accessAtlanta

After being consistently creamed by critics and amid sagging sales, the corporate office of Emeril's Atlanta announced Monday the Buckhead restaurant will permanently close April 30, following dinner.

"Emeril's Atlanta is the only restaurant we have ever closed and we are very sad about having to do so," chef Emeril Lagasse said via a prepared statement e-mailed to Buzz. "We tried very hard for four years to achieve the results we had hoped for. We will miss having a presence here. We have made a lot of friends in the Atlanta community but unfortunately were never able to generate the volume we expected when we entered the market."

Louie Favorite / AJC (ENLARGE)
Emeril Lagasse will close his namesake restaurant on April 30.
MOST POPULAR STORIES Police: Jeffrey Donovan arrested, suspected of DUI Report: Abdul's return to 'American Idol' doubtful Beastie Boy Adam Yauch has 'very treatable' cancer Fallon's '7th Floor West' is a silly, soapy treat Chris Brown apologizes for Rihanna beating
EMAIL THIS PRINT THIS MOST POPULAR
RELATED LINKS: • Photos: A look back • Blog: Why did it close? • Review: Pricey menu, little personality • Review: Lost in translation • Find (or review) a restaurant

The restaurant at One Alliance Center, named for the Food Network phenom, opened with great fanfare in 2003. But the eatery encountered negative reviews and consistent shifts in the kitchen and management staffs. Lagasse's fans, meanwhile, were often disappointed that he was not a more prominent presence at the Atlanta property.

Reps for Emeril's Homebase on Monday said the closure "was a difficult business decision based on the restaurant's not having consistently met sales expectations. The Emeril's restaurant company remains strong and will continue to expand into new locations." Lagasse currently operates 10 other restaurants in five cities, including his newest, Table 10, which opened in February 2008 in Las Vegas.

The Atlanta Emeril's 53 full and part-time staffers, however, are being looked after. The company announced it would offer a severance package to all employees and work to place staffers at its other locations across the country.

Said Emeril's Homebase vice-president Eric Linquest: "The Emeril's brand remains strong, and we remain committed to a steady pace of expansion that allows us to create exceptional restaurants while maintaining the standards of quality and creativity that Emeril is known for."