Posh Buckhead shopping center sinks to new low
The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, which opened in late 2014, will soon lose its fourth tenant of the year, and third retailer in just the past month!
On the heels of the quiet closures of both Helmut Lang and Denim & Soul, Scoop, a New York-based boutique is currently liquidating as it prepares to close.
Scoop, or Scoop NYC as it is known to some, was started by Stefani Greenfield and Uzi Ben-Avraham 20 years ago in New York City. Over the years, the chain grew to include a few locations in New York as well as satellite stores in California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Nevada and Texas. Scoop, which stocked both its own in-house label as well as other labels, is credited with helping to launch brands like Rag & Bone and Alice + Olivia. Scoop's SoHo flagship recently closed, and WWD (Women's Wear Daily) now reports the entire chain is closing.
Scoop ownership blamed "high rents" for their chain's closure. Currently, merchandise at all remaining stores is 10-30% off (most only 10%) with sales expected to continue for the next four - seven weeks or until all in stock merchandise is sold. The 2500 square foot store in Buckhead opened in the fall of 2014.
Denim & Soul, which closed about a month ago, was another out of town boutique that failed at the center. Buckhead area sources indicate employees showed up for work about a month ago only to find a corporate team packing up the store and employees were told the store was closed. Marcus Lemonis of CNBC's The Profit invested nearly a million dollars last year in the business, then known as The Blues Jeans Bar. Lemonis rebranded the boutique "Denim & Soul" and worked to increase the margins at the chain's then three locations (Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco). Lady Fuller, the boutique's founder, had thirteen stores at the height of her business, but as she confessed to Lemonis, she never understood the markets, and only three of the stores were profitable. With Lemonis financially invested in the company with a 50% stake and the authority to make all business decisions, it's amazing to see the company make similar mistakes. The Atlanta location of Denim & Soul opened this past December, and according to sources at the Buckhead property, didn't even last four months. The chain did add other locations in both Lake Forest and Deerfield, Illinois as well as Jacksonville, Florida, which recently opened.
Former Denim & Soul |
Helmut Lang, a division of Japan-based Link Theory has also closed. Helmut Lang, rumored to be on life support virtually since opening, also quietly closed about a week ago. With a very niche market and premium pricing, the store failed to resonate with the Atlanta consumer. Industry sources indicate that the closure of sibling brand Theory, also in The Shops Buckhead Atlanta, may not be far behind. If the store does close, it would mark Theory's second closure in the market, having previously closed a store in Phipps Plaza.
Former Helmut Lang |
Despite the recent openings of Lindbergh, COS, Kit & Ace and NARS cosmetics, and the upcoming openings of Dior and Flywheel, industry sources report that word is spreading that The Shops Buckhead Atlanta is a "disaster."
Brunello Cucinelli, a luxury store in the project, has reportedly gone weeks at a time without a single sale. Likely due to this, the company recently released their General Manager, Jon Falk, who had been hired away from Zegna in Lenox Square. The store is reportedly now working with a skeleton staff of only three associates.
Taverna was recently announced as the replacement to the failed Thirteen Pies, but I seriously doubt it fares much better.
Qing Mu and Doraku, two Asian restaurants located on the East Paces Ferry side of the project, are also reportedly struggling.
Sources indicate that the only real successful tenants in the project are Hermes (no surprise), Akris (somewhat surprising), Christian Louboutin (home of the red bottom heels) and Le Bilboquet (which despite recently losing its GM and promoting its maitre d' has not lost a beat). Shake Shack, which started out red hot, had reportedly cooled significantly, only recently starting to show improvements in overall sales.
Should The Shops Buckhead Atlanta rethink its tenant mix? In my opinion, yes! Should ownership follow the blueprint laid by A Social Mess? Perhaps not.
The latest traffic generating attempt on behalf of the center, "The Market," is a weekly Sunday morning / afternoon event that is essentially a mini farmers market. Meant as a way to generate foot traffic for the center, sources indicate it has, but after two weeks, many report only slight improvements while others report no difference at all.
