Food & Drink
Equality Eats Here — Peachy Corners Café
Tucked away in the Spalding Center complex on Spalding Drive, the charming front patio decked out with string lights welcomes you to Peachy Corners Cafe. The menu features favorites like espresso drinks, drip coffee, tea and pastries, and also includes a variety of bubble tea and smoothies. Mellow music lends the space a relaxed vibe, while a chalk wall covered in doodles and rolling cart stacked high with board games suggests the kid-friendly fun that takes place here.
Owner Long Tran opened Peachy Corners Cafe with his wife Susie Martono-Tran in January of 2020. “My wife has always wanted to open a bubble tea shop since I met her,” explained Long, who was inspired to open a cafe when he struggled to find good local coffee during his sons’ karate lessons across the street. “We decided to merge the two and sell really good coffee and really good bubble tea and thought that could work. There’s something to it because we are still here, despite the pandemic.”
Trial by fire
2020 was quite a challenging time to open a coffee shop. “We had no idea,” said Long, shaking his head at the memory. Peachy Corners Cafe was among the first restaurants in the area to shut their doors as the information they received from their friends and loved ones who live in other countries gave them advance notice as to the severity of COVID-19 and what to expect. From mid-March to early June the doors at the cafe remained closed and their fledgling business could have been in serious trouble. Fortunately, they had an idea that allowed them to stay afloat during those early days of the pandemic.
They began making drinks to donate to healthcare professionals and first responders, and quickly word got out about these charitable acts. The community responded positively, with many regular customers stepping up to donate funds that allowed Peachy Corners Cafe to give back to those on the front line, find a use for their perishables so they would not go to waste and operate in such a way that they did not lose money on the products they already had on hand before the shutdowns. “We didn’t make money off the donations, but it kept us from losing money as well,” explained Long. “I think that was very crucial to us, and it also became a way for us to continue engaging with the community and get our name out there as a new business.”
It was important to Long to take precautionary action in response to COVID-19. Not only did he want to keep his family safe, he also wanted to ensure that he had the necessary supplies like hand sanitizer, plexiglass dividers and upgraded filters for the cafe’s HVAC system which would ensure his staff and customers would also be safe when they eventually reopened
.Their efforts seem to have paid off. None of the staff has gotten sick, and these days the customers have started coming in again. “By the end of July, we saw business slowly return, and now I think we are starting to get a sense for the potential of what this space might be.” Peachy Corners Cafe has a loyal following and Long knows many of the regulars by name. Popular among working professionals during the day, there are also a lot of families and kids that frequent the cafe after school.
No space for hate
Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been those who have blamed Asian countries for the origin and spread of the COVID-19 virus. When those views were expressed in the media, the idea quickly took hold and Long witnessed a variety of responses from microaggressions and boycotting all the way to outright intimidation and violence.
“Atlanta has got this great community and great sense of community, but recently it seems there has been a rise in resentment,” said Long. “With rhetoric from our elected leaders, regardless of which political side they are on, when you are trying to score political points by going after North Korea or China, you can inadvertently paint targets on the backs of your Asian American citizens.”
Locally, the response to these ideas has been largely passive-aggressive rather than outright aggressive, unlike the hate crimes frequently taking place in cities like San Francisco and New York where Asian Americans are literally being attacked on the streets without provocation.
Throughout the pandemic, and amplified over the last four years, the rise in racism and hate crimes has set the stage for prejudice, hatred and fear. Armed protestors took to the streets of Chinatown in Chamblee last summer, telling Chinese business owners and citizens that they were not welcome.
Businesses on Buford Highway are receiving hateful phone calls or prank calls — and some have even had rocks thrown through their windows. Last spring ‘Wuhan plague’ plaques began popping up on signs and businesses throughout the city that depicted Winnie The Pooh eating a bat. These incidents represent a growing hostility towards Asian people as a whole, and ultimately culminated in the brutal slaying of eight people — six of whom were Asian women — working at historically Asian spas in March.
