K5 Hospitality hiring amid wave of restaurant closures in West Midtown
Open call interviews for restaurant workers
K5 Hospitality CEO Ayman Kamel is inviting local restaurant workers who have lost their jobs because of closures to apply for a job at one of their restaurants.
ATLANTA - As restaurant closures continue to impact workers across metro Atlanta—particularly in West Midtown—one local hospitality group is stepping up to offer relief.
What we know:
K5 Hospitality CEO Ayman Kamel is encouraging displaced restaurant employees to apply for open positions at his group’s establishments. The company is hosting open-call interviews Monday through Friday from 2 to 4 p.m.
Available positions are at several popular spots, including both Five Church locations, Alto Toro, and Virtue Rooftop.
The backstory:
There have been multiple restaurant closures around Atlanta over the last few months for various reasons. However, most closures seem to be a result of increased rent and less foot traffic.
- Taco Mac closes original Virginia-Highland location More info
- Bartaco in West Midtown closes May 5 More info
- Jekyll Brewing closes all locations May 11 More info
- Junior's Pizza in Summerhill announces closing with ‘great sadness’ More info
- Best End Brewing (White Street SW): Closing Jan. 1. No reason given for closure. More info.
- Torched Hop Brewery (Ponce de Leon Avenue): Closing after New Year's Eve. No reason given for closure. More info.
- West Egg Cafe (West Midtown): Closing on Dec. 29 after more than two decades in business. Cited decline in customers after COVID-19 pandemic. More info
- Boho115 (Decatur): Closed on Oct. 21 after just over a year in business. No reason was given. More info
- The Bookhouse Pub (Ponce de Leon): Announced closure in September, with a final date expected by January 31. More info
- BoruBoru Sushi (Emory Point): Closed on Oct. 30 with no explanation provided. More info
- CraveWell Cafe (Sandy Springs): Announced closure on Nov. 14 after six years in business, teasing a possible return in West Midtown. More info
- Damsel: Atlanta's first cabaret restaurant closed suddenly in September, citing operational challenges. More info
- Elsewhere Brewing: Both Grant Park and West Midtown locations closed on Oct. 28 due to a 40–50% drop in sales. More info
- The General Muir (Sandy Springs): Closed in late September, citing pandemic-related challenges. More info
- Georgetown Cupcake (Buckhead Village): Closed in late November. No explanation provided. More info
- Java Jive (Ponce de Leon Avenue): Closing in December after 31 years. More info
- Mi Barrio (Grant Park): Closed in August after 26 years, with owners citing retirement. More info
- Original Pancake House (Cheshire Bridge Road): Quietly closed in August after 35 years, possibly due to the massive fire across the street that destroyed a retail and apartment building. More info
- Pho Cue (Glenwood Park): Closed on Sept. 13 after three years. More info
- The Ivy (Buckhead): Closing after 14 years, with its final day on New Year’s Eve. More info
- This Is It! (Panola Road): Closed due to Georgia Department of Transportation’s traffic improvement plans.
- Taylor’d Bar-B-Q (Avondale Estates): Closed in November due to significant sales declines caused by nearby construction. More info
- Virgil's Gullah Kitchen and Bar (College Park): Destroyed by fire in October; owners vow to rebuild. More info
- Wahlburgers (The Battery Atlanta): Closed on Nov. 3; Shake Shack is slated to replace it. More info