Is parking still your biggest grievance at The Shops Buckhead Atlanta? Are you surprised to see so many tenants closing? What could ownership do to make visiting The Shops Buckhead Atlanta more compelling?
Please share your thoughts below.
52 comments:
More like Tomorrow's News Today sinks to a new low, declares development a disaster shortly followed by
**paragraph about Hermes, Akris, Christian Louboutin, Le Bilboquet, Shake Shack all doing fine, no mention of Gypsy Kitchen which is still open**
This site is becoming nothing but lazy clickbait. I'm not sure why I even click through anymore except for the laughs. Congrats, you've become the poor man's Curbed.
Anon @ 3:52 needs to put all your money where you mouth is, get off the internet, and go save Buckhead Atlanta with that goldmine you have to spend!!!!!!!!
"I'm not sure why I even click through anymore except for the laughs."
Your attempt at uppity comments (while living in your parent's basement) are hysterical.
I sad the most for Marcus Lemonis. I watch The Profit religiously and I remember when that episode was on. I never "got" the concept, and think it was always doomed.
Another way to increase foot traffic? LOWER YOUR DANG PRICES! I haven't even gone there, but I can only imagine that the tenants thought that putting a few girls in trendy outfits looking confused as they stare out to nothing with shopping bags on their arms would translate into a "must have -- must get it" scenario where people would flock to spend $298 for a t-shirt with a certain person's name on the label. (take a breath here, I know that was a long sentence)
Why would they think that putting a farmers market would translate into sales? "Sure, let me get some corn on the cobb and rutabagas and OH! What's that? Designer t-shirts are only $198 now? I knew I loved this place for a reason!" -- said no person EVER.
Anon @ 3:52 pm- you can always go read stuff somewhere else, log off the internet, or better yet, since you might have traits of a stalker, just find the author of the blog and give him your vitriol in person. Oh, what's that? You only get your kicks when you sit behind a screen? So typical.
I really think they should have the place be a shopping destination during the day, and bars/clubs/lounges at night. It worked before. Sure, there was crime, but aren't some of these shops often hit by criminals anyway? That strip was electric back in the 90s, so why not stick with what works?
Better yet, maybe some of the tenants can mix the nightlife with some specials, like hosting some kind of mixer that combines shopping, drinks and mingling. People spend when they are with friends, AND when they drink alcohol, so why not bring that all together?
I'm available to give a customized marketing plan to any of the tenants, and I promise I charge a lot less than your prestigious staff. :D
Thanks for an informative write up on these retail shops. Very interesting and a nice look inside the trials and tribulations that retailers are facing today with high rents, lower foot traffic, increased competition...
Is this really a surprise to anyone? ATL is not Paris, London, Tokyo, NYC.... Heck it's not even San Fran, Miami or Chicago.
This development was a disaster from the git go. And, it's horribly designed architecturally. They didn't ecen take advantage of Peachtree Road and give it a Michigan Ave. type feel.
Just another very poorly designed and thought out project doomed to fail from the start.
Parking is the issue for me. It seems like a totally inconvenient place to shop. I don't even consider shopping there. Wasted space.
Anyone Know how Canali is doing? Hopefully they can remain open or move to Phipps.
Drew
I agree with all of the points about nightlife mentioned above. The shops need more nightlife, similar to Divan, Gypsy Kitchen, Fados. All of these places are booming at night when the weather is nice. There also needs to be more affordable shopping. Instead of a Dior store, there should be Marc Jacobs flagship or something like an American Apparel. People need more affordable shopping in Buckhead and that tends to do well. Look at Buckhead Station which houses Nordstrom Rack & Off Saks Fifth..you see lines out the door every day.
I also think that the nice weather this summer will attract more foot traffic
"Is this really a surprise to anyone? ATL is not Paris, London, Tokyo, NYC.... Heck it's not even San Fran, Miami or Chicago."
