The heart of Downtown Atlanta is saying goodbye to a beloved cheesesteak joint. Big Dave's Cheesesteaks has announced it will permanently close its downtown location following complications arising from a significant water main break that wreaked havoc on local businesses. Owner Derrick Hayes Sr., who brought the taste of West Philadelphia to Atlanta, took to social media to share the news that the Forsyth Street establishment would not be serving up its famed cheesesteaks any longer.
Despite the setback, Hayes remains optimistic about the future, hinting at better horizons ahead for Big Dave’s. "We’ve been through a lot trying to get it reopened, but it’s just not coming together," Hayes said in a statement obtained by WSBTV. The closure is directly linked to the water crisis that left businesses across downtown and midtown floundering to maintain regular operations.
The chain, named in honor of Hayes' father, first originated in a gas station in Dunwoody and has since expanded to several other locations. Patrons of Big Dave's Cheesesteaks can still enjoy their favorite sandwiches at branches in Jonesboro, Forest Park, Doraville, Lawrenceville, and the Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Additionally, the successful launch of an establishment in Charlotte, North Carolina earlier this year marked the chain's first venture outside of metro Atlanta.
While the downtown location's shutdown marks the end of an era, it appears that the Big Dave's brand continues to ambitiously expand. Plans to open 10 new locations in Central Florida were announced earlier this year, and construction on a new location in South Carolina is currently underway. In the words of Hayes himself, "This location is not opening back up," a sentiment confirmed by the same statement made on WSBTV: "The water... it really killed the location."
