Atlanta Bread Company, which operates more than 160 restaurants in the United States, is radidly expanding on the East Coast.

VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA— The first Hampton Roads Atlanta Bread Company store opened to a packed house on September 10, 2002.  Divaris Real Estate’s Lori Campbell represented Atlanta Bread in the negotiations for the restaurant at 675 Phoenix Drive in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  Atlanta Bread has renovated the 5,417-square-foot, former Black Eyed Pea restaurant, in the Lynnhaven submarket of Virginia Beach. 

Since 1993, Atlanta Bread Company has been offering European and American sweets, homemade soups, salads and sandwiches to customers throughout the country.  The upscale franchise uses only fresh, high-quality ingredients, and can be found in convenient neighborhood locations.  Atlanta Bread Company has become one of America's fastest growing quick-service restaurants with more than 160 locations throughout the country. 

DRE is the exclusive tenant representative for Atlanta Bread Company in parts of Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, and has concluded numerous leases for them, with several more in the pipeline.  “I’m excited to be working with such a great operation,” says Campbell.  “We are hoping to open several more Atlanta Bread’s throughout Hampton Roads over the next few years.”  Atlanta Bread Company has several locations under negotiation throughout Maryland and Virginia, and one under construction in Gambrills, Maryland. 

Earlier this year, DRE’s Tampa, Florida, office, represented Atlanta Bread Company in lease negotiations for 4,292 square feet in Flamingo Falls Shopping Center, located at 2112 North Flamingo Road in Pembroke Pines, Florida.  Divaris has also represented Atlanta Bread in the leasing of several other locations including Severna Park Marketplace in Severna Park, Maryland; Shoppes at Doral in Miami; and Stuart Square in Jupiter, Florida.

Atlanta Bread Company will continue to market its position as an upscale, modern, casual restaurant with a new store prototype.  As part of its fast-paced growth, the company has opened several new Bakery Cafés featuring refined interiors that present a “classic contemporary” look.  The new prototype, which echoes up-to-date architectural trends in both residential and commercial design, can be found in the Atlanta, Dallas, Rochester and Tampa locations. 

The new contemporary look features rich hardwood floors, deep crown moldings, textured wall coverings, large dramatic photographs of its bakery products and newly-designed bakery display racks.  The color scheme of the newest locations has changed from hunter green to black and buttery gold to reflect the quality of Atlanta Bread Company’s product line.  The new layout is complemented by dramatic lighting effects guiding the customer from either the café or bakery while, at the same time, highlighting the fireplace, the menu order systems and other important elements. 

Even more inviting is the new-and-improved Atlanta Bread Company interactive electronic menu which looks similar to touch screen monitors.  The menu systems are positioned in front of each cash register to enable the ordering process to move more quickly and accurately while creating a natural interaction between the cashier and the customer. 

Atlanta Bread Company sites average approximately 4,000 square feet with comfortable seating for up to 130 people, and some offer outdoor patios.  DRE continues to search for new Atlanta Bread Company locations.  With such a simple concept -- good food made from fresh, high-quality ingredients -- Atlanta Bread Company can do nothing but succeed in any upscale market.