A Week of Mystery, Community, and Celebration in Tucker
It’s Cathy from Rough Draft with my weekly newsletter on Tucker. This week, we have bad news, good news, catch-up news, and mysterious news to share. From break-ins on Main Street to a successful July 3 celebration and some intriguing updates about the former Tucker Meat Market, there’s a lot happening in our community.
Break-Ins on Main Street: A Puzzle for Residents
Another round of break-ins has shaken up Main Street this week. Several businesses were hit with smash-and-grab burglaries during the night of July 7 or early July 8. According to a post on Taste of Tucker’s Facebook page, several beloved restaurants, including Ford’s BBQ, Village Burger, Nicky’s Undefeated, and Yes Eventz, found their windows smashed upon waking up.
What makes these incidents even more puzzling is that little of value was taken from the businesses. It seems the motivation behind the break-ins is unclear—perhaps an attempt to create chaos rather than gain anything tangible. Despite the setbacks, all the affected businesses managed to open the next day, showing resilience and determination. The community has also rallied around them, offering support and solidarity.
Celebrating the July 3 Festival
The July 3 celebration on Main Street was a hit, drawing large crowds and offering a variety of activities. The event started at 6 p.m., with food trucks lining the street and restaurants like Nicky’s Undefeated and the Local 7 providing both street-side and indoor service. I had the chance to try a Philly steak sandwich with jalapeños from Nicky’s, and it definitely lived up to the hype.
There was also a kid’s zone featuring games and inflatables, as well as live music from DJ Fernando before the honky tonk/country band The Faster Horses took the stage. The city estimated that between 7,000 and 10,000 people attended the event, making it one of the most successful celebrations yet. While I captured some decent photos, they can’t compare to the ones shared on the Tucker Parks & Rec Facebook page.
Movies on the Town: A Summer Tradition
Movies on the Town, an annual summer movie series in Town Brookhaven, continues every Thursday through July 24th. Families and friends are invited to gather on the green space for movies starting at dusk. Bring a blanket or chair, order dinner from local restaurants, and enjoy the films. There will also be a DIY movie-themed craft activity and face painting on July 17th. Popcorn is provided by LOOK Dine-In Cinema while supplies last.
This event is a great way to spend a warm summer evening, whether you’re looking for family fun, a date night, or time with friends. Don’t forget to check out service-oriented merchants before the movies start.
Eddiver Rodriguez: A Success Story
Eddiver Rodriguez’s journey from a Work-Based Learning student to an apprentice with Georgia Power is more than just a success story—it’s a model of how schools and industry can collaborate to address workforce gaps. While his classmates were filling out college applications, Eddiver was learning to splice underground power cables with Georgia Power. His experience highlights the benefits of vocational training and real-world education.
The Mystery of the Tucker Meat Market
The former Tucker Meat Market has been a source of mystery lately. Around the end of June, the business appeared to be shuttered, with no clear explanation for its closure. Brown paper covered the doors and windows, and a sign indicated that the kitchen was closed. Attempts to reach out to the owner, Andrea Woolf, have gone unanswered.
The building was listed for sale or lease in April and was sold on May 30 for $350,000. According to the listing, the 2,440-square-foot retail space was operating as a butcher shop with food service and was occupied by long-term tenants. Recently, a stop work order was issued by Tucker’s Code Enforcement Department, but officials say the two events—the market’s closure and the stop work order—are unrelated. They also mentioned that they cannot comment on the details until the case is resolved.
Despite the uncertainty, the community remains curious about what will happen next. For now, fans of the Tucker Meat Market continue to mourn its loss.
Tucker’s Top Graduates
Each year, we highlight the valedictorians and salutatorians from local high schools. This year, we missed recognizing the top students from Tucker High School, but we’re catching up now. Yewoinhareg A. Gebrehana, the valedictorian, and Melissa L. Moore, the salutatorian, are set to attend the Georgia Institute of Technology this fall. Gebrehana plans to major in biomedical engineering, while Moore will study computer engineering with a goal of becoming a hardware engineer.
Both students have been added to our online list, which you can access for more information.
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