The Bermuda Triangle of Greensboro Restaurants: 1211 Battleground Avenue, Moma Por Dios, and What Is Actually Thriving in Midtown

Written By Joy Watson

The Bermuda Triangle of Greensboro Restaurants

What Has Opened, Closed, and May Be Coming Next at 1211 Battleground Avenue in Midtown

There is a freestanding building on Battleground Avenue in Greensboro's Midtown that has hosted more restaurants than most blocks see in a generation. It sits at a signalized intersection on one of the highest traffic corridors in the city, next to what was for decades the area's anchor movie theater, surrounded by some of the most storied residential neighborhoods in Greensboro. And yet 1211 Battleground Avenue has cycled through concept after concept without anything really sticking.

If you have driven past lately and noticed a sign on the building reading Moma Por Dios, you are not imagining it. That sign has been on the building since fall 2025. We pulled the permit record. There are three active plans on file, including a commercial building permit revision that was rejected on its second round and a sign permit still waiting on the applicant. The concept is real. The permitting is messy. Below is the full story of every restaurant this address has cycled through, what is thriving in the companion building next door, and exactly what the city permit record shows.

The Address and the Neighborhood

The building at 1211 Battleground Avenue is a roughly 6,000 square foot standalone restaurant on 1.5 acres, fully equipped kitchen and dining room, stoplight access, and daily traffic counts Kotis Properties has cited as high as 45,000 to 60,000 vehicles. It has been a Kotis and Kick Ass Concepts property for well over a decade and is marketed directly out of their office.

The surrounding neighborhoods are worth naming correctly. Old Irving Park and Latham Park, which cluster just north of Wendover between Battleground and Elm Street, are among the most established and affluent residential areas in Greensboro, anchored by the Greensboro Country Club. Westerwood, west of downtown along Market Street, is another historic neighborhood with strong community identity and home values to match. Idlewood, just east of the corridor where we live and work, is a working class postwar neighborhood with a genuine mix of owner-occupants and renters. Not affluent. Real. These are the people eating on this strip.

Every Restaurant That Has Called 1211 Battleground Home

Restaurant Concept Era Notes
Pizzeria Uno Chicago Bar and Grill National deep dish chain Early 2000s The original tenant; brick, dark wood, and metal pipe interior that subsequent tenants reused
Charleston Crab House Seafood Mid 2000s Occupied the space between Pizzeria Uno and Rum Monkey
Rum Monkey Tropical themed bar and grill 2005 to 2006 1940s Ivory Coast vibe. Third restaurant at this address in a handful of years. Franchise owners abandoned the location in July 2006; Kotis Properties took control of the premises.
The Marshall Free House British gastropub 2014 to September 2016 Upscale UK themed gastropub with a molecular mixology whiskey bar laboratory. A Kick Ass Concepts original. Closed after two years when Kotis described it as a "special occasion restaurant" that could not drive weekday traffic.
The Traveled Farmer Farm to table, global flavors November 2016 to December 23, 2017 Originally announced as Farmer's Realm. Led by executive chef Jay Pierce (named Best Chef in the Triad, 2016 YES! Weekly) and bartender Mark Weddle (Best Male Bartender, 2016 YES! Weekly). Still closed after 13 months.
The Painted Plate Catering Catering and events kitchen 2018 onward Chef Brad Semon, who had operated The Painted Plate for 23 years downtown, sold to Marty Kotis and relocated here. Absorbed into Kick Ass Concepts alongside Darryl's Wood Fired Grill and Pig Pounder Brewery.
Moma Por Dios Modern Mexican Sign up since fall 2025, opening TBD Three permits on file as of June 2026: fire plan approved (Plan 2025-1392), commercial building revision rejected on second round (Plan 2024-3716, entered Nov 2024), sign permit waiting on applicant (Plan 2025-2606). No official opening date announced.

What Is Moma Por Dios?

The Greensboro location is using the spelling Moma Por Dios on its building signage. The concept at other locations describes itself as a blend of steakhouse, sushi bar, and seafood restaurant with live mariachi, DJ nights, theatrical tableside presentations, and a high-energy celebratory atmosphere. Menu highlights at other locations include lobster enchiladas, surf and turf, and shareable plates built for groups and celebrations.

