Bits & Bites

Mishti Holdings LLC, the parent company of gourmet candy shop Lolli & Pops, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on August 13.  Lolli & Pops has 69 stores nationwide, with all but two located in traditional shopping malls. The company listed between $1 million and $10 million in liabilities and $500,000 to $1 million in assets.  The company partnered with major mall owner General Growth Properties (GGP) in 2017 to open 40 stores in their malls.  GGP, now owned by and known as Brookfield Properties, has reportedly locked the retailer out of several locations nationwide.  Multiple stores' employees were locked out this week with signage on at least one store saying “notice of temporary lockout for nonpayment of rental.” The retailer, which sold premium chocolates, candy and other dessert items, has Atlanta area locations in Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody and North Point Mall in Alpharetta, both of which are Brookfield owned malls.

The Lolli & Pops "Forever" jar that is actually only good for 52 weeks 

[UPDATE] HomeGoods Happy Coming to Howell Mill September 29

A HomeGoods store will celebrate its grand opening September 29 at The District at Howell Mill in West Midtown.  The new store, occupying about 22,000 square feet of a former ROSS Dress For Less, joins fellow TJX Cos. brand TJ Maxx in the Walmart-anchored shopping center. ToNeTo Atlanta first broke news of the planned HomeGoods January 20, 2017.  For over two years there was no activity until earlier this past March, when site work finally started.

[EXCLUSIVE] Chipotle Bringing Their "Chipotlane" to Austell

A new Chipotle Mexican Grill is coming soon to Austell.  The new restaurant, which will open in an outparcel of the existing Brookwood Square shopping center, replaces a Pollo Tropical restaurant that closed, along with eight others locally, this past December, amidst the Miami-based chain's complete retreat from Georgia.  The former fast food restaurant, located at 3999 Austell Road, will provide Chipotle another drive-thru, a feature the chain has been implementing at new restaurants.

Bits & Bites

A new location of Five Below is coming soon to Gwinnett Marketfair in Duluth.  The roughly 15,000 square foot store will open in place of the recently shuttered Rugged Wearhouse store.  Old Navy also previously occupied the space in the T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and Bed Bath & Beyond-anchored center.

[UPDATE] Velvet Taco to Open Soon in Buckhead

Dallas, Texas-based Velvet Taco plans to open their first Atlanta location Monday, August 26 soon in Buckhead.  The restaurant, located at Buckhead Market Place on West Paces Ferry Road, occupies a 2,514 square foot portion of the former The North Face space. [The North Face previously consolidated their Atlanta presence to a single store at Lenox Square.]