Then what is it? A redneck version of Dallas with more African-Americans? If Dallas can support stores like this - and it does - then why can't Atlanta?
What a dumb thread. I guess Lenox Square is also a failure since several stores have closed there throughout the years
If Dallas can support stores like this - and it does - then why can't Atlanta?
- Neiman Marcus
- People with real disposable incomes move to Dallas, vs ATL being a draw for dreamers
- Wealthy Atlantans fly to NY to shop, or do so when they are on vacation Miami.
- Dallas did not know there was a Great Recession, ATL did
One could state more reasons, but you'd still complain because you can't comprehend the facts.
People in Atlanta do not want to go shopping outside in lifestyle centers where they can't find parking or have to park blocks away. They want to drive right up to a mall and go inside. Buckhead already had too much shopping. Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza are right nearby and they're more than enough. How much shopping does anyone need? Buckhead shopping has reached a saturation point and Buckhead Atlanta wasn't needed. Typically overdone Atlanta development, just like the overdone condos and luxury apartments.
I do commend Buckhead Atlanta on finding a different mix. I love Shake Shack and Georgetown Cupcake but who realistically can afford to buy at the other expensive clothing shops they have? Are there any stores for the Middle Class? I don't think so. It seems like every development in Atlanta lately is geared towards the 1%, even Ponce City Market, with their expensive restaurants. This is what happens when you turn your city over to greedy developers who only care about PROFIT
It's not about "supporting the stores"... It's about the entire development. Poorly designed. Awful parking, a closed boxy feel with no common areas.
Who thought walking and strolling around BA would be fun and interesting...oh look $1400 shoes, ohhhh a $6 hamburger, Dior, and a cupcake joint? No feel, no rhythm... And nothing, nothing about BA would make anyone want to return. That's why it's failing now and will only get worse day by day. It's doomed.
Parking is the number one reason I never go there (I live less than 2 miles away) also there is not enough retail variety. I may need an expensive handbag or shoes but I may also need some tank tops from the Gap. I would just go to Lenox, get the shoes/handbag at Neiman Marcus then get the tank tops at the Gap and maybe some shoes for my daughter at the Nike store. If Buckhead Atlanta offered more variety I would go there and deal with parking since its closer to my south Buckhead home than Lenox but I wouldn't go to Buckhead Atlanta just for one high end item. As for the restaurants...there are so many great restaurants in Atlanta...with easier parking!
I hate to see stores close, employees lose jobs and investors lose their stake, but I wonder what this place really has that Lenox doesn’t. I do miss Hermes, but so far haven’t seen the need to drive over to visit. The reality is this probably has less to do with design or tenant mix than it does with oversaturation of luxury shopping centers in that area. Lenox continues to elevate above being an average mall and with Phipps right across the street there’s little need to go anywhere else. Maybe by focusing more on nightlife, dining and entertainment Buckhead Atlanta can find a niche. Hey, here’s an idea – open up some nice bars many with outdoor decks/patios and live music. Create a little bit of street life as people move from venue to venue and maybe have some actual excitement.
your hard on for buckhead atlanta is so funny. Most of the closures are not specific to BA as stated in your post. Come talk to me when they loose all tenants. That will reeling.
I've heard grumblings for months by some of the tenants. But, that doesn't mean the kiss of death. New people come in to fill the void. My observation is Warby Parker is always busy. So is the new COS (H&M company). They are reasonably priced retailers. Seems that OM is beginning to add more of a variety to all high end retailers which should only help. I'm just grateful it is no longer a five year gigantic hole in the ground.
