Known for its expansive mixed-use projects like Ponce City Market and the Westside Provisions District, Jamestown L.P. is tackling a run-of-the-mill Sandy Springs strip mall next. Located near the intersection of Roswell Road and Hammond Drive, Parkside Shops is home to a variety of small businesses, from a nail salon to a dentist, as well as notable spots il Giallo and Sandy Springs Cinema & Taphouse. Come late November, visitors will notice two new shipping containers in the parking lot.
“We are constantly striving to be more environmentally friendly with our activations and appreciate the adapted re-use aspect of shipping containers,” a spokesperson for Jamestown said, noting that the design will allow the company to make better use of the surrounding parking lot and green space.
At 200 square feet each, these brightly painted containers will serve Korean fried chicken and falafel pitas, respectively, as part of two new takeout restaurants: Bok You ATL and SabaRaba’s. Jamestown is also converting the area surrounding the restaurants to a lawn with tables and chairs where patrons can dine and relax.
Bok You ATL
Seven Chan and Ken Yu, founders of Poke Burri and Lifting Noodles Ramen, are launching their Korean fried chicken-focused concept, Bok You ATL, with a concise menu featuring three or four flavors of the battered bird. Patrons will be able to buy a bucket of fried chicken or order it as a sandwich or tenders with sides.
“The name is playful and fun, easy to remember,” Chan says. “It’s a little weird and doesn’t take itself too seriously—like us.”
Bok You will offer spicy and mild options, with flavors like sriracha teriyaki, jalapeno teriyaki, and mango soy. The chicken sandwich fuses hot chicken with traditional Korean fried chicken with a hint of sweetness to balance the spice. A rotation of complimentary sauces, like wasabi mayo, will be available.
Other menu items include Korean corn bread, cheesy corn, fries, and tater tots, plus Melona ice pops in the summer. A “secret” menu—posted on Instagram—will feature tangentially related chicken items, such as Asian chicken and waffles, waffle cones, Korean corn dogs, and “things on sticks,” Chan says.
Everything is made onsite. “We came from the humblest beginnings with not a lot of money or space, and we had to learn to operate that way,” he says. “Our original locations are tiny, so we were a good candidate for the shipping container.”
When it opens, Bok You will serve lunch and dinner to-go, with seating in the adjacent lawn area. Monthly entertainment for the area is planned, and Chan says he’s working with the city to obtain a liquor license.
SabaRaba’s
A true Israeli falafeliya, SabaRaba’s will serve street food-style pitas, laffa, and plates brimming with fresh-made gyro, sabich (fried eggplant), shawarma, schnitzel, and of course, falafel. Created by Udi Hershkovitz, co-founder of Marrekesh in Ponce City Market and FuegoMundo in Sandy Springs, SabaRaba’s pays tribute to Hershkovitz’s father, who passed away shortly before becoming a great grandpa—saba raba in Hebrew.
“This is exactly what falafel and shawarma is designed for—you find it on almost every corner in Israel,” Hershkovitz says. “It’s typically a kiosk, not a sit-down restaurant. I call SabaRaba’s a food truck without the wheels.”
The menu is similar to that at Marrekesh but simpler. In addition to the five proteins, there is Israeli salad, tabbouleh, and a seasonally rotating market salad. Sides include hummus, babaganoush, cauliflower, and seasoned fries. Patrons are encouraged to add schug (Israeli hot sauce) to their food.
“The messier it is, the better,” Hershkovitz says. “These are family recipes.”
