Around Town: Something Fishy About Cod Tail Location and new Green Tomato. Russian Propaganda, 2024 Style.

It was during the opening months of the pandemic — August 2020 — when the seafood restaurant with a rather unique name, Cod Tail, opened at 2103 Shorter Ave. in West Rome.

The site is a well known one, thanks to years of service as the region’s only Sonny’s barbecue restaurant. It briefly became West End Grill before closing.

Next up was the Cod Tail opening, part of a chain with restaurants around North Georgia. But now there’s some additional transition in the air — as in a flashing, electronic billboard above the Verizon store at Broad Street and Turner McCall.

It tells of “Green Tomato,” an “American-style buffet,” opening soon at 2103 Shorter Ave.

We asked to speak to a manager at the seafood spot but none were available. An employee said any potential closing was news to her.

We also checked with Green Tomato Buffet in Carrollton who said each restaurant is individually owned so she didn’t know who was behind the Rome venture.

And there’s nothing on file with the city clerk’s office in Rome.

Wherever it lands, Green Tomato might find a ready-made customer base in West Rome. Two former restaurants are always discussed whenever a new one is announced — M & J’s buffet (now home to Tequila’s on Shorter) and Sonny’s.

Business, Inc.

The latest local business headlines include...

The West Rome home of Del Taco has sold for $1,135,000, changing hands from Hinda Investments LP to W&S Investment Property LLC. The restaurant is at 2114 Shorter Ave., real estate records show.

Elevation Cigar House is being proposed for 254 N. Fifth Ave. with Rome’s Alcohol Control Commission considering on Monday night a beer, wine and liquor pouring request. It is the first serious challenge to Old Havana on Broad Street in more than 20 years.

First National due in Dallas Aug. 9: That’s the grand opening of First National Community Bank’s full-service banking office at 104 Village Walk just off U.S. 278 as you enter the community from Rockmart/Polk County. Several open house events will follow as well. Lobby and drive-through hours will be from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Ledbetters, Williams tag-team again in Dalton: A ribbon-cutting was held late last month for the Township of Hammond Creek, a 200-unit upscale apartment community from two Rome-based companies, R.H. Ledbetter Properties and Charles Williams REIC. It is the latest project from the companies, adding to their growing inventory in Rome and Cartersville. (Hat tip to Dalton Daily Citizen and the Greater Dalton Chamber).

Popcorn & Politics

From Russia, with love: There’s been way too much conjecture already spewed following the Donald Trump assassination attempt on Saturday but this comment from the Kremlin should scare all sides involved.

Russian news agency Tass quotes Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as follows: “... but it is the atmosphere that has been created by this (Biden) administration during the political struggle, the atmosphere around the candidate Trump prompted what America is facing today.”

Uh, nyet.

We assume the response is compared to the Russian way where political opponents suddenly drop from buildings or dissidents are murdered in captivity?

As for the domestic campaign rhetoric from supporters on both sides: It indeed has been too much, including the maligning of an earlier Joe Biden quote about “its time to put Trump in a bullseye.”

That accusation was among at least 10 frantic Facebook posts from Northwest Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene late Saturday into Sunday. The Republican’s particular post concluded with, “They want President Trump and his supporters dead.”

A third grader knows full well Biden meant that comment to mean holding his GOP rival to task for past issues, including his 34-count felony conviction. It came amid the post-debate firestorm.

Sure, it didn’t age well given Saturday’s horrific events but it has been blown out of context by those fueling incendiary comments — including the ones that got the attention of the Kremlin to begin with (or is that a one-sided thing?)

We agree with all who continue to state that “America is better than this.”

Peaks & Valleys

The highs and lows of Northwest Georgia

Peak to those booking summer events around town: The crowds are smaller, thanks to vacations and even the heat. But that isn’t stopping both small venues up and down Broad Street as well as community efforts in Rome, Cartersville, Calhoun and Cedartown from going on with the show. From courtyards to a “moon roof” to a downtown wine tasting (and more) room, there’s plenty to do if we’re willing to get out of the recliners and air-conditioned homes across Northwest Georgia. A special nod to the performers especially, as some perform outdoors and away from even a hint of shade.

Valley to another deadly holiday on Georgia roads: The state’s Department of Public Safety reports 18 people died on Georgia highways over the long Independence Day holiday. One of those deaths occurred in Floyd County. State troopers alone investigated more than 500 accidents over the 102-hour holiday. Those crashes left 500-plus injured as well. Drunken driving, distracted driving, speeding — whatever the cause, this is one problem we can arrest.