SUMMIT COFFEE TO TRANSFORM THE HISTORIC WILLIAMS-PAYNE HOUSE.
In a bid to breathe new life into Sandy Springs’ Williams-Payne House, the historic building is set to transform into the latest Summit Coffee location. The property, once home to Heritage Sandy Springs, an organization dedicated to preserving local history, has been virtually unused since the organization closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city council and economic leaders saw potential in repurposing the dormant site, prompting a citywide call for proposals.
The City of Sandy Springs Community Development Department received more than 70 inquiries and conducted more than 30 tours, but Summit Coffee, known for its strong community ties and several locations in metro Atlanta, emerged as the clear choice. “We kept gravitating back to Summit because they checked so many boxes,” says Chris Burnett, director of economic development for Sandy Springs. “It was important to leadership to have a business we could be proud of that would reflect well on the city.”
Owners of the new shop hope to cater to a wide audience, from those on morning coffee runs to others gathering in the evening for live music and events. The surrounding park, Burnett says, will be the “secret to the success.” Plans include outdoor seating with a bar area serving specialty drinks such as espresso martinis and a gazebo for live performances. A historic milking shed will house an ice creamery featuring Summit’s own brand, a first for its Atlanta locations. The home, which already has a small kitchen, requires minimal renovations, allowing for a late spring to early summer opening.
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