CIM Group Signs Lease to Bring Award-Winning New York Pub The Irish Exit to Centennial Yards

From the Team Behind The Dead Rabbit, the World’s Most Awarded Pub, The Irish Exit Will Open Its Second Location in Atlanta

CIM Group announced today that The Irish Exit, the acclaimed modern Irish bar concept from New York’s award-winning The Dead Rabbit Group, has signed a 4,735-square-foot lease for its first location outside New York City in the Entertainment District at Centennial Yards, the $5 billion, 50-acre mixed-use redevelopment transforming Downtown Atlanta.

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The Irish Exit is a concept from The Dead Rabbit Group, focusing on bringing the contemporary Irish pub to entertainment and transport venues. Developed by the team behind the internationally celebrated Manhattan bar The Dead Rabbit, which was named World’s Best Bar twice and recipient of multiple Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards, the group is known for redefining contemporary Irish hospitality. Their philosophy, “tradition meets tomorrow,” aims to preserve the warmth and spirit of Irish hospitality while embracing a forward-looking experience that highlights the modern Irish maker and the Ireland of today. The Irish Exit brings this vision to life by offering premium cocktails, perfect pints, all-day dining, and a vibrant social atmosphere.

The Centennial Yards location of The Irish Exit will feature a flexible indoor-outdoor layout with garage-style doors, creating a vibrant, street-level experience that amplifies the district’s momentum as a destination for dining and entertainment.

“The Irish Exit exemplifies the kind of bold, hospitality-forward concepts we’re bringing to Centennial Yards,” said Brian McGowan, President of Centennial Yards Company. “The Dead Rabbit team has redefined modern Irish hospitality on a global scale, and their decision to plant roots in Atlanta speaks volumes about the city’s rising stature as a cultural and entertainment destination.”

The Irish Exit joins a growing roster of high-profile tenants at Centennial Yards, including Live Nation, Cosm, Shake Shack, and Khao Thai Isan from local favorite 26 Thai. The development also features The Lofts at Centennial Yards South and The Mitchell residential tower, both of which underscore the neighborhood’s expanding mix of urban living, along with the recently opened Hotel Phoenix. These additions reflect Centennial Yards’ vision to revitalize Downtown Atlanta into a premier destination for living, gathering, and entertainment.

“We’re excited to bring The Irish Exit to Atlanta and to be part of the incredible energy that Centennial Yards is building,” said Jack McGarry, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of The Dead Rabbit Group. “Our mission has always been to showcase modern Irish culture and the Ireland of today – one that honors its roots while looking forward – and Atlanta’s Centennial Yards gives us the perfect platform to share that spirit with new guests.”

The arrival of The Irish Exit at Centennial Yards marks another major milestone in one of the largest and most ambitious city center redevelopments in the country. The 50-acre site, located where Atlanta was founded, is being transformed into a dynamic mixed-use destination encompassing several new city blocks with 8 million square feet of commercial and residential space. Plans include 4 million square feet of retail, entertainment, office, and hotel space, approximately 2,000 new residences, and vibrant public gathering areas designed to benefit both Atlantans and visitors. Centennial Yards Company was created by CIM Group to act as the owner and master developer of Centennial Yards.

“The Irish Exit brings the kind of creative and culturally rich experience that complements the local energy and ambition driving Centennial Yards and Downtown Atlanta,” said Shaul Kuba, Co-Founder and Principal, CIM Group.

Spanning approximately 470,000 square feet, the Entertainment District at Centennial Yards is revitalizing underutilized land in the heart of Downtown Atlanta into a hub of immersive venues, restaurants, retail, and hospitality, steps from Mercedes-Benz Stadium and State Farm Arena. The district is set to become one of the Southeast’s premier destinations for live entertainment and culinary experiences, timed with Atlanta’s global spotlight as a 2026 FIFA World Cup host city.

ABOUT THE IRISH EXIT

The Irish Exit, founded in 2023 in the heart of Penn Station, North America’s busiest transit hub, is a local and all-day Irish Pub for those on the go. Weaving together modern Irish drinks, music, culture, and hospitality from the team behind the world’s most-awarded pub, The Dead Rabbit, The Irish Exit’s service and drink program is of the utmost quality whilst staying approachable and streamlined, with a level of service to match.

The Irish Exit Atlanta is a place for those seeking an authentic, modern Irish pub experience, adapted for those in transit, without ever compromising its high standards. Expect Irish food, perfectly poured pints, an array of spirits, and cocktails for every occasion, including non-alcoholic options. As the younger sibling of The Dead Rabbit, the team here offer the level of expertise expected by the intrepid drinker, made simple and approachable for a quicker service environment.

ABOUT THE DEAD RABBIT

The Dead Rabbit, located in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan, was co-founded in 2013 by Managing Partner, Jack McGarry, a Belfast-native. Firmly rooted in the philosophy of tradition meets tomorrow, this multi-experiential pub reflects a modern Irish “third place,” that celebrates Irish makers, artisans, and collaborators. In recognition of this unending commitment, The Dead Rabbit has received extensive accolades as the world’s most awarded pub, including Tales of The Cocktail Spirited Awards, top honors from World’s 50 Best Bars, and inclusion on the 2023 North America’s 50 Best Bars list. In 2024, The Dead Rabbit expanded to historic 6th Street in Austin, Texas, with future plans to open more locations nationwide.

ABOUT CENTENNIAL YARDS

Centennial Yards is a $5 billion transformational mixed-use development in Atlanta, the Southeast’s biggest and most influential market. As one of the largest and most ambitious city-center developments in the country, Centennial Yards is expected to revitalize 50 acres of underutilized land in the heart of Downtown Atlanta to connect surrounding communities and create several new city blocks at the junction of the rail lines where the city was founded. Once complete, Centennial Yards is expected to offer 8 million square feet of world-class new commercial and residential space comprised of 4 million square feet of dynamic retail, entertainment, modern office, and hotel, and 4 million square feet of new residential, as well as a vibrant public realm that will provide outdoor gathering spaces to all Atlantans and visitors of Centennial Yards. Centennial Yards recently announced the additions of a Live Nation music venue and Cosm to the entertainment district.

For more information, visit www.centennialyards.com.

ABOUT CIM GROUP

CIM is a community-focused real estate and infrastructure owner, operator, lender and developer. Since 1994, CIM has sought to create value in projects and positively impact the lives of people in communities across the Americas by delivering more than $60 billion of essential real estate and infrastructure projects. CIM’s diverse team of experts applies its broad knowledge and disciplined approach through hands-on management of real assets from due diligence to operations through disposition. CIM strives to make a meaningful difference in the world by executing key environmental, social and governance (ESG) initiatives and enhancing each community in which it invests. For more information, visit www.cimgroup.com.

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