Rendering of food court with bamboo and exterior seating |
Lids will relocate their existing store from the lower level of Lenox Square to the former Ed Hardy space not far away.
Sunglass Hut is also relocating from adjacent to Lids to the former L'Occitane, one level up, near Bloomingdales.
Apparently, both the Lids and Sunglass Hut spaces, along with the nearby GameStop, will all be merged into one space for an unknown retailer.
Additionally, while much has been made of the renovations planned for the front of the mall, inside sources have long claimed there is plenty in store for the rear of the mall as well. I have now been able to substantiate this claim with verbiage from a building permit filed with the city of Atlanta.
"LENOX FOOD COURT EXTERIOR & INTERIOR DEMO & RENOVATION OF SEATING AREA OF FOODCOURT IMPROVEMENT ENCLUDE DEMOLITION PORTION OF THE CEILING FLOOR ABOVE SEATING, ADD OUT DOOR SEATING"
Apparently the adidas store closure and the likely closure of DeathWatch member Original Penguin will also play a part in the food court renovation. Some sources say that one or both spaces will have their floors removed to make the food court below more open and inviting.
Additionally, with news coming out this week that The Cheesecake Factory in Buckhead is not being offered a renewal of their lease, current chatter indicates that they will relocate to Lenox Square. While this has not been substantiated by any source inside SIMON, it would make more sense rather than open their other concept, Grand Lux Cafe, as I had earlier reported.
What are your thoughts on the renovations of Lenox Square? What restaurants quick service, casual or otherwise would you like to see added to the mall? Do you like the idea of Buckhead resident parking at Lenox Square?
13 comments:
I really liked that Gamestop, especially its manager. Are they moving to another space within the mall?
@Rugs,
I don't know for sure but if GameStop does end up closing, I gotta think they will find / are hoping to find space elsewhere in the mall.
Thanks for reading and for the question.
As it's just rumor, you may not have an answer, but any idea why Cheesecake's lease wouldn't be renewed? Any thoughts as to what the property would be used for?
@AJ,
At this point, it's not a rumor, but a fact that they are being forced out. Peter Blum, a man that not only owns TCF space but also the adjacent ESPN Zone space wants to find "a better use" for the space. His ability to land a six story Restoration Hardware for the vacant ESPN Zone space has him thinking he secure a higher profile business for TCF space.
I hope he can but am amazed he was not satisfied having TCF, a popular restaurant, likely a good tenant who also likely had the desire to sign another longterm lease. Seems like a serious gamble to me.
Thanks for reading the blog and for the questions.
The food court is in desperate need of a renovation. Glad to see it will happen.
Disappointed...I had really hoped to have a Grand Lux Cafe in the Atlanta market!
The homeless and MARTA crowd will love those outdoor tables. What a pleasant site that will be.
Homeless and MARTA Crowd? Wow! Did you just wake up from a 60 year nap?
Nike is opening a 23K square foot store on 2 levels at the front of the mall. The one at Phipps was about that size. It's kind of disappointing; I was hoping for something unique like Topshop.
Hopefully they will also fix the AC down there. In the summer it's stuffy and hot and so uncomfortable to sit down there to eat.
dang...was looking for to a Lux at Lenox
Just saw the chickfila closed in the food court as well. Any news as to whether that is temporary or not? That has to be the longest standing tenant by far in the food court, its been there since I was a kid.
@Anon, RE : Chick-fil-A closure,
Yes, this closure is temporary and Chick-fil-A is slated to reopen as part of the new and improved food court look and offerings. I published another post about what you can expect from the food court and have listed that below.
Thanks for reading and for the comments!
http://www.tonetoatl.com/2013/03/lenox-square-news.html
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