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Old Roswell says goodbye to icon Jimmy Hussain Rhea’s on Canton Street will close after 38 years By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com ROSWELL, Ga. — When Mahfuz “Jimmy” Hussain started working at Rhea’s on the corner of Canton Street 38 years ago, he set out to create the “best burger in Roswell.” It was the American Dream. Hussain was born in Bangladesh but immigrated to the U.S. nearly 50 years ago. After the restaurant’s namesake, Glenna “Rhea” Wheeler, died in 2013, Hussain took over and opened three more locations – Rhea’s II, Rhea’s III and Rhea’s IV. But Rhea’s I, which was seemingly a hole-in-the-wall, became popular for Hussain, who had become a Roswell icon known not only for his burgers but his outlandish personality and genuine love for the community. Many Roswell natives said they lost both their friend and gathering place when he died of a heart attack Dec. 22, 2021. Hussain was 68. “He knew a lot of families that had been here a long time or were second or third-generation Roswellians,” said Eric House, a Rhea’s customer of 14 years. “He always wanted you to sit at the counter to talk to you. If this was your first time there, that was the only time you were a stranger.” One of those families was the Judy’s. Former Councilman Matt Judy said he started eating breakfast at Rhea’s with his dad, Preston Judy, in first grade, where he listened to the regular crew
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Roswell mayor sets new Oxbo completion date By CHAMIAN CRUZ chamian@appenmedia.com
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Mahfuz “Jimmy” Hussain’s family plans to close Rhea’s I on Canton Street but will continue to run Rhea’s II on Alpharetta Highway and Rhea’s III on Crossville Road. made up of former Mayor Jere Wood and former City Councilman Jerry Orlans talk all things Roswell every morning before school. Judy, House, Wood, Orlans and countless others gathered at Gate City Brewing Company Jan. 23 for a final goodbye to Hussain. At the memorial, Jimmy’s daughter, Suhad Hussain, said her dad loved Matt so much he considered him his son and called everyone near his age “Matthew’s brother or sister.” “Jimmy was my biggest fan,” Matt said. “He said, ‘Matt, you’re going to come back and be Mayor of Roswell.’ …
Growing up, that was a big part of my life – listening to all the people of Roswell who really cared about it to where I wanted to come back one day and raise my family here and have my kids go eat at Jimmy’s, which they did.” Preston said he considered Jimmy a close friend outside of Rhea’s and called him a “Roswell institution.” Anyone who wanted an authentic taste of Roswell, Preston said, went to Rhea’s for a Jimmy Special, including politicians, reporters, radio personalities, priests, preachers,
See RHEA’S, Page 4
Development Authority approves bond for office complex
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ROSWELL, Ga. — Even under a new administration, city officials say it could be another year before the Oxbo Road realignment project is completed. Reading a statement from Mayor Kurt Wilson about his first 100 days in office, Mayor Pro Tem Mike Palermo said he and the City Council plan to execute an “Oxbo action plan” by April 24, with project completion expected by Dec. 24, 2023. Wilson did not say why he was absent from the City Council meeting Jan. 24, just that it was “out of an abundance of caution.” The action plan will reportedly include a fully developed timeline, design and cost for the project. However, the new date would put the project over two years past its original deadline. Construction was initially slated for completion in July 2021. Before leaving office, former Mayor Lori Henry said she expected the project to be completed in the fall. The Oxbo project is designed to eliminate the staggered intersection at Ga. 9
See OXBO, Page 21