Big South End development adds two tenants, including a new spot from well-known restaurateur Jon Dressler

Why it matters: The Line, located at 2151 Hawkins St., is among the biggest developments shaping South End, as Axios’ Katie Peralta Soloff reported. The 16-story mixed-use development had previously announced it would house house Sycamore Brewing and Grit Box, a 2,940-square-foot space for kickboxing and bootcamp classes.

• Dressler’s new restaurant, called Chapter 6, will be huge at 6,656 square feet. He’ll invest $2 million into it, he tells me.
• Atlanta-based Savi Provisions will occupy the final spot.

CBJ first reported news of the development on Tuesday.

The big picture: This will be Dressler’s sixth restaurant. Rare Roots Hospitality concepts include two Dressler’s, Dogwood Southern Table, The Porter’s House and Fin & Fino.

• When I asked Dressler about putting $2 million into a new restaurant, he said this isn’t the first time his team’s taken a leap of faith amid uncertain conditions.
• Negotiations began for the Dressler’s Metropolitan space in 2008, ultimately opening the restaurant in 2010. Despite the Great Recession, everything turned out alright.
• “[I’m] hoping that opening in 2022 after the 2020 meltdown of the world will also prove to be good foresight,” Dressler added. “Time will tell.”

Details: Chapter 6, which is targeting a November opening, will highlight flavors of the world, from Spanish to Mediterranean to Moroccan with small plates.

• “It really allows for chef to expand his creativity and offer something to the guest’s palette that we’ve never offered before,” Dressler said of the menu, which will be created by Chefs Scott Hollingsworth and Jonathan Cox.
• Brittany “BK” Kellum, who currently runs the bar at Fin & Fino, will create the cocktail menu to pair.  
• The space will also feature roll-up doors overlooking the Rail Trail.

Zoom out: The line also includes 7,000 square feet of public ground space. If you’re standing on the Rail Trail, Sycamore will be to the left; the public space will be in the middle; and Chapter 6, Savi Provisions and Grit Box will be on the right.

• Portman Holdings is the developer, and you may know their name from their work on the 615 South College office tower and the Westin in Uptown, which was developed with the city as part of the city’s economic development initiative.

What’s next: Portman Holdings executive vice president Travis Garland told me the first office tenant moves in in May. They hope to open the ground floor and public space around July, with everything up and running by November.

• Next door at 2161 Hawkins St., the current home of Sycamore, they intend to break ground this summer and open a mixed-used residential space in summer 2024.
• Garland said to expect another 20,000 square feet of retail and a unique plaza between the buildings.