Given the corridor just lost its anchor entertainment venue in Red Cinemas, a late-night theatrical destination could be exactly what this block has been missing. That is a different thesis than every previous attempt at 1211, all of which leaned casual or neighborhood-focused. Whether it gets there is another question. The permit record tells a more complicated story than the sign on the building suggests.

What the City Permit Record Actually Shows

We looked it up. Here is what is on file at 1211 BATTLEGROUND AVE as of June 2026, pulled directly from the City of Greensboro Plan Review Status portal.

Plan 2025-1392 — Mama Por Dios — Status: APPROVED
Applicant: John Goldbach. Authority: Fire. Project type: Restaurant. The fire plan, including a Buckeye UL300 fire extinguishing system, has been approved.

Plan 2024-3716 — Revision after issuance Mama Por Dios Mexican Restaurant — Status: REJECTED
Applicant: Michael Clapp. Authority: Building Inspections. Project type: Commercial Building. Entered November 22, 2024. This is on its second revision and the most recent submission was rejected. As of the data pull it had been 353 days from entry date with 21 days in the current review cycle.

Plan 2025-2606 — Sign Permit for Mama Por Dios — Status: WAITING ON APPLICANT
Applicant: Joel Ortiz. Authority: Planning. Project type: Sign. Entered July 20, 2025. The sign permit is still waiting on the applicant to respond, 225 days after entry.

What this means in plain terms: the fire plan is approved, which is a meaningful step forward. But the commercial building permit revision was rejected and is now on its second round, and the sign permit the city requires for that building sign visible on Battleground is still not resolved. This is an active but complicated permitting situation, not a restaurant that is weeks away from opening. The sign went up in fall 2025. As of June 2026 the building permit revision has been rejected and is pending resubmission.

Look it up yourself
Go to the Plan Review Status portal, type 1211 BATTLEGROUND AVE exactly as written (no period after AVE, no comma), and you will see all three plans listed. The data updates daily at 6am and 6pm.

What the NC ABC Permit Record Shows: Every Permit Ever Filed at 1211 Battleground

We ran the address through the NC ABC Permit Search at abc2.nc.gov (not abc.nc.gov, which has no search function; enter the street address and select Greensboro from the City dropdown). Seven results came back. Here is the full record, with issue dates and permit owners pulled directly from the downloaded dataset.

Trade Name Corp Name File Number Issue Date Status Permit Owner
Pizzeria Unos Chicago Bar 1211 Battleground LLC 00096530AJ 3/10/00 Cancelled Gregory John Wulkowic...
Unos Chicago Bar and Grill New Vista Enterprises 00112095AJ 3/20/02 Cancelled Gregory John Wulkowic...
Charleston Crab House C C H Greensboro LLC 00126641AJ 6/10/04 Cancelled John Harvey Keener
Rum Monkey Home Town Foods Inc 00142750AJ 6/14/06 Cancelled —
Marshall Freehouse Marshall Freehouse LLC 00217907AJ 12/3/14 Cancelled Marshall Free House LLC
Painted Plate Traveled Farmer LLC 00246901AJ 2/12/18 Cancelled William Marshall Kotis
(no trade name filed) Traveled Farmer LLC — — Expired Batyolo John Ortiz

A few things stand out when you read this record carefully. The two Pizzeria Unos entries reflect two separate permit filings, the original in 2000 under 1211 Battleground LLC and a 2002 refiling under New Vista Enterprises, both cancelled. The Rum Monkey permit has no owner on record, consistent with the franchise owners walking away from the space in 2006. The Painted Plate permit lists William Marshall Kotis as the permit owner directly, the only time the Kotis name appears on the ABC record for this address. And the final Traveled Farmer LLC expired entry with owner Batyolo John Ortiz has no file number at all, suggesting it may have lapsed before it was formally issued.

Moma Por Dios does not appear anywhere in this record. No ABC permit has been filed for them at this address as of June 2026. They cannot legally serve alcohol without one. When a Moma Por Dios permit appears here with an Active status, that is the real opening signal. Check it yourself anytime at abc2.nc.gov/Search/Permit, address field: 1211 Battleground, city: Greensboro.

