DEKA Atlanta Closing as Owner Relocates to California

DEKA closing Atlanta store.

Atlanta-based DEKA will soon close its Atlanta area location at the Shops Around Lenox in Buckhead. The popular women's athletic retailer carried brands such as Stella McCartney, Y-3 and Newton.  Store owner Jim Whitlow is relocating his family to California and made the decision to close up shop rather than try and maintain a store on the opposite side of the country.  The store is expected to close in the coming weeks.  

DEKA first opened on Pharr Road in 2007 before relocating to the Shops Around Lenox in late 2010.  A "pop up" DEKA men's boutique opened in the center in 2011, but only stayed one season.  In the years that followed, Whitlow opened a satellite DEKA in Chicago on Michigan Avenue, and later a location in SoHo New York, but both locations have since closed.

Bevello, another women's boutique adjacent to DEKA, closed earlier this year and like DEKA, was previously a portion of the former CompUSA.  There is no definitive word on what business or businesses may be interested in the spaces, but there are reportedly already multiple parties expressing interest.  

I spoke with Whitlow briefly today and he told me he intends to relaunch DEKA in California once he gets acclimated.  He reportedly is actively seeking a location but was unable to confirm a location or an expected timeline.  

Jim has pledged to remain an Atlanta Braves fan despite his relocation.