(photo courtesy Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
The owners of the former Sweet Breads Cafe in Clarkesville say they plan to reopen another restaurant, but it won’t be in Clarkesville. The popular restaurant burned to the ground last March. The property where it once stood was sold to Clarkesville insurance agent Matt Mixon this week.
Mixon paid $100,000 for the empty lot. He has agreed to lease it to the City of Clarkesville for $750 a month for 12 months so that construction crews can have access to the rear of the nearby historic buildings on the square that also burned. Mixon says, “I don’t have any plans yet for the property but will work with the city in the meantime for them to save costs on demolition and (to insure) minimal disturbance for the parking and businesses on the square.”
Clarkesville City Councilwoman Barrie Aycock says the lease agreement gives Clarkesville the “right of first refusal” if Mixon should decide to sell. Clarkesville purchased three of five buildings that burned on March 5, 2014, after fire broke out inside Sweet Breads Cafe. A fourth property was later donated to the city.
Sweet Breads owners Lee Hull and C.B. Henson say they’re delighted to have sold the property to Mixon. Hull tells Now Habersham, “I now sleep in peace knowing he can deal with the ‘good ‘ol boy’ system that Clarkesville government still mandates, as I never could.”
Hull and Henson had a number of disputes with the City of Clarkesville while they were in business. The city attempted to buy the property from them after the fire but the two parties could not agree on a price. The original asking price was $150,000.
Hull says he’s now looking at property to reopen Sweet Breads. “Close, but out of this town as to not have any more headaches or heartaches the Clarkesville city government has given me and me them.”
Hull emphasizes his new business “will be very close” and says he’ll disclose the location soon. He adds, “I look forward to serving our patient patrons once again.”