Three things stand out. First, every single permit at this address is either cancelled or expired. Not one active permit. Second, Moma Por Dios does not appear at all, which means no ABC permit has been filed for them yet. They cannot legally serve alcohol without one, and Moma Por Dios serves alcohol at every other location. Third, the table confirms the building history almost perfectly: two Pizzeria Unos entries (the original and an updated filing), Rum Monkey, Charleston Crab House, Marshall Freehouse, Traveled Farmer, Painted Plate. Every one cancelled.

The absence of a Moma Por Dios ABC permit, combined with the rejected commercial building permit still in revision, tells you plainly that this restaurant is not opening soon. When an ABC permit for Moma Por Dios does appear at this address with an Active status, that is the real signal. Check it yourself at abc2.nc.gov/Search/Permit anytime.

Red Cinemas: What Happened and What Is Next

Red Cinemas at 1305 Battleground Avenue closed permanently on January 29, 2026. It was Greensboro's last independently owned movie theater. The closure came with less than a day's public notice.

Larry Williams, head of hospitality operations for Kick Ass Concepts, cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a turning point, noting that independent theaters depend on spontaneous nights out that streaming services have steadily eroded. At closing the theater had one full-time employee and 28 part-timers. The building had been operating since 1999 as Carousel Grande Luxury Cinemas before Kotis acquired and rebranded it as Red Cinemas in January 2015.

Red Cinemas was as well known for its murals as for its movies. Kotis commissioned over 300 large-scale street art pieces on and around the building as part of his Midtown placemaking strategy. Whether those murals survive a redevelopment is an open question.

The site's future has been complicated by a decade-long federal lawsuit over the Atlantic and Yadkin Greenway railbanking process. Kotis had plans for a $50 million mixed-use development behind the theater including a nine-story residential tower, hotel, retail, and parking decks. Those plans were shelved in 2025. The railbanking process that converted the adjacent Atlantic and Yadkin rail corridor into the Downtown Greenway legally extinguished Kotis's development rights on the adjacent parcels he owned, because railbanking (the federal mechanism that converts out-of-service rail corridors into trails while preserving the option to restore rail service) effectively froze what adjacent private landowners could build when the corridor changed hands. When the government used railbanking to convert the old Atlantic and Yadkin rail line into a public trail, Kotis argued it amounted to a taking of his property rights without compensation. A federal court agreed. A $52 million judgment in Kotis's favor is currently under appeal by the Department of Justice. The full backstory, including why railbanking works the way it does and what it meant for this corridor specifically, is in our posts below.

What Is Actually Thriving at 1209 Battleground Right Now

While 1211 has been cycling through concepts, the companion building next door at 1209 Battleground Avenue tells a very different story. Three businesses have put down genuine roots here, and all three deserve more attention than they usually get.

Delicious Bakery

Delicious is one of the best bakeries in the Triad, and we mean that without any qualification. Eric and I go regularly. The space is clean and modern with generous seating and a lovely outdoor area. The service is warm and attentive without being performative. The food is the kind of thing you think about on your drive home.

Custom cakes are the marquee item and they earn every review. But the daily case is just as strong: two dozen cupcake flavors, red velvet cheesecake bars, brownies, dessert bars, cookies with a devoted following, seasonal banana pudding, cheesecake slices, grab-and-go cakes, and breakfast pastries alongside strong coffee. Gluten-free options are clearly marked throughout the menu. The carrot cake and the Little Debbie style cookies are regulars' favorites. If you need a custom order for a wedding, graduation, or Mother's Day, get it in early. They fill up fast and for every right reason.

Open Monday through Friday 8am to 6pm, Saturday 8am to 7pm, Sunday 8am to 6pm. Call (336) 282-1377 or find current hours and photos at their Yelp listing (note their website still shows the old Lawndale Drive address; the bakery is now at 1209 Battleground). A full dedicated post is coming because they deserve more than a paragraph in someone else's story.