Long said he has heard reports of an increase in hatred and intimidation toward his Asian customers, especially teenagers and kids who have noted increased bullying at school. “I consider myself very fortunate,” said Long. “I think Peachtree Corners has been amazing and supportive of all of its businesses. I haven’t necessarily experienced anything like that, we haven’t gotten those phone calls to our cafe. But we have had times when a customer walks through the door and walks out, and I have no idea if it’s because of me.”
Making a difference
Not one to simply stand by and witness these upsetting trends and devastating losses, Long has taken an active role in helping the Asian American communities heal and find solidarity in the face of what is often overwhelming fear and worry. Though he does not lead any nonprofits, Long is well connected with a number of the organizations and community leaders that are making a difference. By leveraging those connections, he has helped to engage volunteers, spread information about the efforts of nonprofits he admires, like Stop AAPI Hate, and organize demonstrations such as the Stop Asian Hate rally which drew over 3,000 attendees to the Liberty Plaza in Downtown Atlanta. Long also organized a candlelight vigil for the victims in Dunwoody and a cultural celebration in Decatur which aimed to both educate and celebrate Asian American culture.
Back in April, Long was asked by the Democratic Party of Georgia to introduce President Biden during a drive-in rally at the Infinite Energy Center. During his speech, Long talked about his experience as the son of Vietnamese immigrants, the ways in which COVID-19 has affected the Asian American community and the recent election of two Democratic senators in Georgia. The fact that the rally happened to take place on the 46th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon during the Vietnam War cemented the importance of speaking on these issues for Long.
What can we do?
In addition to donating to causes such as Stop AAPI Hate, Long also has been advocating for local Asian-owned businesses by posting reviews online and encouraging people to frequent those restaurants and shops. He created and distributed Equality Eats Here stickers to display on the doors of eateries that are safe places for all people. Long also recommends talking to your kids about bullying and how to ensure their Asian American classmates don’t feel alone during these trying times.
“On a micro level, within our community, I would encourage people who live in Peachtree Corners to get to know the owners of local small businesses,” said Long. “It means even more when it’s an Asian or a Black-owned business and you get to know the owners by name. There’s a bond that you build, and it becomes harder to let all the hate and fear come into play when you personally know someone.”
Politan Row at The Forum is officially open!
Peachtree Corners’ newest hotspot has arrived, and they’re serving up a wide variety of delicious food, drinks and incredible vibes.
The food hall’s chef-driven restaurants include:
- 26 Thai Kitchen & Bar
- Boca Taqueria
- Gekko
- Kimchi Red
- LOL Burger Bar
- Sahirah Kebab & Curry
- Sheesh Mediterranean
Preview event
Peachtree Corners Magazine was invited to see the space and sample the food before the big grand opening. Here are a few photos from that sneak-peek, preview event.
Photos by George Hunter / Rannulf Media (@rannulf.media on Instagram)
The space
The food
The people
About Politan Row
Politan Row is a talent-driven food hall platform. Founded in 2014, they create design-forward destinations for the culinarily curious, offering an elevated food hall experience that encourages the exploration of shareable dishes in beautiful, inviting and communal spaces.
Their mission is to serve people who crave unique flavors, experiences and ideas while creating opportunities for local food and beverage talent to showcase their creativity and advance their careers. For more information, visit politanrow.com.
About The Forum Peachtree Corners
The Forum Peachtree Corners (The Forum) is a 500,000-square-foot outdoor lifestyle center originally opened in 2002.
Today, The Forum is home to 100,000 square feet of office, 10,000 square feet of community gathering space and nearly 70 retailers, restaurants and service providers, with more to come as part of an ongoing redevelopment project designed to transform the property into a mixed-use destination. The Forum is owned by Nuveen Real Estate and Jamestown through a joint venture partnership.
For more information, visit theforumpeachtree.com/politanrow.
Once the travel restrictions mandated by the coronavirus were lifted, it seems the world chose to shake off its cabin fever. Even people who weren’t all that adventurous found themselves headed to foreign lands.
That wanderlust wasn’t just good for the travel industry. It proved to be a boon for restaurants as well. Those specializing in exotic cuisines found new customers who’d either traveled abroad and wanted to relive their vacations through food or who were heading to an overseas destination and wanted to sample local flavors before arriving.
