Atlas Greek Down South Opening Mid-Month
Atlas Greek Down South is prepping for a mid-November opening in Clinton, marking the former Fuzzy’s Taco Shop location with a mural of its logo, and marking the town’s restaurant scene with a new fast casual option.
The eatery will be located at 734 Clinton Parkway. Passers-by can watch A+ Signs in action, completing the mural as the restaurant cruises toward a soft opening, offering Mediterranean-meets-Mississippi options of Greek favorites with a signature Southern touch.
Expect gyros and hummus, wraps and felafel, dolmas and baklava, as well as lamb chops, redfish salads and wraps, and additional strong salad choices, says owner Chad Segest, who’s been at work on the concept for about three years. The Southern slant slips in with fried catfish, Greek-influenced burgers and Atlas’ version of fries — a spiral cut whole potato on a skewer. Feta comeback and feta ranch dressings dip a toe in both cultures. Atlas will have a full bar service, and a patio.
“It’s not going to be a fully authentic Greek place. It’s a Southern version of the Greek food everybody likes and is comfortable with.
“I think Clinton needs and wants an ethnic-type eatery that’s good for everybody in the family.”
Segrest, owner of the Beagle Bagel franchise in Madison for eleven years, has been at work on this concept for three years, and had earlier thought of opening an Atlas in Gluckstadt or Starkville. He took the concept for a customer spin at Cultivation Food Hall in Jackson for almost a year, “an inexpensive way to get off the ground, get the right people and recipes in place and see if people like the food, and they did,” he says.
“This will be the flagship,” Segrest says of the Clinton store, “and any expansion will be made through this one.” That’s an aim of his for the future.
“Clinton is obviously resilient and very community-oriented … Clinton has a very bright future, and not many food options for a lot of people. I wanted to contribute to that. The college is very appealing, too. I like college towns.
“Clinton’s also got a really good sense of identity to it. I think that’s important.”
Exterior and interior painting and some light construction readied the building for its new role as Atlas, as well as the addition of some walls and plans for social distancing. The restaurant will offer an efficient takeout and online ordering presence.
The community and clientele will determine the atmosphere, Segrest says, anticipating family traffic in early evening, and more singles and business later at night. But, “We’re going to let the vibe be dictated by the people in Clinton.”
“I look forward to seeing them succeed and prosper,” Clinton Mayor Phil Fisher said in a news release.
