Bits & Bites

Demolition at North Decatur Square 

Demolition of a significant portion of North Decatur Square has begun.  A number of spaces to the left of Kroger have been demolished with fencing surrounding basically the entire left portion of the Kroger-anchored center. As I reported this past fall, Kroger plans to significantly expand their store in the center and with their expansion, many stores were bought out of their leases and/or offered other space within the center.  Dollar Tree, to Kroger's right, will reportedly soon close.  Sources say that while the Kroger is increasing the size of its existing store, it will not become a "Marketplace" store. Marketplace stores are generally at least 125,000 square feet, putting them on par with a typical Walmart Supercenter.  One Kroger Marketplace store opened last year in Carrollton and others are planned for Savannah, Gainesville and Athens.   


Rollick has announced it will soon close its boutique at 1048 North Highland Avenue in Virginia-Highland.  The boutique has been open three years and was reportedly not offered a lease renewal.  Owners  Anika Easter and Michael Guthrie plan to close for good in a few days and will reopen in early April at The Wharf in Orange Beach on the Gulf Coast.   Rollick's closure follows the closures of a other favorite VaHi businesses such as Everybody's Pizza (2010), Mitzi & Romano (2013) and The Cavern (2014).

In Sandy Springs, fencing has been erected around The Chastain Apartments in preparation for their demolition.  The apartments are being replaced by a new development known as the "Sandy Springs Gateway Project."  The project is to include a new Sprouts Farmers Market as well as a few hundred apartments units and additional office and retail space.    

Freshii will officially open its first Atlanta area location today in the new "Fashion Cafe" at Lenox Square.  The healthy fast food eatery will be located adjacent to the escalator, next to Which Wich.  Freshii serves a variety of burritos, bowls, smoothies, fresh made juices, frozen yogurt and salads.  

Hydration Station will soon open a second location. With the apparent success of the first Hydration Station in The Shops of Buckhead center on Peachtree, a second location will soon open at TOWN Brookhaven.  

A new unleashed by Petco will soon open at 2463 Hamilton Mill Parkway in Dacula. Unleashed by Petco is basically a scaled down, more boutique, Petco store, allowing the store to open in smaller spaces.  The concept came to Atlanta last year with a location at Howell Mill Village, and has since added locations in northeast Cobb county on Sandy Plains Road and in Marietta on Delk Road Extension.

A new Zaxby's is being planned for 591 South Marietta Parkway.  Cartel Properties owns the parcel that was for many years home to a gas station until its demolition in 2007.  The parcel is bound by South Marietta Parkway,  Fairground Street and Victory Drive.  If all goes well, the Zaxby's could open by late this year.  

Last but certainly not least... drum roll please...

Willy's Mexicana Grill plans to open its new location at Cherokee Plaza in Brookhaven TODAY!  I originally wrote about the upcoming Willy's in July 2012 and after a number of delays, I confirmed with well placed sources (and drove by at 11PM last night) that the restaurant obtained its certificate of occupancy and will have a "soft opening" today.  From the looks of it, this new location sports an updated and enhanced interior and will likely be the model for additional new locations coming soon to The Village at Druid Hills and Sandy Springs Plaza.