Marcia Reid, co-owner of Jamaican restaurant Kool Runnings said that since opening 30 years ago, they’ve prided themselves in educating diners about Caribbean food — what makes one island different from another and what to look for in authentic cuisine.
“Throughout the Caribbean, we’re known for using spices, coconut milk and fresh ingredients,” she said. “You’ll probably find some form of rice and peas or beans everywhere, but that’s where the similarities end.”
To aid readers who are contemplating a trip to the Caribbean or who are interested in trying the cuisine closer to home, Southwest Gwinnett magazine sought out local restaurateurs and dug into some of the history behind the bold flavors.
Variations on similar ingredients
The Caribbean, a region located between North and South America, is made up of 13 independent countries and several territories:
- Independent countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia and Trinidad and Tobago
- Territories: Anguilla, Aruba, Puerto Rico, Cayman Islands, Curaçao, Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, Turks and Caicos Islands, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands and other dependencies and municipalities
Although local produce plays a big part, Caribbean cuisine as a whole is a vibrant tapestry woven from the rich cultural heritage of the islands, as well as the region’s complex history of colonization and cultural exchange. African, European, Indigenous and Asian culinary traditions are all reflected in foods of the Caribbean.
Common ingredients include rice, beans, cassava, cilantro, bell peppers, chickpeas, tomatoes, sweet potatoes and coconut. The cooking methods, levels of heat, variations of spices and other factors take those staples in many different directions.
More than jerk
When many people consider Caribbean food, the first thing that comes to mind is Jamaica and perhaps its most famous dish — jerk chicken. But according to Reid, there is much more to her island home than spicy barbecue.
One of Kool Runnings most popular dishes is the Rasta pasta. A fusion of Italian and Jamaican flavors, the dish is penne pasta tossed with a jerk-infused cream sauce and colorful bell peppers.
“That’s a good introduction to Jamaican food,” said Reid. “It’s a little bit of the familiar with that extra little bit of Jamaican flair. It’s colorful, it’s very healthy tasting and it’s not as spicy as traditional jerk.”
The pepper of choice in Jamaican cuisine is the Scotch bonnet, which measures 100,000–350,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU) — making it 40 times hotter than the jalapeño, which typically measures 2,500–8,000 SHU. There’s a fruitiness to the pepper though, and the heat comes at the back end.
Still, Reid suggests washing down the meal with the famous Red Stripe beer or any other cold beverage to help with the heat.
Curries and more
For those who may be a little sensitive to spicier foods, curries are another Jamaican staple.
“There were so many different cultures that [helped] make up Jamaica,” she said. “It was like a trading post, and all kinds of spices were introduced.”
Indian influences brought about curries — from chicken to goat to chickpeas.
“We took the basic curry and made it our own,” Reid added.
With many people forgoing meat, Kool Runnings sells a lot of curried chickpeas. While naturally low in saturated fat, chickpeas are nutrient dense. They provide nearly 20 grams of protein in a half-cup serving, along with five grams of dietary fiber. That’s more protein than a boiled egg.
But Reid said many vegetarians enter the restaurant and revert to what she calls “flexitarians.”
“They’ll order rice and peas and ask for oxtail gravy,” she chuckled. “They don’t want to eat the actual meat, but the gravy is so good they can’t resist.”
Two countries, one island
Cristino Hiraldo had been studying medicine in his home county of Dominican Republic while working at a restaurant at the airport to support himself and his family. A car accident caused him to lose sight in one eye, and that derailed his medical career. Looking to change directions, he moved to the U.S. in November 2002. His wife and children came later in February 2003.
Having a passion for food and the skills obtained in the restaurant, Hiraldo found work at different Dominican restaurants in the area. When a place he was working at closed down, he decided to sell meals out of his house.
“A lot of people got used to his flavors and the way that he cooked, so it was pretty successful,” said his son, Cristian Hiraldo Garcia.
Although his dishes were based mainly on the cuisine he grew up on, he added a few touches from his training in international dining. Word of mouth kept the family busy, and soon they had saved enough to purchase a stand-alone restaurant that was going out of business.
