Inspired by restaurant owner Matt Ruppert’s 87-year-old grandmother, Noni’s Bar & Deli was created with a promise to offer a warm and inviting atmosphere to enjoy lunch and dinner in the heart of Atlanta while making diners nostalgic for a simpler time.
New on the crowded Atlanta restaurant scene, Noni’s has nonetheless already made an impact with its architectural design. The eatery at 357 Edgewood Ave. has received Central Atlanta Progress Inc.’s (CAP) Atlanta Downtown Design Excellence Award in the Restaurant/Bar category.
‘Decrepit space’
Opened in July, Noni’s is one of many new shops and restaurants that area increasingly locating along the Edgewood Avenue corridor, an area that is undergoing revitalization. When Ruppert and business partner Tobias Johansson first saw the space, they could have gotten discouraged.
“It was easily the ugliest, most decrepit space on the street,” said Ruppert, who redesigned the space himself. “There hadn’t been a tenant there for a decade and before that it was a small animal clinic. The reincarnation is pretty incredible to see.”
Despite its initial appearance, the partners enjoyed the challenge of renovating a space that was built in 1902.
“We quickly got to work. We did a lot of work ourselves because we didn’t have the money to hire a big firm,” Ruppert said.
For help, Ruppert and Johansson called in friend Russell Meyer of Intown Pond and Patio Inc. to help with the four-month renovation project on the 2,600-square-foot space. They used raw materials to give the restaurant a simple vibe. The warm stone floor, exposed brick walls, wood beams and wood walls reclaimed from Georgia’s old Monarch Winery are all utilized to help the restaurant portray a warm, inviting atmosphere.
The “living room” area is complete with console television and grandfather clock. Further back in the establishment, near the restored deli case, a ledge is home to lots of old pictures, mostly of the employees’ and patrons’ own grandmothers. An outdoor patio area is the prefect place to enjoy a meal al fresco.
Ruppert is thrilled the area is booming and being pegged as the next Virginia-Highland.
“We think this neighborhood is one of the last remaining stretches of Atlanta that has potential to be something great,” he said. “With the right businesses on the street, the area will flourish.
‘Labor of love’
Scott Reilly, one of the award judges and owner of Retromodern.com Inc., said it was Ruppert’s passion for the project that made it stand out.
“It was rough with the restaurant category. There were a couple of real standouts,” he said. “But when we met the owner we could tell it was a labor of love. I love the concept of the place. It was simple and reflected on the comfort factor of his grandmother’s living room and her cooking.”
He added Noni’s sets a prime example for other business owners downtown.