Park Bench Signs Lease at Centennial Yards, Bringing Dueling Piano Bar to Downtown Atlanta

CIM Group and Centennial Yards Company announced Sept. 16 that Park Bench, an Atlanta-based dueling piano bar and live music venue, has signed a lease to open its first downtown location within the Entertainment District at Centennial Yards, the $5 billion mixed-use redevelopment underway on 50 acres in the heart of Downtown Atlanta.

Park Bench, which currently operates at The Battery Atlanta after relocating from a Buckhead location that ran for roughly 27 years, will mark its second metro-area venue and its first presence in the urban core. The Centennial Yards Entertainment District sits at 25 Centennial Olympic Park Drive, positioned between Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena.

A Growing Entertainment District Tenant Roster

The 7.5-acre Entertainment District, which began opening to the public this past summer, spans approximately 470,000 square feet within the broader Centennial Yards footprint. Park Bench joins a tenant mix that already includes Cosm, Shake Shack, and The Irish Exit — all currently open. Chops Lobster Bar and Varuni Napoli are among the additional concepts announced for the district, while Busy Bee Café and Khao Thai Isan are slated to open at The Mitchell, a residential component of the development, in 2027.

Larger entertainment anchors are also in the pipeline. A 5,300-seat Live Nation venue and a 261-key Virgin Hotels property are both targeted to open in 2027, extending the district's event-driven programming beyond the near term.

Recent F&B leases signed within the Entertainment District offer a sense of scale for comparable spaces. Shake Shack occupies 3,010 square feet, while The Irish Exit encompasses 4,735 square feet of indoor and outdoor space. Busy Bee Café's forthcoming Mitchell location measures 2,985 square feet.

Park Bench's Atlanta Roots and Expansion Rationale

Founded in 1994, Park Bench built its reputation over nearly three decades in Buckhead, where it served as an early performance home for artists including Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Zac Brown, who fronted the venue's house band. The concept is nationally recognized for its dueling piano format, alongside live cover bands, DJ sets, and themed karaoke nights.

"Park Bench has spent 32 years giving Atlanta a place to sing along with a live band, and downtown is where the city's energy is headed next," said Larry Hall, Founder and Owner of Park Bench. "Being steps from Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena, inside a district built around live entertainment, is exactly where we want to be. We look forward to opening our doors and giving Atlantans and visitors another night they won't forget."

Centennial Yards Company and CIM Group on the Signing

Brian McGowan, President of Centennial Yards Company, framed the signing as consistent with the developer's broader placemaking goals for the district.

"Park Bench has been an Atlanta favorite for years, and bringing it to Centennial Yards is another step toward building the lively, welcoming entertainment district we've envisioned for downtown," McGowan said. "Live music and shared experiences bring people together, making Park Bench a natural fit. We're excited to welcome this beloved local brand and its iconic dueling piano bar experience, giving people another great place to sing along, celebrate and have a good time in Downtown Atlanta."

Shaul Kuba, Co-Founder and Principal of CIM Group, pointed to the signing as part of a deliberate curation strategy for the mixed-use district.

"Park Bench is a well-established Atlanta brand and an excellent addition to the growing roster of businesses choosing Centennial Yards," Kuba said. "Each new opening helps advance our vision for curating a dynamic mixed-use district that strengthens the surrounding community and contributes to the continued growth of downtown."

Project Scale and Development Context

Centennial Yards Company was created by CIM Group to serve as the owner and master developer of Centennial Yards. The project is redeveloping approximately 50 acres of underutilized land at the junction of the rail lines where Atlanta was founded, with the full master plan calling for up to 12 million square feet of office, residential, retail, hotel, and entertainment space. CIM Group has invested roughly $1.5 billion into the project to date, including approximately $400 million of construction concentrated in the seven-acre zone anchored by the Live Nation venue, Cosm, and food-and-beverage buildings.

The development has been explicitly timed to have key components operational ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with the Live Nation venue and Virgin Hotels targeted for 2027 openings that would extend the district's momentum into subsequent years.

Sources

CIM Group Press Release — Park Bench Lease at Centennial Yards (Sept. 16, 2026)