Café Dominican
Since Café Dominican is open for breakfast, Milagros Garcia, Cristino Hiraldo’s wife and the restaurant’s co-owner, suggested serving traditional mangú tres golpes. Tres golpes means “three hits,” and the dish is considered the breakfast of kings.
It consists of mangú, or mashed plantains, queso de freir (a white cheese that gets crispy when fried because of its high melting point), fried salami and eggs. The dish is often topped off with tangy, pickled red onions to balance the richness.
Those familiar with Puerto Rican food may mistake mangú for mofongo. Although they both start with raw plantain, they end up very different. Mangú consists of boiled mashed plantains (green or ripe) mixed with butter, garlic and salt.
Shared roots, different flavors
The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti, so much of the food has similar roots but tastes decidedly different. A typical Haitian lunch is rice and beans, also known as riz et pois. Traditionally, it was meant to provide crucial carbohydrates to field workers. It is often preceded by a plate of viv — boiled plantains, boiled roots and tubers and meat.
Another must-have Dominican dish is la bandera, a traditional Dominican lunch. This dish’s name translates to “the flag” because its elements are meant to depict the colors of the Dominican flag (red, white and blue). Traditionally, the main ingredients are white rice, red kidney beans (although they can be substituted with black beans or pigeon peas) and either chicken or beef. This dish is paired with some type of salad and, quite often, tostones (fried green plantain).
Contact information
Kool Runnings
5450 Peachtree Pkwy., Norcross
(770) 441-0207 • For orders: (770) 441-0206
Café Dominican
4650 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Norcross
(770) 758-3374
Popular local eateries round out seven-vendor lineup at Politan Row at The Forum, slated to debut early 2025
Food hall veteran and hospitality operator Politan Group is gearing up to open its third Atlanta-area Politan Row in Peachtree Corners in early 2025.
The company recently announced four more concepts joining Politan Row at The Forum, including Chef Helio Bernal’s Boca Taqueria, Alice and Joey Lee’s Kimchi Red, Cassidy Jones’ LOL Burger Bar and Abdul and Rabia Siddiqui’s Sahirah Kebab & Curry.
“Following the success of Politan Row at Colony Square, it was a no-brainer to partner with Politan Group on bringing this experience to Peachtree Corners,” said Adam Schwegman, director and head of retail leasing at Jamestown. “This destination is much more than your average food hall, and we can’t wait for the community to get a taste of what these local chefs will be serving up in downtown PTC.”
Boca Taqueria and Kimchi Red
Boca Taqueria —Peachtree Corners resident, Chef Helio Bernal, launched his career in 2017 with The Real Mexican Vittles, a pop-up cart and food truck business focused primarily on serving bites around the Atlanta brewery scene.
On the heels of its success, Bernal opened Summerhill’s Boca Cocina de Barrio in 2022, his first brick and mortar location with a full menu and craft bar offering Mexican cuisine like birria tacos, queso fundido and enmoladas. An offshoot of his Summerhill location, Boca Taqueria will be Bernal’s first counter-service restaurant in his own neighborhood.
Kimchi Red —With two existing Georgia suburb locations, local owners Alice and Joey Lee will debut their third installment of Kimchi Red in Peachtree Corners.Ranked number one of 25 on Yelp’s “Top Spots for Fried Chicken in the United States,” Kimchi Red is best known for its Korean fried chicken.
The menu features family-style portions of fried chicken paired with unique flavors such as a honey butter balsamic glaze, kimchi, onion stir-fry sauce and more. Additional offerings include kimchi fried rice, signature plates with proteins like bulgogi or skirt steak and specialty noodle dishes.
LOL Burger Bar and Sahirah Kebab & Curry
LOL Burger Bar — Newnan, Georgia native, Cassidy Jones, always felt the pull of entrepreneurship, so in 2022,she dove in headfirst with the opening of LOL Burger Bar in West Midtown. Jones’ LOL stands for “live out loud,” and at her restaurant, the staff strives to follow that motto by creating memorable guest experiences with every visit.
On the menu, customers can choose from a selection of signature griddled burgers loaded with interesting toppings like macaroni and cheese and pulled pork or try something more classic like a traditional cheeseburger. Chicken wings, fries and milkshakes are also available. This expansion marks the second location for the brand and first foray into a suburban market.
