Victoria's Secret On The Move In Perimeter

After Crate & Barrel's closure, work will begin on their 12,700 s/f space to suit the needs of its new tenant, Victoria's secret. With such a big space, I would not be surprised to see their new concept store "VSX" pop up along with the flagship brand. Expect an opening by years end.

Crate & Barrel Closing Perimter Mall Store June 8

Crate & Barrel has announced the closure of their 14 year old store on the upper level of Perimeter Mall. Being a housewares-only store may have contributed to the decision to close it, as the companies priority now is stores with furniture too. No word on closing sales, but the doors will close for good, June 8. Two remaining stores are located at Lenox Square and on North Point Parkway.

Dillard's Announces Closure Of Multiple Underperforming Stores... Atlantic Station On That List?

Dillard's department store announced this week that it will multiple underperforming stores and said they will limit new store openings in 2009 to 5 as they attempt to attract more affluent shoppers, adding more upscale products and labels. On a recent (accidental and unfortunate) visit to the shopping disaster that is Atlantic Station I visited the Dillard's and it seemed as though I could count the number of shoppers with two hands, clearly the number of associates outnumbered shoppers by at least 3 to 1. Its a wonder they have stayed open as long as they have, for that location is just not right for their store.

Did someone say Closing Sale?

Victoria's Secret Tests New Concept Store

Victoria's Secret recently debuted a freestanding store to test its new yoga collection VSX. Located in the Easton Town Center near Columbus, Ohio, the headquarters of Limited Brands, the parent company of Victoria’s Secret, the 2,000-sq.-ft. store offers the full line of VSX apparel, which is also sold in 30 Victoria's Secret stores across the country, including sports bras, athletic pants, yoga pants, T-shirts and other merchandise. "VSX is performing to expectations, and we continue to be confident about its potential," said Sharen Turney, CEO of Victoria's Secret. With the introduction of Gilly Hicks; by Abercrombie and Fitch and the success of lululemon Athletica, it s really no surprise to see V.S. getting in the yoga / activewear craze. While nothing has been said in regards to a national launch of the new concept, Atlanta is sure to be in the markets considered for a store.

Aldi Opens Newest Atlanta Location

German based grocer Aldi will opened their 22nd Atlanta area location this week. The new store is located at the corner of Clairmont Rd. and Buford Hwy in "Crossroads Village" shopping center. Located on land that formerly housed a PIKE Family Nursery, the shopping center also includes a new El Pollo Loco restaurant with various other smaller merchants opening soon. Known for its low prices and "no frills" expect minimal decoration of the store and low levels of staff. One noticeable difference at this grocery store, shopping carts must be rented, a 25 cent deposit is inserted into a contraption on each cart that is returned to the customer after use and return of cart to specified area. Repeat Atlanta!

XDC Motor Sports Relocating To...Phipps???

XDC Motor Sports, currently located across from Landmark Diner on Cheshire Bride and formerly known as 404 Customs is apparently adding a second location. The 2nd level at Phipps Plaza seems to be a bit of an odd choice though. Located between The Sharper Image and The American Cafe, the wall reads "XDC Opening Soon". I would guess they hope to attract and take orders from the affluent shoppers of Phipps Plaza and but do all actual work at their streetside, Cheshire Bride location. Expect to see this store open by early to mid June.

Know Style Goes Bye Bye

Know Style a store that seems to somehow appear in many of the areas finer malls abruptly closed their store at Lenox Square. Located in the former Polo store on the main hall, there were reports of multiple fights occurring both inside and just outside the store. Apparently there are many issues with the interior of the store, the AC in particular that may be reasons that SIMON has been unable to land a reputable retailer for this prime spot in the mall.

Chick-fil-A Announces New Menu Items and Higher Prices?

This week Atlanta based Chick-fil-A announced the rollout of a number of new menu item first mentioned earlier this year. They are adding a Chargrilled Chicken and Fruit Salad served with harvest nut granola topping and berry balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The Chick-fil-A Chicken Salad Sandwich has been revamped and will now be served on a premium wheatberry bread with green leaf lettuce. The chain also will begin serving its three Cool Wrap offerings in a new, higher-quality multigrain flatbread recipe with green leaf lettuce. Previously served in a foil wrapper, Chick-fil-A Cool Wraps will now be served in a new clamshell packaging. Additionally, their Chick-n-Strips are now 50 percent larger.

New sizes and items aside, the fact that many main menu items increased in price by 15% was not made very public and was only uncovered upon visiting a location and paying more than normal for the same meal I have been purchasing for years. This is of course no doubt a result of the rising fuel prices as well as the harvesting of corn for ethanol rather than for food products.

