Posted by Liz and John Attaway, 4/14/21

Food Concepts will Include Nani’s Rotisserie Chicken from Meherwan Irani and VIỆTVANA, Serving Vietnamese Phở & Bánh Mì, With More to Come

Plus, JJ’s Flower Shop Will Relocate to a Larger Space Within the Expanded Wing

Ponce City Market, Atlanta’s iconic mixed-use community hub, announces the forthcoming expansion of its Central Food Hall. Set to open to the public early this summer, the extension will add over 5,000 square feet of space to the Central Food Hall on the first floor by taking over the former Onward Reserve space (which has relocated to the second floor) and a former property management office. The aesthetic will mirror the design of the main Central Food Hall with polished concrete floors, red accents, and elements honoring the character of the existing historic building, including exposed brick walls and open ceilings.

In total, the new wing will house six restaurants and retail shops, plus communal seating throughout, including:

• Nani’s Rotisserie Chicken – From the Chai Pani Restaurant Group, Nani’s Rotisserie Chicken was imagined when the COVID-19 pandemic began and Co-founder Meherwan Irani saw a need for comforting, take-home friendly food like never before. The menu, and in turn the restaurant title, is inspired by his daughter’s maternal grandmother, often referred to in Indian culture as “nani.” Serving American cuisine and specializing in all-natural rotisserie chickens rubbed with Piri Piri or Herbs de Provence spice blends from sister company Spicewalla, the restaurant strives to make familiar food both extraordinary and convenient. Guests can expect to find an assortment of sides like savory corn pudding, charred and chilled green beans, and ancient grains salad at the counter-service restaurant. The Nani’s flagship opened in Asheville’s historic Grove Arcade in November.

• VIỆTVANA Phở Noodle House – Currently serving Avondale Estates and Midtown Atlanta with two locations, VIỆTVANA Phở Noodle House, also known as VIỆTVANA, is a Vietnamese restaurant that specializes in authentic phở and bánh mì made with the freshest ingredients. Owned by husband-and-wife team Dinh Tran and Khanh Dang, VIỆTVANA’s rice noodles are made fresh in-house daily. Bubble teas and Vietnamese staples like phở, bánh mì, crispy egg rolls, fried rice, specialty soups and more round out the menu. VIỆTVANA’s recipes are created by Tran and his mother, Tina Nguyen, who often is found in the restaurants’ kitchens.

• JJ’s Flower Shop – Owned by Founder and Florist Sarah Donjuan, JJ’s Flower Shop began in 2018 as a mobile flower business from a 1968 Volkswagen Bus. In 2019, JJ’s opened its first brick-and-mortar location inside Ponce City Market’s Central Food Hall. The shop offers thoughtfully designed seasonal and year-round floral arrangements plus fully customizable bouquets for every budget. JJ’s larger space in the expanded region of the market will allow for a broader assortment of florals and greenery in addition to more room for hosting its popular floral arranging workshops each month.

Additional businesses joining the Central Food Hall expansion will be announced once confirmed.