Ponce’s iconic Eats will return at Wild Heaven West End

For more than three decades, Eats served jerk chicken and lasagna to people of all demographics. A beloved institution on Ponce de Leon Avenue, it drew a true cross-section of the city: police officers, office workers, families, and regulars who became friends. Before it closed in October, the meat-and-three had lines around the corner with crowds anxious to grab one more meal at Eats’s unbeatable prices. But longtime owner Bob Hatcher was ready to retire, and the city mourned the loss of a place that felt like home to many.

Yet Eats’s story isn’t over. Thanks to the Wild Heaven Beer team, led by Nick Purdy and Eric Johnson, along with longtime Eats regulars Brent and Amity Dey, Eats is set to reopen inside the West End brewery, promising not just a tribute, but a true continuation of the Eats experience.

“There’s something for everyone, and that kind of unity for the city of Atlanta is important to me. Beer is the drink of the people, so Eats fits well with that,” Purdy says. “We really wanted to keep Eats going. We’re thrilled that we get to do this.”

The team purchased the Eats business, including recipes, decor, and the rooftop Eats sign, with the goal of recreating the magic at in a new location. Levi Nichols, who ran Eats for years, will join Wild Heaven to run the kitchen. “He knows everything about how to make Eats, Eats,” Purdy explains. He believes this continuity will ensure that the food, spirit, and sense of belonging remain intact.

The new Eats will open in early March, taking over the space previously occupied by El Tesoro, which is moving to its own brick-and-mortar. Guests will be able to order both food and beer from the counter, and the full menu will return. This includes the mix-and-match pasta options pared down during the Covid-19 pandemic. License plates, aerial photographs, and other original Eats decor will also find a new home in West End.

“After looking at that space, I’m jealous. They have so much room,” Hatcher says. “They’re even going to take the old neon off the roof, have it refurbished, and put it inside.”

Wild Heaven plans to pair their beers with Eats’ classics: a crisp Emergency Drinking Beer with jerk chicken and a European-style pilsner with pasta. “Imagine sitting at a table in Europe and eating a plate of pasta, you’d have a pilsner,” Purdy explains.

“I’m honored that they wanted to do this,” Hatcher says. “I think it’s great.”

Advertisement