Scoop is closing because ALL Scoop stores are closing. The store actually did well in Buckhead. Helmut Lang closed because the brand is dying. They closed a NYC store a couple of months ago, too, leaving 5 total stores in the US. Denim & Soul is also a brand struggling on a national level. Your "research" and "sources" seem to be relying on rumor and not on fact. Theory is busy every time I visit. Doraku and Qing Mu are always packed - in fact, all of the restaurants seem to be busy. And, 13 Pies and AF&B closed due to corporate restructuring rather than performance. You should do some actual reporting...quoting sources, etc. Why are you so keen on seeing this development fail? You seem to have a real hatred for this place, which makes no sense. If you love Atlanta, you'd want the city to be able to support a place that is upscale and lovely with world-class retailers. This "report" reads like sour grapes. Not sure anyone else thinks Buckhead Atlanta is "reeling".
What about TOD's The shoes are excellent and I have bought a few pair. However when they first opened I found that they close early so if you work for a living you can not stop in after work. Note I will not waste fun time on Saturday to go buy shoes. As far as parking, I walk there so it does not matter. All the parking complaints in Atlanta are from the large population of overweight
folks. I mean really... you can not walk a few blocks
PS. I went to the coffee shop and a plain black coffee was 1.5 X
the price of Starbucks. WOW Another reason not to walk over for a cup of coffee. Agree more bars are needed in the area. Bars are an Atlanta lifeblood.
Thanks for good reporting. As said before - - No such reporting
exists at AJC or WSB Just nonsense about who goes to what bathroom but do not get me started.
Fat, lazy people complain about parking. Just saying...
Something about BA always felt a bit off to me. I never knew what it was until Anon at 10:23 said "no common areas." It also has no center. Other than a bench tossed here and there, BA lacks a place to just sit outside, talk and people watch without being in some restaurant's patio area. I read a lot of books and blogs about urban planning/design and something that comes up over and over is the necessity of common areas in creating a sense of place in any development. Common areas give people an opportunity and a reason to relax and linger. Without that, developments tend to feel artificial, sterile or just vaguely uncomfortable.
The lack of common areas in BA isn't an accident, though. Far from it. It's a silent but direct and overt message: Spend some money or get out. The last thing they want you doing is relaxing and lingering unless it's at a table at one of their restaurants. I understand that it's a private development, not a public place so they're within their rights to convey that message. I'm not looking to get into a debate with anyone about that.
The problem with common areas (from the developers' viewpoint) is that they don't generate any revenue and they're free for anyone to use, even people who don't have money. Maybe homeless people would sleep in them. Maybe kids would come to BA, buy coffee, a milkshake or a cupcake, then just hang around seeing and being seen like young people often like to do. The same is true of adding more entertainment or nightlife elements, like Anon at 11:11 suggested. Those kinds of establishments encourage lingering, which is good for giving a place vibrancy and life but what if the "wrong kind of people" are lingering and scaring away the spend-and-go crowd?
The second there's so much as a loud argument at an entertainment venue, people will be declaring the whole place "dangerous." If a bar plays music that's audible outside its own door, someone will claim it's a nightclub and try to get it shut down. I think they believe that the only way to maintain the posh, genteel feel that they want BA to have is to make it the kind of place that's strictly for spending money, lest anyone get the wrong idea and start having fun.
Wherever I shop, you are going to SEE me pull up in my Maserati! I refuse to walk up looking all hot and sweaty, windblown or bundled up where you can't see my svelte self! You have never walked in my Louboutin heels. Flywheel is GYM.
ONE person posting all this HATE. Bitter much? Get a LIFE!
I live a block from the BA and have gone to their event's(maybe just the one with the $$$ drawing that i thought was rigged or had a weird vibe to it) to try and bring people out/drink/shop etc. I bought a $550 shirt lol. The project had to be competed, since the 2008/2009 bust last contractors working on project went under so the new grp promised City of Atlanta it would have it done on a strict deadline. I have lived across street in my own condo i bought in 2008/2009 and have watched this develop. The shops are straight up high end designer/ retail pricing. I can afford to shop in these types of stores but I don't like the styles/connotation, and dont know anyone else who wear designer clothes like this. I am successful and work in hospital, but I also like to party drink yell dance meet people have fun when I go out. BA is not marketing itself as a club/nightlife scene outside maybe a little coorporate bs event at the one bar that has a patio upstairs/outside.
