Atlanta restaurants see uptick in business Saturday night with no curfew

Many Atlanta restaurant owners let out a sigh of relief with no curfew in effect and an uptick in business Saturday night.

Channel 2′s Christian Jennings checked out the scene at several restaurants across Atlanta during another night of peaceful protests.

A few restaurants said the curfew hurt sales just as they were starting to reopen on the heels of COVID-19 mandates.

But this weekend felt like the first somewhat normal that Saturday night owners have had in months.

“Tonight we’re able to stay open, so we’re super excited about that,” Agave restaurant owner Tim Pinkham said.

Pinkham believes Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms put the curfew in place for good reason but was glad to business again with it lifted.

“7-7:30, you’re shutting it down. So it’s been difficult and has put a damper on sales,” Pinkham said. “But to be honest, we’re just happy to have an opportunity to do what we love and open in some capacity."

In downtown Atlanta at Social Market and Cafe, co-owner Mahsa Kimes felt the same way and added that the protests have been going well over the past few days.

“I don’t think lifting the curfew is going to cause any issues,” Kimes told Jennings. “I think people are out there trying to achieve something great and I think they want to do it peacefully.”

At Centennial Olympic Park, a large group of peaceful protesters gathered for another night.

Across the street at Hudson Grille, general manager Cedric Perryman said they were happy to serve their customers and provide protesters with water and restrooms.

“It’s going to be a great night. The atmosphere is good. People are happy, people are protesting. We just want to make sure we give great service,” Perryman told Jennings.

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