Westside Paper lands new restaurant from Northern China Eatery owner – Atlanta Business Chronicle

A new venture from the owner of Buford Highway mainstay Northern China Eatery is coming to Atlanta’s West Midtown.

Later this summer, owner Fan Zhang will open a casual restaurant focused on street food and dumplings at Westside Paper, an office and retail development on West Marietta Street, according to an announcement from landlords Westbridge and FCP. It’s called The Dumpling Factory, and it’s taking over the space now occupied by fried chicken sandwich spot Boxcar Betty’s, which will close its doors Friday.

Westside Paper, an adaptively reused, 70-year-old paper warehouse on a 15-acre site, opened late last year. A number of restaurant tenants opened outposts at the development, including brunch spot Pancake Social and Southeast Asian-Cajun tapas restaurant Bar Diver, among others.

Office tenants have yet to be confirmed, though fast-growing catering company Proof of the Pudding announced it signed a long-term lease for a 13,000-square-foot event venue earlier this year.

This isn’t the first time a Buford Highway restaurateur has opened an outpost in West Midtown. In early 2023, traditional omakase sushi restaurant Hayakawa relocated from Buford Highway to an 8-seat space at Star Metals Offices. Hayakawa later became one of five local restaurants to earn one star in Atlanta’s first Michelin Guide.

Northern China Eatery opened in 2008, and Zhang took over ownership in 2012. Despite its small size and somewhat obscured location, it has become a popular restaurant in Atlanta’s sprawling international enclave of Buford Highway. It was featured on an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s travel and food show “The Layover” in 2013.

Bridger Properties’ Shelbi Bodner represented Westside Paper in lease negotiations. Terra Alma’s Michaela Boone represented The Dumpling Factory.