Sahirah Kebab & Curry —Sahirah Kebab & Curry is a fast-casual Indian restaurant led by husband-wife team Abdul and Rabia Siddiqui. The duo has been cooking for many years in notable Atlanta restaurants, with the former most recently holding chef positions at Tabla and Blue India.
Guests can expect prominent Indian cuisine favorites such as curries, samosas and biryani. This restaurant will be the Siddiqui’s second location, marking their first expansion out of Politan Row at Colony Square.
Full lineup of restaurants
These businesses join previously announced 26 Thai Kitchen & Bar, Gekko Kitchen and Sheesh Mediterranean to round out the seven-vendor lineup at Politan Row at The Forum, in addition to Italian-American family restaurant and wine bar, Millie’s Pizzeria, which will be housed in a standalone building adjacent to the food hall.
Redevelopment at The Forum
Politan Row at The Forum’s opening will mark another significant milestone in the property’s ongoing redevelopment, started by North American Properties’ Atlanta subsidiary (NAP Atlanta) last spring.
NAP Atlanta was acquired by global, design-focused real estate investment and management firm Jamestown in October 2024. Jamestown is now an investor in The Forum, through an affiliate, and oversees management along with retail leasing.
About The Forum Peachtree Corners
The Forum Peachtree Corners (The Forum) is a 500,000-square-foot outdoor lifestyle center originally opened in 2002.
Today, The Forum is home to 100,000 square feet of office, 10,000 square feet of community gathering space and nearly 70 retailers, restaurants and service providers, with more to come as part of an ongoing redevelopment project designed to transform the property into a mixed-use destination. The Forum is owned by Nuveen Real Estate and Jamestown through a joint venture partnership.
For more information and to stay updated on the latest property news and happenings, follow The Forum on Facebook, Instagram and X or visit theforumpeachtree.com.
About Politan Row
Politan Row is a talent-driven food hall platform. Founded in 2014, they create design-forward destinations for the culinarily curious, offering an elevated food hall experience that encourages the exploration of shareable dishes in beautiful, inviting and communal spaces.
Their mission is to serve people who crave unique flavors, experiences and ideas while creating opportunities for local food and beverage talent to showcase their creativity and advance their careers. For more information, visit politanrow.com.
May Mobility Offers Autonomous Driverless Rides in Peachtree Corners
A Look at Simpsonwood Park’s Past and Plans for Future Development
PCBA Accepting Scholarship Applications for Class of 2025 Seniors
Peachtree Corners and ConnVAS Collaborate on Intelligent Crosswalk Technology
The Jubilee Year Comes to Peachtree Corners
Peachtree Corners State of the City 2024
PCBA Panel: Good Mental Health is Key to Business Success
Building Community Through a Love of Cars
Greater Atlanta Christian School Announces $30M Campus Investment
Exciting Day Trips from Peachtree Corners, GA: Adventure Awaits!
LOL Burger Bar Owner Honored on 40 Under 40 List
Councilmember Eric Christ: Property Valuations and HB 581
May Mobility Offers Autonomous Driverless Rides in Peachtree Corners
PCBA Accepting Scholarship Applications for Class of 2025 Seniors
Building Community Through a Love of Cars
PCBA Panel: Good Mental Health is Key to Business Success
Light up the Corners [Video]
Capitalist Sage: Business Leadership in Your Community [Podcast]
Cliff Bramble: A Culinary Adventure through Italy
Top 10 Brunch Places in Gwinnett County
A Hunger for Hospitality
THE CORNERS EPISODE 3 – BLAXICAN PART 1
Top 10 Indoor Things To Do This Winter
The ED Hour: What it takes to Remove Barriers from Education
-
Tech5 days agoMay Mobility Offers Autonomous Driverless Rides in Peachtree Corners
-
Parks & Recreation1 week ago
A Look at Simpsonwood Park’s Past and Plans for Future Development
-
Community1 week ago
PCBA Accepting Scholarship Applications for Class of 2025 Seniors
-
City of Peachtree Corners1 week ago
Peachtree Corners State of the City 2024