River Oaks District in Houston was done right. Same developer. BA was conceived, designed and built for conspicuous consumers. BA needs lots of shoppers with loads of money to BUY. BA is not a shopping destination - experience.
There are WAYYYY too many people in here that are:
1) blatantly rooting for the failure of this establishment (and therefore the loss of jobs) simply because they have wealth envy or it doesn't fit their utopian ideal of something for everyone. Get a life. There are PLENTY of places for everyone to shop within their means, even if this isn't one of the best options. Even BA has COS which isn't that expensive.
2) HATEFUL of Atlanta. If you hate this city so bad, why not move to beloved Dallas or wherever else you extol the values of as being so much better than Atlanta.
3) LAZY AS ALL GET OUT. Lazy to drive everywhere and furthermore, lazy to freak out and say anything other than a free massive surface parking is too complicated. "OMG WHAT AM I GOING TO DO?? I HAVE TO NAVIGATE A GARAGE!! OH NO!!!" There is PLENTY of free parking in and around Buckhead Atlanta.
4) Forgetting that Atlanta is an emerging entertainment mecca. You don't think these retailers know and understand that? The demographics in Buckhead are already stellar. Add in an emerging entertainment industry and the spending power/discretionary spending that comes with it and there's PLENTY of room for high-end retail that doesn't have to be in a mall.
If you folks want to live in a city that couldn't ever sniff this level of retail, please go. Let Atlanta be.
4) Forgetting that Atlanta is an emerging entertainment mecca. You don't think these retailers know and understand that? The demographics in Buckhead are already stellar. Add in an emerging entertainment industry and the spending power/discretionary spending that comes with it and there's PLENTY of room for high-end retail that doesn't have to be in a mall.
Reposting the funniest.
Emerging Entertainment Mecca?
Mecca?
Bless your heart, you are the demographic to be preaching about demographics.
You pay to park anywhere that is "upscale" in Atlanta, at least The Shops they give 3 hours FREE self parking. And its a safe place to park also, so don't have to worry about your car getting broken into like other shopping areas!
Luxury stores don't need tons of shoppers, they just need a few to make their sales goals. BA isn't a traditional shopping mall, we have enough of those. Good job Buckhead Atlanta - Haters gonna HATE! Be true to yourself!
You said it best!!!
Coolio... If you haven't been there in the two years that the plaza has been open, how can you suggest lower prices.
And who would you like to lower their prices. The prices aren't higher at Jimmy Choo or Hermes for instance because they are located in Buckhead. And if you would stop by and visit, there are shops such as COS that have moderately priced items and incredible sales, (also TOD's).
You wrote a very detailed comment and even mentioned "mixers that combine shopping, drinking and mingling, etc"... AND THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT THE PLAZA HAS BEEN DOING... So either you've truly never been or you've been and you're literally reciting the ideas you've seen implemented.
I think BA will be fine. Especially after learning the reason for those stores closing. I wish this blog did more research. I think Atlanta can definitely support more stores but I think the development has to make itself a better destination overall. They need a bigger draw to the area. I say put a department store like a Barneys, Lord and Tayor or something like that there.
I have yet to visit BA, but I'm guessing that it's a lot like all the other newer developments around Atlanta. No coverings, so your subjected to the heat, No common Areas, not enough restaurants (lets be real, Southern folk LOVE food. And on that note: They don't enjoy walking much) Close parking is essential in Atlanta. All in all..its doesn't deliver an Experience correct? I drove by a few days ago, and its essentially...just a few boxes. They should have taken their Design que from Bal Harbour. One thing I've noticed after moving back, there just isn't the same Wealth inside the Metro Area as it used to be. Atlanta's Wealthy use their Homes and cars to make a statement...not their clothing. The whole development should have been a Dave and Busters...attached to a Lego land. *side eye*
With Phipps and Lenox a mile away what did BA expect? They also jacked the rent prices so high ($100+) these retailers were destined to fail. Despite what others have said Atlanta is NOT a walking city. There is zero foot traffic. Atlantans (I'm born and raised) also don't like underground parking. The reason Flywhell was so successful in its old location…pull up, park, and walk inside.
