Iconic Atlanta barbecue shack to make way for public park Josh GreenTue, 01/20/2026 - 08:37Daddy D’z BBQ Joynt saddened many Atlanta barbecue enthusiasts last month in announcing its lovably ramshackle Memorial Drive business would be closing at the end of 2025, following more than three decades in business. But don’t expect the shack to make way for typical intown redevelopment. The 1/3-acre property at 261 Memorial Drive—home to a 1940s building where Daddy D’z had operated since 1993—was sold last week to The Conservation Fund, an organization that works to preserve and expand park space across Georgia. According to Michael Wess, a Bull Realty partner who represented the seller, The Conservation Fund plans to reserve the property for inclusion in the Memorial Drive Greenway project, a recently revived, multifaceted parks concept that’s undergoing a series of public input sessions now. The Conservation Fund paid $1.3 million for the Memorial Drive property in an off-market transaction, Wess tells Urbanize Atlanta. The former Daddy D’z BBQ Joynt at 261 Memorial Drive, as seen two weeks after final plates were served. Josh Green/Urbanize AtlantaHow the former Daddy D’z property fits into the initial stages of a linear park along Memorial Drive. Google MapsDaddy D’z’s final hurrah was a New Year’s Eve feast. Owner Christianah Coker-Jackson told Atlanta magazine she had hoped to purchase and renovate the building but wasn’t able to; she’s planning to reopen the concept (with its iconic rooftop sign included) in a more updated building somewhere in the area. According to property records, the site’s owner was Azar Investment Company. The same company brought the Daddy D’z building to market in 2022, asking $2 million, but a deal never materialized. The corner parcel is located in the Oakland neighborhood, just north of Grant Park. The Daddy D’z parcel spans about 1/3 of an acre at the corner. Google MapsElsewhere on Memorial Drive, Bull Realty also closed the sale last week of Das BBQ’s property near Oakland Cemetery for $2.32 million to an individual investor, according to Wess. But fear not, Das BBQ fans—the restaurant and its lively, expansive patios aren’t going anywhere. Das BBQ has a long-term lease on the property, and no changes are planned, according to Wess. The seller was Pellerin Real Estate properties.  Das BBQ’s complex at 350 Memorial Drive. Josh Green/Urbanize AtlantaJosh Green/Urbanize AtlantaWess’ team was also recently hired to the sell the 25-year home of another Atlanta dining staple, Agave, which will shutter in Cabbagetown on Jan. 31. The business opened in 2000 in a renovated, historic general store, but ownership recently blamed challenges including economic hardships for prompting the closure. **…**Follow us on social media:Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  • Grant Park news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)Tags264 Memorial Drive SEDaddy D’z BBQ JoyntAzar Investment CompanyMemorial Drive GreenwayOakland CemeteryGrant ParkMemorial DriveLoopNetAtlanta BarbecueBull RealtyMichael WessGrant Park NewsAtlanta LandAtlanta Land DealsThe Conservation FundDas BBQPellerin Real EstateImagesThe former Daddy D’z BBQ Joynt at 261 Memorial Drive, as seen two weeks after final plates were served. Josh Green/Urbanize AtlantaHow the former Daddy D’z property fits into the initial stages of a linear park along Memorial Drive. Google MapsThe 261 Memorial Drive property, long occupied by Daddy D’z barbecue, in the context of downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Google MapsThe Daddy D’z parcel spans about 1/3 of an acre at the corner. Google MapsDas BBQ’s complex at 350 Memorial Drive. Josh Green/Urbanize AtlantaJosh Green/Urbanize AtlantaSubtitleMeanwhile, Das BBQ property also sells along Memorial DriveNeighborhoodOaklandBackground ImageImageBefore/After ImagesSponsored PostOff

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