by Audra Anders for The Aha! Connection
I didn’t believe it when I received an email last night notifying me that Wright’s Gourmet has closed. I responded quickly with: “I’m sure that isn’t true”.
I was wrong.
To say I have been bombarded with inquiries today would be an understatement. I texted the following note to Matt Wright around noon today:
“I’m not trying to get scoop….that’s not my style. I’m only reaching out to tell you that in my entire career with The Aha! Connection, the closing of Wright’s Gourmet has generated more emails and texts to me than any other event. The community is surprised and sad and mourning the loss of an excellent restaurant staple in our community. Sure – some people are just nosy but I believe the majority want to make sure y’all are ok and offer to help…. if that could bring Wright’s back. Our mutual friend assures me that nobody is sick and for that news I am grateful. I simply wanted you to know that people care and if I can help in any way I’m happy to. If you’d like to issue a statement, I’ll gladly publish. I’m also totally okay if you ignore this text. My husband was raised in a family that owned an Auburn University bookstore for three generations so I’m well versed in all that’s tricky about family businesses. I wish you the best in your next chapter. Sadly, I’m suddenly craving a Glenda’s Garden sandwich.”
Matt responded and we are scheduled to chat this afternoon. I will honor his privacy and his wishes and will only share publicly what he allows me to share.
I’ll paste below the farewell notes on Matt and Allison Wright’s Facebook pages.
Matt Wright’s Facebook post from this morning:
Since 1984 it has been our family’s honor and joy to share our food with so many great customers at The Wright Gourmet Shoppe. There are simply no words to describe what it has meant to us and how much we will always cherish the friendships that were born in this place. My favorite friendship that was born here at Wright’s was my friendship with a beautiful blonde that came here looking for a job and got more than she bargained for, she said yes and four sons later I’m the luckiest guy in the world. Thank you, Allison. We can’t thank the incredible people that we worked with through the years enough, fantastic memories! For me, the chance to work with my Mom and Dad was one of the greatest gifts of my life. The most valuable lessons I’ve ever learned were from them at home and in Wright’s. I will miss this place, but the memories I’ll take with me will be about the people….it’s always the people! The relationships with customers, vendors, employees, family….we were and are truly blessed. So many of you “customers” are family and always will be. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all of these great years, we love and appreciate you all. God bless you and yours. Matt
Allison Wright’s Facebook post from this morning:
It is with a heavy heart that I share this news…after 35 years this sweet place that gave me so much has closed its doors. My first job at 16, the place where I met my husband and soooooooo many dear friends. So many great memories in this kitchen and dining room. I will cherish them forever!! Thank you to the Dunwoody community and to our friends that would come dine with us! We will always be proud of the food we served. It was THE BEST! We love you all so much and we know the Lord has big plans for our family….I love you Matt Wright!!!!
We’ll all miss you and your great restaurant…..a true loss for Dunwoody.
So very sad to hear this news. I’ll miss the great eats, especially the Lemonade Cake my husband introduced me to nearly 20 years ago =]
My wife and I moved to the Dunwoody area over 22 years ago. We lived in Tampa years before moving to Atlanta. One of our favorite places to eat in Tampa was the original Wright Gourmet Shoppe. When we ended up in Atlanta, we couldn’t believe that we had another Wright Gourmet here in Dunwoody. We will miss the restaurant tremendously, but even more, we will miss the entire Wright family. Carol and Langley Perry
So very sad to hear this news! I will miss Wrights and all of the amazing food and lunches enjoyed there! May God continue to bless your family!
Please let us know what happened with Wright’s. We are all anxious to hear!
They will be SORELY missed by all!
It breaks my heart to hear this news! I have been a Wright’s customer for all those 35 years and will truly miss the people and the food that were part of every happy visit. I wish we had known before the closing, because I know the people of Dunwoody would have given them a proper send-off! I do hope that a cookbook with their wonderful recipes is being planned. My best to the Wrights in the future. You will be missed.
Wright’s is simply iconic. Even 35 years later I’d never visit home and skip having a Bahama Baby. I’m shocked, nostalgic and so very grateful.
I am sure that there are so many things in play, and I hope the family is ok! Is there anything the community can do?!? I’ll bet they would t be able to keep up with the business if they were to open again! I am in mourning, but am thankful for the joy that the Wright family brought to Dunwoody and to many family events and birthdays via their sandwiches, cakes and raspberry lemonade! Joy and thanks to you, Wright family!!
The Wright Gourment has been a staple in Dunwoody for so long. My mom owned a knitting shop near their first location and we ate there regularly. Very quickly, their lemonade cake became my yearly birthday cake. Introduced many friends to that wonderful place over the years. I will miss the wonderful atmosphere but most of all my usual… a Monte Cristo, chips, and a raspberry lemonade. Wish you all the best and God bless!
Say it isn’t so!!! Where oh where will get Coconut cake? Sorry to see this delightful store close!
I do think that owners should give the Community that supported them for 35 years a better explanation for the sudden closing. Many people lunch plans were disrupted by the lack of notice. I wish the family well and hope that illness was not the reason. The community cares.