On Thursday, it was made official. Atlantic Neighborhood Eatery, one of Savannah’s more popular local eateries announced via social media that they would not be returning for dinner service.
The news coming from Jason Restivo, the man who ran the show every day and every hour that Atlantic was in business at the intersection of Victory Drive and Drayton Street. At the edge of Savannah’s now booming Starland District.
“The decision was not an easy or likeable one to make.” Restivo said in a statement on Instagram. “All of us witnessed many changes within our families, neighborhoods and our city. We’ve all made an effort to make lemonade out of lemons.” he said.
The news comes to us as more disappointment than surprise. A number of weeks ago, news started to leak into the shadows around Savannah that this announcement would come. It was a matter of when not if.
Ironically, I was first told about the possibilities at Atlantic just 3 or 4 days after Jason didn’t respond to a text requesting an interview to discuss the pandemic. It was the first time in 10 years that had happened. So days later when I was told what was going on behind the scenes, it made much more sense.
So the biggest question out there that will be asked is “Why?” Why would one of the most popular and welcoming restaurants in Savannah just close up shop without a fight to stay alive during a pandemic?
We’ve seen so many others adjust their concepts, business models, change menus, hours and anything else they can to continue to operate. That didn’t happen here.
Some restaurants have closed and have chosen to close for the long haul without a discussion about a return. That is an option as well, but clearly not the course Atlantic chose.
Atlantic fades away without so much as a whimper. Which could mean there was trouble behind the scenes before this year’s pandemic shut everything down.
That said, Jason and Jennifer Restivo deserve a ton of credit for making that space what it became. Let’s not forget that before they took it over, it was a stuck-in-the 1970s looking eyesore of a dentist’s office.
I think it is fair to say that street corner of our city will glow for many years to come, thanks to the time and sacrifice invested by the Restivos and their business partners.
There’s been talk of another restaurant group in Savannah attempting to purchase the space, which now sits an incredibly desirable location.
Will that happen? At this point given the current climate, that remains anyone’s guess. But lets hope whatever ends up there is as local, friendly and desirable as Atlantic was since the day they opened in November of 2016.
I have a text in to Jason, and hope to share his story. We’ll keep you posted.
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