ATLANTA — Derrick Hayes, the owner of Big Dave's Cheesesteaks, says he will not reopen his flagship restaurant after the Atlanta water crisis.
The flagship restaurant is located in Downtown Atlanta, off Forsyth Street NW. Big Dave's Cheesesteaks was founded by West Philadelphia native Derrick Hayes, who named the restaurant chain after his late father. Hayes opened the first location in a 700-square-foot Shell gas station in Dunwoody, Georgia.
Hayes posted a video on social media over the weekend with the caption, "This one hurt 💔."
"The water really... killed the location, it's not worth reopening," Hayes said in the video.
"We've been through a lot trying to get it reopened; it's just not, you know, coming together."
In early June, 11Alive previously reported on extensive damage at Big Dave's Cheesesteaks Forsyth Street location after the city's water main breaks.
"There was water running out the walls, the ceilings," Hayes previously said. "The floor is starting to buckle. We got a lot of water in here."
In the video, Hayes added that something "bigger and better is coming."
"I know something that's bigger and better is coming my way, so stick with me. I'm working on something... back in the city so I can support everybody and make everybody happy," Hayes concluded in the video.
Check out the list of Big Dave's Cheesesteak restaurant locations below:
- 1 AMB Dr. NW, Atlanta, GA 30313 (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)
- 6035 Peachtree Rd. Suite C-107, Atlanta, GA 30360 (Doraville)
- 4495 Jonesboro Rd., Forest Park, GA 30297
- 875 Lawrenceville-Suwanee Rd. #320, Lawrenceville, GA 30043
- 8552 University City Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28213
For more information on Big Dave's Cheesesteaks and to view the menu, click here.