JADE Salon at Midtown

JADE is an Aveda and Oribe salon that has been in Greensboro since 2006 and brought their Midtown location to 1209 Battleground. They are a full-service hair and spa operation: precision cuts, color including balayage and blonding, extensions, facials, dermaplaning, and a spa menu that includes scalp massages, mini facials at the bowl, and neck and shoulder work worked into appointments.

The Aveda commitment is not incidental here. Pure plant-based formulas, cruelty-free products, and a genuine environmental care ethic run through the whole operation. Clients describe the atmosphere as professional and warm, stylists as caring and consistent, and the overall experience as one they have returned to for years. That kind of loyalty is earned slowly and it shows.

JADE at Midtown is open Monday through Saturday with extended Tuesday through Thursday evening hours, and Sunday 10am to 6pm. Reach them at (336) 292-5555 or book at jadelifestyle.com.

House of Eyes

House of Eyes is a third-generation independent optical boutique that has been part of Greensboro since 1980, when Clayton and Irma Hoff started selling sunglasses at a local flea market and eventually opened their first storefront at Cotton Mill Square. Jeff Hoff, a licensed optician, now owns the shop. His daughter Ashley Culotta, also a licensed optician, manages daily operations.

The Midtown location at Suite 200 focuses on doing what they know: prescription lenses, an enormous frame selection, sunglasses including Maui Jim, Gucci, Ray-Ban, Ted Baker, Costa, and Puma, eyeglass repair, and lens edging. Notably, there is no optometrist on site. You bring your prescription. They do the rest, and they do it with the attention of people who have been doing it for over 40 years. Reviewers consistently cite fair pricing and a large selection. The family-run feel is real, not marketing.

Open Monday through Friday 10am to 6pm, Saturday 10am to 4pm. Call (336) 852-7107 or visit houseofeyes.com.

What Is Thriving on Grecade Street and the Surrounding Corridor

While 1211 Battleground has been cycling through restaurant concepts, the businesses that have quietly built real roots in the surrounding corridor tell a very different story. Grecade Street in particular has become one of the most interesting short stretches in all of Greensboro.

Pig Pounder Brewery — 1107 Grecade Street

The anchor of the Grecade Street strip, open since 2014 under Kick Ass Concepts. Strong beer program, food truck model that keeps the food side nimble, and an outdoor space that gets genuinely well used on a good Greensboro evening.

Marjae's Wine and Cocktail Bar — 1107 Grecade Street

Right next door to Pig Pounder and one of the warmest spots on this entire corridor. Founded by J'mihyia and Paris Whitsett, Greensboro natives who built the space they wanted to exist: intimate, comfortable, an environment that feels genuinely welcoming rather than performed. The drink menu covers wine flights, cocktails including a cotton candy margarita, mocktails, and charcuterie boards. Private event space is available. Hours are Tuesday through Thursday 5pm to 9pm, Friday 5pm to midnight, Saturday 2pm to midnight, and Sunday 1pm to 8pm. Call (336) 617-0661.

Doggos Dog Park and Pub — 1214 Battleground Avenue

The Triad's founding dog park and pub, woman-owned, started in honor of a beloved rescue dog named Spartacus. Ten thousand square feet of off-leash space with separate areas for small and large dogs, astroturf, water stations, and a full bar with 16 taps of local and craft beer, wine, cider, and hard seltzer. All humans must be 21 or older except during family hours for members on Saturday and Sunday before 2pm. Dogs must be vaccinated and fixed if over 18 months. Day passes are $10 per dog; memberships start at $25 per month. Regular events include trivia nights, breed takeovers, puppy prom, and music bingo. Open Tuesday through Friday 3pm to 9pm, Saturday and Sunday noon to 9pm, closed Monday. Call (336) 285-8700.

arcBARKS Dog Treat Company — 28 Battleground Court

One of the most meaningful small businesses on this entire corridor, and one that deserves far more attention than it gets. arcBARKS was created by The Arc of Greensboro in 2011 to provide vocational training and real world employment for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The bakers, who call themselves chefs, produce all-natural dog treats made with freshly ground peanuts, oatmeal, and locally sourced flour from a nearby 18th century mill still in operation. The sign on the door says it plainly: "Special Dog Treats Made by Special Hands."

