Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Restaurants Kool Korner RIP
Posted by Scott Henry @ScottTheHenry on Tue, Sep 23, 2008 at 10:18 PM
That's right, Cuban sandwich lovers. There's no point in holding out hope that the Kool Korner Grocery on 14th Street will reopen.
Clark Brown, a photographer who owns the next-door Kool Korner Gallery with his wife, confirms that the corner property has been sold to a developer and the old tenants are moving out. In fact, Brown says, grocery owner Silvesonso Ramirez has already relocated to Birmingham, Ala., to be near his son.
Perhaps he'll open a sandwich shop there.
Comments (28)
Showing 1-28 of 28
The last great authentic cuban sandwich in metro Atlanta is no more? Now what am i going to do?
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Homer - we did report the news at the time: http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/omnivore/2008/08/07/%c2%a1que-malo/ But there had been rumors of the place reopening, and we were interested to know that Ramirez had moved to Birmingham. Why so mean, Homer? No donuts today?
That's too bad. While attending Ga Tech in mid 80's, I used to stop in for lunch on my way to and from campus. I lived in Home Park at the time. Mr. Ramirez must have known I was a poor college student as there was always a little something extra in my lunch bag (I ordered ahead - smart!) or at least double sized portion sandwich. Great guy. I hope he has much success in his new home.
Can you say more about that, Larry? How does Kool Korner's closing make you feel? Does it remind you of something earlier in life that made you feel this way too?
Kool Korner will reopen again only in Birmingham this time. Sorry folks but the old Kool Korner store was sold and my father is too old to restart on his own. I will help him start an new restaurant in Vestevia Hills, just outside Birmingham. Look for updates in December
Hooray! I started heading that way the other day, then remembered it was gone. This is great news! I would gladly make the trip to check out the new spot.
On behalf of my father I want to thank all of you for your wonderful comments. I have read to him every one of these comments and he is very grateful to have such wonderful customers. We are working on opening a new restaurant in the Birmingham Area and all of you will be welcome in it. He also wants to tell all of you that he will try to return to Atlanta.
I grew up in Miami and discovered Kool Korner when I moved here to attend Tech in the late 70s early 80s. I've traveled all over and never had a better Cuban sandwich; cubano clasico con mostaza, pepinillo y mojo. I'll gladly travel to Birmingham for a classic Cuban just tell me when.
I'll join the support group. Of all the restaurant closings this was the one that hit me the most. If I'm ever in the Birmingham area I'll be sure to look for it.
We miss your father so much. We moved out of Atlanta several months after your mother passed away and when your father closed the store that day, my husband sent your dad some flowers (he may not remember us). The day we left Atlanta, we stopped by to say goodbye to him and as generous as he is, he gave our sandwich for free(actually he chased us out of the store and gave us our maney back. We always think of him and were so upset that we had an opportunity to send him something when he was in Atlanta and we didn't. We really want to send him something now and we dont want to delay this no more. He has always been so kind and good to us and everyone who waited for the sandwiches patiently. We were just planning to fly to Atlanta (we live in Boston now) just to see him and of course I wont lie, to have some cuban sandwich. For now, we will check again where the next restaurant will be so we could send your father something from us so he knows that we always think about him and that knowing him is an honor. PLease send our love to him.
Dang! The best sandwiches on this side of town!!! I wish him well... but I'll sure miss those delicious sandwiches...
I lived in Home Park for several of my years at GTech and craved the best sandwich on the planet regularly for the past 16 years (xtra japs). I hope that Birmingham works out, my wife is from Birmingham and her parents live in Vestavia Hills. We travel there a good bit and I have already started spreading the word with her family and friends. Her parents will love seeing us much more now! Best of luck and best wishes.
Any updates on the Birmingham location? I need to be in AL in a couple of weeks and would love to get my fix of Cubans (if that is possible)...
Jim - A few weeks ago I spent about three hours doing numerous and varied searches on the Web and did not uncover any new information. I looked at lots of food-related sites, local newspapers, etc., and found nothing. Best I can tell, no place has been opened and there has been no further talk of any place opening. An update from Mr. Ramirez's son would be appreciated.
GRamirez, Some of my warmest memories from my time at Georgia Tech are of interactions with your parents. I know I am not alone in this. Your father is a true gentleman - He was always warm and charming whenever I came in for a sandwich. I still laugh when I think back to how he would make my sandwich and say he was putting too much meat on it, and was going to go broke. . . and then he would break into his broad smile and laugh. Kool Korner was amazing for the quality of the sandwich, the incredibly cheap prices (your dad would agonize over the smallest price increase asking his customers if we thought it would be ok . . .and we would keep encouraging him to double the price which he never did), and also for the relationships that your parents built with their customers. Please do let us know if your father opens a new restaurant. I live in California now, but I would happily make a trip to Birmingham for one of his sandwiches and to see the twinkle in your dad's eyes.
Heard on the radio that Kool Korner is reopening in Vestavia Hills by the Publix tomorrow with a deal for a sandwich, chips and a drink for $3. I can't wait as I have yet to find a good Cubano here.
That is correct. See the attached link, which includes the address of the new location (a former Firehouse Subs location, which makes me laugh).
I moved to Florida several years back and have really missed those sandwiches; we visited Atlanta in December and I looked for Kool Korner online to make sure it was still there -- and was sad to learn it was no longer there. Today a friend in Birmingham emailed that she had read about a new Cuban restaurant run by a man who had one in Atlanta --so I searched and found the above link. Those were the BEST Cuban sandwiches I have ever had, including MANY here in Florida. we are considering a road trip ourselves, although it's a little farther away than it would be from Atlanta -- I would definitely do the 3 hours trip! Mr. Ramirez was the nicest man, too.
I have been onformed recently that Mr. Ramirez(aka:Kool Korner Cuban Sandwich Guy) has opened a shop in Birmingham,Al. I don't know the name ,but I am sure that early in the morning the wonderful smell of marinating pork will be wafting through the city and you can find it!! Good Luck and long live the Kool Korner Cuban!!
I. Ramirez did open a restaurant in Birmingham. You can search for Kool Korner Sandwiches or visit the website Koolkornersandwiches.com for directions.
location birmingham,al. dec.31,2010
on montgomery hy. vestavia hills,205-822-4406 ernie.
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