I'll also echo the comments this should have been more of a restaurant/bar district with a better tenant mix.
Now, if you want to see a real disaster check out the Braves retail operation at the new stadium….zero leases signed.
I don't understand all of these comments that begin with "I haven't been to BA yet, but..."
I'm noticing two major things... The people saying they haven't been cant have an opinion if in two years you haven't come to the plaza or 2. The things the same people that haven't been to the plaza are hoping for ACTUALLY EXIST within the plaza.
Ross, Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, Off 5Th, Burlingon Coat Factory... ya'll get the idea! Besides, Lenox and Phipps is all Buckhead can really support!
The best comment I've read so far is that there is no common area in Buckhead Atlanta for people to just hang out and relax. There's no energy and no excitement because the retailers there want you to be shopping all the time and not relaxing and wasting one precious second where you could be shopping.
Also, did the developers of Buckhead Atlanta not realize the demographics of Buckhead?? Lots of young people, lots of Millennials, lots of Generation Z, that don't have a lot of money, that want entertainment options that BA doesn't have. They wouldn't be caught dead in this development other than Shake Shack. BA needs more diverse options rather than just for the 1% if they want to succeed in the future.
The older wealthy are not into high end labels and are not into being an advertisement for brands no matter how upscale. The younger Gen X wealth are spending their money on college for their kids, vacations, investments, you know, things that actually hold value in their lives. Millennials, as a group, will never be as wealthy. Atlanta in general is not attracting wealth, with immigrants and a national migration that are not as affluent due to the low cost of living.
Its hard to fathom why so many are not able to comprehend why BA is not thriving. There are so many factors that weigh into this. Most educated, logical individuals knew that BA would struggle when conceived, even before the crash of the economy. Even scaled back the new developers gambled.
The Look At Me aka Fake It Till I Make It population that thrives in Atlanta finds this place sterile and boring. These wannabes are flocking to the Mercedes dealerships, so no room left over for boring BA on overpriced couture.
Bring Makos back in and put some hot sexy half naked young females on bar swings facing Peachtree Street with shirtless beefcake bartenders promoting drink specials and you'll get your foot traffic back. :) Atlantans want to drink and mingle - It's the hookup capital now with a scorching HIV epidemic! Tinder killed the nightclub scene so not even nightclub entertainment will bring the crowds because where people used to go out to spots like T&G, Havana Club, and Buckhead Bottle Bar to mingle and meet a suitor, they just swipe right at work and find a date - then go to a fairly inexpensive place like Shake Shack or for Coffee at Corso for an introduction, then it's back to the pad for some Netflix and Chill - No one wants to take their Tinder to a $50+ plate with $10+ drinks.
How is parking a problem when there is FREE VALET at Buckhead Atlanta? and most venues will validate your parking for up to 3 hours! I just don't get it.
Drive up, leave the car running, grab a ticket from the college kid and be on your merry little way.
It's not that hard people.
Anon @ 6:48 & 11:25 on 5/11/16 seem like the same person.
I don't have to go to the development everyday/week/month/year to see the changes/updates. I use what is called inference. The information that is posted, combined with my own knowledge of the area, combined with my life experience in Atlanta gives me enough to conclude what this development is all about. And NOT about.
Furthermore, to piggyback off the everyday/week/month/year comment I just made, if the changes were significant, I'm pretty sure they would have been posted here, and/or I would see other evidence of this thru advertising or word of mouth. Case in point: Atlantic Station. Was kinda great when it opened, then big names dropped out (Fox Sports grill namely) and got a reputation for being a crime-ridden place with a bunch of black people roaming around, who are also known under the code name of thugs, gangsters, or generally undesirable people. OMG all is lost, another failed development.