This is the same integrated employment model that Chez Genèse runs downtown at 616 South Elm Street, where over half the team are adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, trained through a six-month vocational program and placed in real hospitality jobs. Two different businesses, same philosophy: build something real, make it good, and hire the people most businesses overlook. Greensboro has two of these. That is not nothing.

We stock arcBARKS treats in all four of our short-term rentals on West Wendover. Guests notice. Dogs approve. Their treats are also sold at The Tiny Greenhouse and a number of other local retailers. Shop in person at 28 Battleground Court or online at arcbarks.com.

The Tiny Greenhouse — 1331 Beaman Place

Founded by Suzanne and Edgar Cabrera, who started by designing greeting cards out of their Greensboro home before a family promise brought them to this shop in 2016. The Tiny Greenhouse is part plant shop, part paper goods studio, part curated gift destination: plants of all kinds, original greeting cards and art prints, journals, vintage finds, pins and patches, and seasonal items that make the place feel genuinely different at every visit. A 4.9 star rating on Yelp. Open Tuesday through Friday 11am to 5:30pm, Saturday 11am to 4pm, closed Sunday and Monday. Call (336) 420-3064 or find them on Facebook.

Marie Oliver — 1108 Grecade Street

An independently owned North Carolina fashion brand founded in 2015 by Sarah, who named it by combining her middle name with her husband Peter's. Marie Oliver designs vibrant, print-forward clothing built around color and unexpected silhouettes: midi skirts, pleated cotton shorts, and seasonal collections that sell out regularly. The Grecade Street studio is the brand's home base. They have a following of over 29,000 on Instagram and retail partners nationally.

We have a personal connection to Marie Oliver. One of our mid-term rental guests at the Urban Birdhouse ADU, less than ten minutes on foot from 1108 Grecade Street, completed an internship at Marie Oliver during their stay. That kind of walkable, work-from-your-rental arrangement is exactly why the West Wendover corridor matters to us as landlords and as neighbors. Visit in person or shop at marieoliver.com.

Battleground Butcher Bar — 1013 Battleground Avenue (Opening Summer 2026)

Owners Taylor and Jordan Armstrong are building a neighborhood butcher bar and provisions market in the former Ready Auto building: fresh meats, sandwiches, and bar options in a 4,000 square foot space right along the Downtown Greenway. Local, walkable, and exactly the kind of concept that fits how this corridor is actually being used by the people who live here.

What the Pattern at 1211 Actually Tells Us

Every restaurant at 1211 Battleground has been conceptually interesting. A British gastropub with a whiskey laboratory. A farm to table operation with two award-winning culinary stars at the helm. A tropical themed bar. None of them lasted more than two years. The Traveled Farmer's own team said it plainly: the Marshall Free House was a special occasion restaurant, and special occasion is not enough to pay rent on Battleground on a Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the businesses at 1209 that have not tried to be special occasions at all have done just fine. A bakery. A salon. An optician. Businesses that people return to every few weeks because they genuinely need to. That kind of repeat traffic is the thing this block has never gotten from a restaurant.

Moma Por Dios is interesting because it is not pitching itself as a neighborhood spot. It is a destination concept, theatrical and celebratory, built for a moment. That could work beautifully here now that Red Cinemas is gone and the corridor lacks a nighttime entertainment draw. Or it could be the next chapter in the same story.

We will be watching. And when it opens, we will be there.

✎ Draft note: remove before publishing

Future post: dedicated piece on integrated hiring models in Greensboro and NC, covering arcBARKS, Chez Genèse, Compass Greensboro, Watsucker Urban Farm, and other local businesses operating this way. Explain the difference between sheltered employment and integrated employment, how the model works, and include a directory of NC businesses using this approach so readers can support them intentionally. Link to this post from the arcBARKS mention above when it is published.

Joy Watson, Realtor® | Joy Watson Real Estate
Serving Greensboro, NC & the Piedmont Triad | We live here, we walk here, we ebike here.
(928) 699-8883 | joy@joywatsonrealestate.com
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