El Pollo Loco Opens Its First ITP Location in Chamblee

Local franchisees of the Irvine California based El Pollo Loco chain, have opened their first ITP location. Located at the corner of Buford Highway @ Clairmont Road, the new location had a soft opening earlier in the month. I had the opportunity to dine, and the food is the freshest "fast food" I've ever had; fresh, and grilled right before your eyes. Another location can been seen under construction on Cobb Parkway, north of Cumberland Mall across from the T.J. Maxx and Cost Plus shopping center.

Judith Lieber Boutique Closes....New Location On Hold?

Designer Judith Lieber's small outpost at Lenox Square at the corner of the main corridor and the Luxury Wing has closed and a sign on their door alluded to the fact that they may reopen, though it was quite vague and gave no date or location. It's departure now makes way for Bvgari's opening later this year.

Betsey Johnson Relocates Away From "Luxury Wing" (Where It Belongs)

Following the closure of their boutique on the man level of the "Luxury Wing", Betsey Johnson has returned to the mainstream mall corridor and reopened in the former "Field of Dreams" space on the second level next to Anthropologie. Once located in a similar space, Betsey Johnson simply didn't belong alongside the likes of Cartier and Ferragamo.

The Mansion On Peachtree Opens Its Doors

On the heels of a number of private pre-opening gatherings, The Mansion Peachtree, a Rosewood Hotel & Residence is now open! Located at the corner of Peachtree Road and Stratford Rd., this luxurious property is like no other. As of now NEO is the only restaurant open within the property, though come this September Tom Colicchio will open his Craft restaurant on property directly in front of the Mansion. Repeat Atlanta!

LUSH To Open Another Metro Store

LUSH, purveyor of handmade creams, soaps and cosmetics will open a third Atlanta location this Fall at Perimeter Mall. Since opening their fist Atlanta store above the food court at Lenox Square earlier last year, they added a second (leased) store within the Macy's at Lenox. Their expansion would seem to reflect their success in the area and their confidence in the domestic economy.

Stuart Weitzman To Open Second Atlanta Store

Following word that Stuart Weitzman will be moving into the former Nicole Miller in the luxury wing of Lenox, comes news that they will also add a second store at Perimeter Mall. The new Perimter location will open in early June, the date of their Lenox store reopening is still unknown.

GEOX Opens At Perimeter Mall

Italian footwear retailer GEOX recently opened their first metro area store at Perimeter Mall. Located on the main level of the Nordstrom wing, the store has a very clean design and features their signature "breathable sole" footwear.

Another American Eagle Concept May Soon Open In Atlanta

77Kids, a new concept from American Eagle would seem to be AE's entry into the chridlrens clothing market, though their website offers little other than a message a short animated clip followed by the tagline "long live fun." With J. Crew's plans to bring its children's concept "Crewcuts" to the Atlanta market in the near future, and with abercrombie kids already scattered at malls throughout the metro area, 77Kids could do quite well or not, depending on its timing and location. One thing clearly noticeable on their site is a little Robbin looking bird, so it seems that they are staying within the avian phylum as a mascot for their newest concept. Rumor has it a 77Kids may be planned for both Perimeter Mall and Mall of Georgia.

H&M Sets Final Date For Atlantic Station Opening... Or So they Say

It has been reported that the newly named date of the eagerly anticipated opening of the H&M store at Atlantic Station will be Friday June 13 at noon.

H&M Finally Opens @ North Point Mall

Following months of delays to the opening of the highly anticipated Atlantic Station store, a slightly smaller store carrying only women's wear opened earlier this afternoon on the main level of North Point Mall in Alpharetta. After an overnight wait of close to 18 hours for some, shoppers received mystery scratch off cards that were said to have a value of between $10 and $250. Sadly many of the earliest people to arrive received the minimum gift card, $10.

My Restaurant Closure Predictions

With all the hoopla surrounding all the new restaurants opening in Atlanta such as Craft and Legal Seafood, I like to take this time to point out a glaring problem, restaurants that have recently opened are not doing as well as they had hoped and it seems silly to continue to open more and more. Next on my closure list, another ill fated Atlantic Station tenant, one if not all of the Dolce Group restaurants (Dolce, Geisha House , Ten Pin Alley) and Aquaknox at Terminus. All of these establishments have their days, or in some cases their hours in which they do quite well, but as we all know, a few hours or a couple nights of good business can't carry a restaurant long term. My call, one if not all of these establishments close up shop in 4-8 months. Repeat Atlanta!