Fast forward to know, it's a much nicer place to be in the daytime AND at night. They finally found the right mix of mixers, events, and security, and they actively ADVERTISED the place, in addition to developing a new logo.
You often only get one chance to make an impression, so if the initial one is not good enough to get you to come back, why would you? UNLESS you get reinforcements in the form of word of mouth, advertising, etc.
The comments about common areas in BA are the same things that Atlantic Station does so well now. The comments about a mix of high and low end are spot on. And the comment about the Fake It Til I Make It population (aka the unofficial slogan of Atlanta, aka I love the Real Housewives and think they are real, especially for those under 40), I can't tell you how much I loved reading that!
Finally, what these developments need to understand is that people with money shop online. They want SERVICE, or something that can't be achieved on the internet. That's why Amazon prime works so well. Focus more on SERVICE and not NAMES, and therein lies the answer to your woes, BA.
Three words: Casino of Buckhead. Problem solved, now let's address Atlanta's traffic problem.
Anon @ 1:31... you just created a new traffic problem! LOL
Buckhead is missing three vitals to make it a successful destination: 1) plenty of free parking, 2) a Dollar Tree, 3) a Waffle House.
anon @ 9:51.. Do the Waffle Houses at the corner of Piedmont
and Pharr and the one at Piedmont and Sydney Marcus not count
as being in Buckhead?
I have seen people walk into Hermes and Louboutin in shorts and flip flops, mocking the merchandise and sometimes the looks of the sales personnel. Not buying. Parking is a nightmare.
I lived in NY back when the first Scoop store opened in Soho, and it was all the rage. The whole concept just ran it's course.
The timing for the Buckhead shopping development is way off....people have curtailed their shopping in general. Even Macy's is struggling and is expected to announce store closings soon.
One of the leading indicators for retail activity is the health of the trucking business. Cargo loads are way down, and have been for years. Some of the biggest luxury brand names aren't shipping out of the ports at all this year.
Speaking for myself, I already have enough stuff.
I'm a fairly normal 30-something who lives 15 min from BA. My husband and I have enjoyed (ie, actually spent money at) Corso, Shake Shack, Georgetown Cupcake and Warby Parker. The obvious common thread is price point. I don't mind the parking so much. It's a nice deck and it's not that hard to get it validated. I do, however, mind the Buckhead traffic all around the area. If it were me, I'd love to see more of a mid-range mix of spots, maybe more similar to the mix over at Westside Provisions.
This is the smartest analysis of the real situation that I've read here. In addition to this commenter's realistic overview, I can add that "shakeout" is inevitable for the opening of any new destination, particularly one the pushes the envelope a bit. And as for the idiots complaining about parking...enough already. Just because you can't immediately spot a parking space as you approach does not mean the parking isn't close and convenient. You'll walk fewer steps and pay less at BA than many other places. And the valet service is courteous, prompt and relatively inexpensive too.
So sick and tired of hearing people bitch about parking !!! No where in Atlanta has a "street scene", people drive to a destination, want to park as close as possible and want to have as little outdoor contact as possible, but they will tell you they hate cold weather and like it hot outside !?!? And there is plenty of outdoor spots to hangout?
THE FIRST PROBLEM IS THAT ATLANTA HAS SHUT DOWN ALL OF THE HOTTEST NIGHT CLUBS SO OUT OF TOWN PEOPLE DO T COME TO ATLANTA ANYMORE BC THEY GOIBG TO MIAMI TO PARTY. ATL NIGHT CLUBS WAS THE DRAW ALL THE TOURISTS. THE RENT IS TOO EXPENSIVE FOR THE BUSINESS OWNERS. I'VE HEARD THAT THE BUSINESS RIGHT UP THE STREET IN THE BUCKHEAD COMMONS ALSO COMPLAIN OF THE HIGH RENT AND NO TRAFFIC.
Atlanta already have a Rodeo Road..Lenox Square/ Phipps Plaza.
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