Thursday, April 10, 2014

Bits & Bites

Regions Bank will relocate their existing inline Buckhead branch from Buckhead Plaza to a new freestanding branch with drive thru nearby later this summer.  The new Regions branch will open at the corner of West Paces Ferry Road and East Andrews Drive as part of the Camden Paces apartments project.

Warby Parker, one of the only sunglass brands not owned by powerhouse conglomerate Luxottica, will open just its sixth overall location at Buckhead Atlanta.  The New York-based brand offers designer style shades starting at less than a hundred bucks

Pure Taqueria will finally open a new location in Brookhaven, albeit in a different location than originally planned.  The Alpharetta-based chain, which opened its first location in 2005, will add its sixth overall location when it opens later this year at the new Brookleigh Market development on Johnson Ferry Road.  The new 3,500 square foot Pure Taqueria will be built to resemble a 50's era gas station and will feature a rooftop patio.  Originally, Pure had hoped to open at the corner of Johnson Ferry Road and Peachtree Road in the former Buddy's service station, but those plans failed to materialize.

According to my friend Lee over at Roots In Alpharetta, Tilted Kilt, the Celtic themed breastaurant has closed its Windward Parkway location in Alpharetta.  This marks the second metro Atlanta closure for the Tempe, Arizona-based chain.  A Tilted Kilt in Roswell closed last year, even after a change in ownership and management that was meant to save the business.

Comfy Couch Co. will join Onward Reserve and others at the redeveloped Pearson Liquor space on Early Street.  The former liquor store  was purchased by Loudermilk Bell LLC and has been split into a number of smaller spaces.  The North Carolina-based furniture store started in 2010 and plans to open its nearly 2,600 square foot space in Buckhead in early June.

Minneapolis, Minnesota-based Buffalo Wild Wings plan to open in the former Justin's in south Buckhead.  The national sports bar concept has over a thousand locations nationwide including eight in Georgia.  The Georgia locations are largely OTP but the chain does already have one in Buckhead at Lenox Marketplace.  Interestingly, one well-placed source indicates that the new south Buckhead location will in fact replace the current Lenox Marketplace location.  

Atlanta-based Concentrics Restaurants has partnered with Martin Sprock to open Ios Greek Kitchen in Charlotte's EpiCentre complex.  Ios will reportedly be a full service restaurant that will supposedly offer "great food for a great value."  The restaurant will also feature a full bar with emphasis on local beers and craft cocktails.  Ios is expected to open later this month.

Social Status will enter the Atlanta market with a new boutique on the Westside.  The new store, the sixth overall for the Charlotte, North Carolina-based chain, will open adjacent to the upcoming bartaco restaurant on Marietta Street.  Social Status is a men's boutique that specializes in designer and collectible footwear but also carries select ready to wear and fashion accessories.  Looking at their website and accompanying photos of existing locations, the concept seems like a blend between Little Five Points' Wish boutique and Lenox Square's Standard.

Loehmann's will live again, but online only.  The hugely popular off-price retailer went bankrupt last year and closed all of their locations earlier this year.  Loehmanns' brand, intellectual property and perhaps most importantly its customer list, were purchased in bankruptcy court by Esopus Creek Value Series Fund LP.  The private equity firm plans to bring the brand back in online-only form this May.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

What's up with Loehmann's Plaza on Briarcliif at Druid Hills?? Also, update us on Cookout coming to Atlanta please!

cafeej said...

Interesting that Buffalo Wild Wings is going to pull out of Lenox Marketplace for the new south Buckhead location. I frequent Lenox Marketplace and observed they seemed to be getting good traffic but perhaps not. They put a lot of money in renovating the space which was previously a restaurant. Will be interesting to see if it gets leased out as another restaurant or even stays vacant.

Atlantan99 said...

@Anon RE: Loehmann's / Cook-Out,

Expect to see updates on both of these projects very soon!

Thanks for your comments and readership.

Anonymous said...

the Tilted Kilt in Johns Creek on Medlock Bridge closed last summer as well, replaced by Hurricane Grill & Wings.

Anonymous said...

@Eric,

it has been a few years, but last time i was at that location was the NFL's opening Thursday night. the place was like 1/4 full. while it works for retail, it just seems too self-contained and "hidden" from Peachtree for a restaurant.

Anonymous said...

Not really excited about BWW moving into the neighborhood. Just a generic experience to me. Happy to see the Justin's space not being vacant for much longer.

Anonymous said...

Go ahead and put that new BWW location on death watch. No way it succeeds there - surrounding neighborhoods too discriminating.

SB said...

I have to agree with Eric and disagree with Eli (shocking). The BWW at Lenox banks. It's always crowded. I would guess on a PSF basis is one of their best performing stores. Perhaps this is a rent issue. Perhaps they signed a 5 years lease and it's coming up now which timing-wise makes sense. I can see the owner of that center wanting more $$, so they move. I think the current location is far superior to the Justin's space.

Atlantan99 said...

@SB,

I appreciate your comments but please understand I have no feelings as to if BWW is doing well, or not doing well at LMP. In fact, I think you are right in your assertion that the move is likely due to an increase / disagreement over rent. For what it's worth, the Justin's space only comes with a 10 year lease term, a term many other concepts balked over. Apparently Coro plans to go vertical on that parcel hence their lease terms.

Thanks for your comments and readership!

Jeff A. Taylor said...

The Kilts in Metro ATL are gonna continue to struggle unless they really embrace the GA craft beer culture. They are still mostly distributor driven -- and that does not work any more, boobs or not.

Jonathan said...

Lux doesn't want Warby Parker because Warby Parker's designs are nearly 100% identical to the (Lux-owned) Ray-Ban styles without the iconic history.

Anonymous said...

Ate at the Tilted Kilt Roswell a year ago -- unimpressive food and everyone who worked there seemed bored out of their minds.

The Alpharetta location seems unlucky for anyone trying to operate a restaurant. Frontera Mex-Mex made a go of it there a few years ago and didn't last long -- thought the site was too large for a concept like Frontera.

Sorry to hear that BWW is leaving Lenox Marketplace. Place was packed the few Saturday afternoons I went.

Anonymous said...

How about a BWW at the Loehmann's Plaza?

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...