would eventually reopen.

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The Buckhead Life Restaurant Group, which owns the diner, made it official Wednesday -- the Buckhead Diner will be no more.

After 35-years of fried chicken, blue cheese chips and meatloaf, the restaurant group declined to renew its lease on the property which sits on Piedmont Road in Buckhead and it means the doors are shuttered for good.

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The restaurant was a gamechanger of sorts, named the “Best New Restaurant Design in the World” back in 1988 by International Hotel and Restaurant Design Magazine. The diner, along with sister restaurant Chops, were selected as prototype American restaurants at Euro Disney in Paris.

As you entered the restaurant, a virtual who’s-who of celebrity’s who’ve visited Atlanta and made a trip to the diner lined the walls.

From the art deco booths to wide open windows, the restaurant felt like a traditional diner with upscale food.

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Buckhead Life still owns six restaurants in the metro Atlanta area including places like the Atlanta Fish Market, just down the street from the diner location.

All of those restaurants are still open for business.

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