After nearly a year's absence, Havana Sandwich shop is being resurrected, strangely though, this is occurring in two different locations. Havana sandwich shop is set to reopen in the Crossroads Village Shopping Center... or is it? Two separate restaurants are set to open on Buford Highway, both named Havana Restaurant and both claiming to be the resurrected location of the original eatery at Druid Hills and Buford Highway that burned to the ground just over a year ago. Each restaurant even duplicates the iconic palm tree that extended the "v" in Havana. The location at the Crossroads Shopping Center (Buford Highway at Clairmont Road- pictured above) is being opened by Debbie Benedit and the location at Northeast Plaza (pictured below) is being opened by William Benedit. Just so we are clear, Debbie was co-founder of the original Havana Sandwich Shop with her late husband Eddie, William is a relative of Eddies. Mrs. Benedit's store is scheduled to open Today whereas Mr. Benedit is looking at opening January 1st. Both locations are within 3 miles of the original, though Mr. Benedit may have the advantage of being in a larger space in an established shopping center in the former Cafe Mex (originally built as a Long John Silvers), Mrs. Benedit's location is smaller and is surrounded by empty storefronts, so she won't have the benefit built-in traffic. One bright spot: the Crossroads Village Shopping Center is home to the south's most successful and high traffic El Pollo Loco location as well as one of metro Atlanta's few Aldi locations. ToNeTo Atlanta
William Benedit is not only a relative of the late Eddie Benedit, he is his brother. Both brothers along with their father, Guido Benedit opened the doors of Havana Sandwich Shop on February 9, 1976. Debbie, the wife of Eddie, was part of the success of the restaurant as well. Both Benedit's are part of the history, and God willing, both will be successful in his/her venture. Just to set the record straight.
ReplyDeleteLooking at the picture on Debbie's site, I see all the faces I used to see behind the counter and through the kitchen window. That tells me where the food is gonna have that "old" Havana taste ...
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