First concepts named for the new Midtown dining experience feature health food, craft burgers and Vietnamese cuisine
Food Hall platform Politan Row is preparing for opening this spring at Colony Square by announcing its first three concepts: Shaun Doty’s grass-fed burger concept Federal Burger, Sang Ho’s Vietnamese eatery Bun Mi Grill and Rob Green’s health-focused Y?M.
Located at the corner of Peachtree and 14th Streets and anchoring Midtown’s newest greenspaces, The Grove and The Plaza at Colony Square, Politan Row will open this spring as part of North American Properties’ (NAP) $400 million redevelopment of the iconic mixed-use destination.
Politan Group, the team behind the food hall experience, is focused on recruiting local, independent restaurant owners who want to grow their businesses. Additionally, Politan Row features event spaces, hang-out options, entertainment and excellent cocktail programs. Guests can expect a diverse mix of food and beverage offerings at accessible price points for the Midtown community.
“Politan Row at Colony Square is more than just a place to grab a bite to eat – it’s a place to explore new cuisines and reconnect with one another,” said Will Donaldson, founder and CEO of Politan Group. “What excites me most about our food halls is the sense of community between our purveyors and our neighborhood.”
The first three concepts announced for Politan Row at Colony Square are:
1. Federal Burger, a unique burger concept by Atlanta chef and restaurateur Shaun Doty. Federal Burger was originally conceived as a natural extension of Doty’s former restaurant The Federal and maintains the same spirit through its top quality, environmentally-friendly and humanely-raised beef. Featuring the best quality grass-fed beef from White Oak Pastures, fresh Root Bakery Buns and a selection of both traditional and non-traditional sides, Doty aims to offer one of the best burgers in the city. Federal Burger also plans to host monthly steak dinners featuring signature items from The Federal along with curated wines.
“I am thrilled to work with such an amazing group of truly seasoned operators like Politan Row and North American Properties,” said Doty. “There’s no better location I could ask for than in the heart of Midtown Atlanta.”
2. Bun Mi Grill, a fast-casual, healthy, Vietnamese eatery brought to life by founder Sang Ho. Ho grew up in his family’s Vietnamese restaurants in Boston and after retiring from a career in accounting, he returned to his true passion in sharing delicious, flavorful Vietnamese food with the world. With a focus on quality and sustainability, Bun Mi Grill aims to level-up ingredients while staying true to authentic flavors. At Bun Mi, guests can expect a wide variety of choices from Banh mi with housemade truffle pate and local bread to seasonal Pho noodle soup and more. The food hall will be home to Ho’s second Bun Mi restaurant.
3. Y?M, a juice, smoothie and bowl concept by owner Rob Green. While traveling for his corporate job and with experience as a certified personal trainer, Green grew tired of unhealthy meals on the road and desired a healthy but satisfying option. Thus, the idea for Y?M was born. After operating the business from a food truck and pop-up locations around Atlanta, including at Colony Square, Green is opening his first Y?M brick and mortar space at the food hall. Y?M’s guilt-free menu incorporates whole foods and bold flavors from cuisines around the world, including dishes inspired by Green’s Native American culture. Most meals start vegan with the option to add protein and guests can enjoy smoothies, bowls, and “vegan junk food,” as well as several artisan avocado toast options including fan-favorite “Up The Creek,” smoked salmon topped with capers, avocado and lemon zest.
Colony Square marks the seventh and largest food hall in Politan Group’s portfolio, with room for 11 food and beverage concepts, a central bar, flexible event space and a secret bar. The food hall will feature 20,000 square feet of indoor seating and 22,000 square feet of outdoor dining space, brought together by a “NanaWall,” which opens up the interior space to engage with the outdoors. Additionally, the design of the food hall will align with how people will want to dine post-pandemic, including covered outdoor dining and online ordering options to provide an alternative to the traditional counter-service experience. The food hall is situated on the mixed-use community’s open-air Plaza, which is activated weekly with events such as yoga, live music and movie nights.
“Politan Row at Colony Square is designed to be active with energy day and night, weekdays and weekends,” said Adam Schwegman, partner and senior vice president of leasing at NAP. “Whether you’re an office worker grabbing a quick lunch, a tourist who just visited the High or a couple looking for a new date night spot, the possibilities are endless with an eclectic mix of dining options and a variety of indoor and outdoor seating. Colony Square has brought people together by creating a new Living Room for Midtown, and now we finally have a kitchen.”
Politan Row at Colony Square will be the latest addition to the mixed use destination’s retail, restaurant and entertainment lineup. Most recently, luxury dine-in movie theater IPIC debuted its first Georgia location at Colony Square. Later this year, Colony Square will welcome Serena Pastificio, Holeman and Finch Public House, Rumi’s Kitchen, King of Pops, Lush Nail Bar, Sunnies and Saints + Council to the diverse tenant mix. Once completed, the reimagined Colony Square will feature enhanced connectivity with Midtown, offering modern retail and dining experiences, advanced technology and a variety of activated, open-air gathering spaces.
About Colony Square
the corner of Peachtree and 14th Streets, Colony Square is not only the heart of Midtown, it’s the heart of Atlanta – an original icon at the very center of the ever-rising capital of the modern South. Today, Colony Square is becoming an icon of another kind, bringing the Art of Modern Life to Midtown. Featuring 912,000 square feet of Class A office, 160,000 square feet of best-in-class retail, a 466-room hotel and 262 luxury residences, the reimagined Colony Square will be known as a foodie haven; shopping and entertainment destination; sophisticated business hub; and an amenity-rich, arts-infused place to gather with community and soak up Midtown’s vibe. Open, walkable and transit friendly, the reimagined Colony Square, like all great city squares, will be seamlessly connected to the vibrant energy of the streets around it.
About North American Properties
Founded in 1954, North American Properties is a privately held, multi-regional real estate operating and development company that has acquired, developed and managed more than $7 billion of mixed-use, retail, multifamily and office properties across the United States. Rooted in its purpose-driven approach to development, North American Properties is creating great places that connect people to each other; cities to their souls; partners to opportunities; and individuals to experiences that move them. Headquartered in Cincinnati, with offices in Atlanta, Dallas and Fort Myers, Florida, the company has developed 22 million square feet of commercial space and 19,000 residential units in 15 states and 67 cities. In the past three years, North American Properties has launched 36 projects totaling $2.2 billion in total capitalization. In metro Atlanta, North American Properties led the turnaround of Atlantic Station and the ground up development of Avalon. Currently, the company’s mixed-use pipeline includes: Colony Square in Midtown Atlanta, Newport on the Levee in Newport, Kentucky and Riverton in the New York metro area.
About Politan Row
Politan Row is a talent-driven food hall platform. Founded in 2014, we create design-forward destinations for the culinarily curious. We offer an elevated food hall experience that encourages the exploration of shareable dishes in beautiful, inviting, and communal spaces. We believe that enjoying a meal in one of our design-forward spaces has the power to inspire sharing, community, and conversation. Our mission is to serve people who crave unique flavors, experiences, and ideas while creating opportunities for local food and beverage talent to showcase their creativity and advance their careers. We hope to foster a spirit of exploration by connecting people through food. For more information, visit www.politanrow.com.
