Eco-Friendly Block and Drum Is Opening in Chamblee with Container Restaurants, Distillery, Listening Bar, and Cafe | Eater Atlanta

"An eco-friendly entertainment district in Chamblee, Block and Drum repurposes a former industrial property along the Rail Trail at the corner of Clairmont Road and Peachtree Boulevard into a container-restaurant dining and drinking destination open from morning until late in the evening. It will feature container restaurants, a micro-distillery with a tasting room that doubles as a vinyl-records listening room, a listening bar, a cafe, and a hydroponic farm (a farming technique for growing plants without soil). The cafe is expected to open in December with a coffee bar serving coffee and espresso drinks, a limited breakfast and brunch menu—including sweet and savory waffles—and a walk-up window accessible from the Rail Trail; the entire complex is slated to be fully operational by May 2024. Acting as an incubator, Block and Drum will begin accepting applications for short-term container-kitchen leases of six to 12 months in January to keep the food lineup fresh and provide an affordable entry point for chefs and culinary entrepreneurs. The micro-distillery will produce small-batch rum, vodka, and gin using fresh botanicals and ingredients grown locally and on site, and the tasting room will serve cocktails made with those spirits. Founder Justin Staples has incorporated sustainability features such as a rainwater-harvesting system, and a large courtyard will host pop-up dining, live music and performances on an outdoor stage, and community events." - Beth McKibben