InTucker Magazine

Business Boom – September -2021

Tucker is undoubtedly one of the fastest-rising business destinations in the Metro Atlanta area.  Each month, the Business Boom will seek to show different examples of how Tucker’s business scene is flourishing. This month’s column is written by our Community and Economic Development Director, John McHenry.

Back in early 2020 we reported on the arrival of PREP Atlanta at the former Le Cordon Bleu site, the acquisition of a 60,000-square-foot space with one existing tenant, Woodruff Medical. The space was love at first site for Sean Rush and the team at the Shular Institute.

“When we first saw the new PREP location, we knew it would be the perfect future home of the Shular Institute and FarmED Kitchen + Bar,” said Rush, the Operations and Marketing Partner for the Shular Hospitality Group. “Myself and Certified Master Chef Shular coming back to Tucker was a dream come true thanks to the PREP team.”

PREP Atlanta is the largest provider of commercial kitchen space in the southeast serving over 260 businesses in metro Atlanta, with future expansion in Texas. For PREP Atlanta owner Mitch Jaffe, the location of their Tucker enterprise could not be better.

“The reason that we moved to Tucker is because it’s an emerging growth city with all its fundamentals in place,” Jaffe explained. “One key factor is drive time for our businesses, which is excellent due to the easy Perimeter access. The existing building was a perfect fit for our expansion from the Doraville area.”

Over the last year, PREP Atlanta has repurposed and created membership agreements for roughly 48,000-square -feet of cost-effective shared and private commercial kitchen facilities. PREP Atlanta is a leader in providing permit ready kitchen space to food entrepreneurs. Tucker now has a multi-purpose facility with 39 companies including FarmED Kitchen + Bar, the Shular Institute, and other companies including caterers, restaurant commissaries, and 15 food trucks including Fruity Ice Treats, Lobster Dogs, Love at Wurst Sight, and MoMo Food Truck. Of course, the pandemic had a catastrophic impact on restaurants, but we are now seeing a return to indoor dining.

“The future is bright for restaurants,” Jaffe said. “Folks want the experience of dining, and the restaurant community has responded in creating a safe environment.”

Want proof of Jaffe’s assessment? Just look around the City of Tucker at its packed restaurants and bars. The happy customers do not lie.