Burning Atlanta

If you spent anytime around Atlanta in the last 25 years you should have paid a visit to "Fuzzy's" at the corner of N. Druid Hills and Buford Hwy. Greatest little hole in the wall of all time. Many times it was so crowded everytime you got up your butt was hitting somebody in the face.

 As I recall, some bartenders that worked at Alexander's Eagle got together and opened a bar called "The Bearded Clam." There were several wranglings over it after it became successful but it ended up as Fuzzy's Place. Sadly, Fuzzy died a short while back and more wrangling took place. Hence, Fuzzy's is shut down and another incarnation is on the way.

Good luck.

For fans of Fuzzy's Place, the  now-shuttered 30-year-old North Druid Hills Road watering hole, summer can't come fast enough this year. That's when a new incarnation of the live blues and Cajun cookery mainstay is set to open at 1860 Corporate Blvd., around the corner from the old location. The original joint closed last year after the untimely death of namesake and owner Fuzzy Cawthon.

The as-yet-unnamed new place (it won't be called Fuzzy's for various legal reasons) located across the street from the legendary Pink Pony will be run by former Fuzzy's general manager and bartender Keirsten Alexander and veteran Fuzzy's bartenders Jerry Rooks and Montie Henderson, along with most of the old kitchen and wait staff. And best of all, the family of late Cajun chef Joe Dale has given the new venture its blessing to use the old recipes on its new menu. And yes, house acts like Java Monkey, the Mike Veal Band and Francine Reed are expected back as well.

"I've already received about 100 e-mails from old Fuzzy's regulars who are thrilled about the news," Alexander told Buzz. "The customers are what I've really missed. When you came into Fuzzy's, you got lots of hugs. That's just how we were. I miss giving out those hugs."

Alexander says old regulars are also offering to help with deals on everything from concrete pouring to tile work to wholesale TV sales in order to get the new location, a former Denny's, up and running.

"Sometimes, I'll get stumped reading the names in the e-mails," explains the manager/mixologist. "But as soon as they tell me what they drink: 'It's Tom, I drink Heineken on Tuesdays,' I know immediately who it is. I never forget a drink."

Look for the new concept to debut in early June. Until then, Fuzzy's customers can reach the new management via e-mail at keirsten alexander@comcast.net.