Smileys Burger Club will open this fall in the former BBQ Cafe space across from Kimball House on East Howard Avenue in Decatur. The space was once home to Doggy Dogg hot dog shack and Peruvian restaurant Las Brasas.
Ean Bancroft and Ross Winecoff, co-owners of Smileys as well as the upcoming fried chicken restaurant Mothers Best in downtown Decatur, have had their eye on the East Howard space since March. A letter of intent was signed, but they and their business partners wanted an engineer and architect to inspect and draw up plans for the aging cement-block building before moving forward on a lease.
In the meantime, the pair seized the opportunity to build a solid following for Smileys, popping up at Breaker Breaker in Reynoldstown, Kelly’s Market next door to the future restaurant, and Sceptre Brewing Arts in Oakhurst.
Read more: Pop-up Smileys Burger Club eyes Decatur for permanent location
Smileys will operate on East Howard as a takeout restaurant, playing on the nostalgia of Americana foods from the 1950s and 1960s. Bancroft said they don’t want anyone feeling “menu anxiety” at Smileys and will keep it simple and tight.
Expect classic-style burgers with one, two, or three hand-ground patties griddled and topped with American cheese, house-made pickles, and a riff on Big Mac sauce. Burgers come served on Engleman’s potato buns with additional toppings like onions, jalapenos, and crumbled bacon pieces and sides of seasoned fries and tater tots. Beer and wine will also be available.
“It’s not ‘what’ll ya have’ at Smileys, it’s ‘how many ya want’,” Bancroft told Rough Draft of honing a catchphrase for his new Decatur burger spot.
Until Smileys Burger Club opens this fall, people can catch the pop-up at festivals, breweries, and restaurants around Atlanta. Bancroft said it’s best to follow Smileys on Instagram to keep updated on the restaurant’s progress and the next pop-up event.
“We love Decatur, so choosing to open Smileys and Mothers Best here is just the beginning of a long road of cool,” said Bancroft. “I’ve always got two or three concepts in the back of my head that I’m constantly thinking about and [Smileys] was one of them we pulled the trigger on. Pop-ups serve as the grassroots restaurant scene in Atlanta and we’ll keep doing that and supporting that scene in the future.”
310 East Howard Avenue, Decatur. Opening this fall.
