Wednesday, March 28, 2018

River Street Sweets Sours on Second Floor Space, Plans to Shutter

River Street Sweets will close its longstanding location on the second floor of Phipps Plaza this coming Saturday, March 31.  The shop, a satellite location of the Savannah-based candy shop, has been a mall mainstay for almost 20 years.  There will be no inventory liquidation sales associated with the closure.  
The second floor of Phipps Plaza has gone through many changes in recent years, and the area of the mall in which River Street Sweets is located does not get the foot traffic it once did.  

River Street Sweets, which prides itself as being Savannah's oldest candy store, was established in 1973, and produces southern candies and baked goods including over 50 different flavors of old-fashioned taffy, pecan pies, praline cheesecake, pecan pralines and other sweets.  

There are reportedly no current plans to reopen River Street Sweets in Buckhead anytime soon.  The company's other Atlanta area location, on the first floor of Mall of Georgia in Buford, is remaining open.  Both the Phipps Plaza and Mall of Georgia stores opened in 2002.   

The company also operates its orginal location on the Savannah Riverfront as well as a second location in Savannah.  Riverstreet Sweets also operates three locations in Charleston and two locations in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.  


In 2015, the company introduced a franchise model, Savannah's Candy Kitchen.  The concept, very similar to its namesake shop, has a number of locations including at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Pooler,GA, Nashville, TN and Oxon Hill, MD, among others.  

Are you surprised by the company's decision to close their shop at Phipps Plaza?  If River Street Sweets did reopen in metro Atlanta, where should they reopen?  What would you like to see open next at Phipps Plaza?

Please share your thoughts below.  

26 comments:

Anonymous said...

Not particularly surprised at any closures whatsoever in Phipps. The place is a ghost town. All indoor malls are on borrowed time.

CloseOTP said...

@Anon@5:45PM - Your comment is not only an overly broad statement, but it's flat out wrong. Are there too many indoor malls? Yes. Are they all on borrowed time? Not even close. I mean, you only have to cross Peachtree and Lenox to get to a wildly successful mall that isn't going anywhere.

Anonymous said...

I am surprised how long this store stayed in business. It never seemed to be that busy even in the good days. Still sad to see it close.

Ham said...

Not really surprised. I still visit Phipps to catch a movie, shop at Nordstrom's, Saks or maybe drool over a few things at Tiffany's or Omega. However, I don't really see it as a mall so much anymore as I do just a parking lot below whatever store I'm visiting. I never go in and stroll throughout the entire mall like I might occasionally do at Lenox. I think removing the food court cut down significantly on casual visitors. However, the proposed upgrades may make a difference in the performance, but I fear people may visit the new stuff and ignore the existing sections.

Anonymous said...

Lennox/Phipps, It is all about the demographics, and everyone knows it...Now with Atl. PD curtailing shoplifting arrests...expect more retailer changes. Ignoring won’t fix anything.

Anonymous said...

Simon management has done such a sh#*ty job on this mall that it has lost its charm and status. It started with that Lego agreement. Lego should have built in Atlantic station. Could have been more visible from the 75/85 intersection if the position it right. Like on the ground of Cirque du Soleil or a big sign. Agree new changes could draw away from the mall itself.

Anonymous said...

Eating this type of candy is bad for your long term health.
Too much sugar.

Anonymous said...

I totally think taking the food court out of Phipps really hurt the mall - especially the lunch business. I work within 2 miles of Phipps and would go there up to 4 days a week for lunch and walk the mall. I go ocassionly now for lunch but some days the groups waiting for Legoland make it unenjoyable. The main stores I go to Phipps for are Belk, Build a Bear and La Sur Table. Earl of Sandwich and Starbucks are great as well!!

Anonymous said...

I agree taking out the food court was a very stupid ideal.

Anonymous said...

Lenox has become so urban that I barely go to it any longer either. It's just not pleasant. Phipps at least is still a nice environment to walk around in and enjoy a Starbucks. But I can't say I've been to the candy store.

Anonymous said...

When in ... Savannah

Greenwave said...

That sucks. This place has the best bear claws and peanut butter buckeyes. I would always go there and get some candy to take into the movie theater. Well I guess I'll have one final bear claw tomorrow.

amyers said...

I think they would be successful at launching a kiosk model in malls like Carlos Bakery in Perimeter Mall. While this location has always been oddly placed, I wish they would relocate to another ITP mall.

Anonymous said...

"Lenox as become too urban?"

Seriously? Go live in Wyoming or something where you don't have to see the blacks.

Anonymous said...

Urban? Could you elaborate?

Anonymous said...

Yes, I'll elaborate. Lenox is a hangout for thugs. I don't like thugs. I like to be around my culture. Therefore, Lenox is out.

Anonymous said...

"Seriously? Go live in Wyoming or something where you don't have to see the blacks."

I always have to live with (see) myself (black).

Unknown said...

I'm going to try to keep this as diplomatic as possible because I do enjoy this site and want to continue to be respectful. I'll start by thanking you for elaborating with a comment that, without shame, highlighted a narrow minded way of thinking. I feel badly for you, by the way. It's a shame that you share that opinion when Lenox has a clientele that runs the gamut and is reflective of the city's diverse population. As far as the comment where you exclaim that you like to be around your culture, I truly hope that's not the case because you're missing out on a whole big world out there. Also, if you're one who feels that isolationism is best, you're going to run out of places to hide or luxuriate amongst your own because this country is a melting pot of different ethnic backgrounds and that's not changing anytime soon.

Anonymous said...

@Vernon Taylor
I'm not into the whole "diversity" and "melting pot" thing. If I wanted diversity I'll go to the zoo.

Coolio said...

Most of you spewing hate don't even know the definition of the words that come from your fingers.

thug: a violent person, especially a criminal.

Now since Lenox is right smack dab in the middle of Buckhead, one of the economic centers of Atlanta, and is STILL thriving in 2018, I don't think it could both be a hangout for thugs AND attract clientele that like to patronize the area. I don't like thugs and I would feel very uneasy being around them, you know, because they might be violent to me or try to steal the $8 in my wallet. But the last time I was in Lenox (last month) I was more afriad of not finding a close parking space than of ANYONE who was walking in the mall.

So to the anonymous people who love their dog whistles and code words, why not be MORE like the "thugs" you despise and just put your racism out there for all the world to see. Thugs are bold and act with impunity. If you are racist, BE PROUD of your racism! Wear it like your very best suit on a Sunday. But don't hide in the shadows here, waiting to pounce on unsuspecting visitors... because... you know... that's also what a THUG would do. :)

thug: a member of a religious organization of robbers and assassins in India. Devotees of the goddess Kali, the Thugs waylaid and strangled their victims, usually travelers, in a ritually prescribed manner. They were suppressed by the British in the 1830s.

Source: Google - https://www.google.com/search?q=thug

Anonymous said...

Coolio triggered by a simple word. Sticks and stones. People like you are why Trump was elected , and will be again. Grow up thug.

Source: Personal Life: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coolio

https://www.thuglifearmy.com/news/4457-coolio-arrested-sent-to-same-jail-as-son.html

Anonymous said...

Is that you Artis Ivey Jr? So Lenox is a gansta's paradise? Why you gotta park so close if you aren't afraid? A hit dog will holler! SMH pick a better name to represent you than that of a criminal felon.

Anonymous said...

Just reading this but weird because I got a praline there on April 2nd!

Anonymous said...

Excellent pralines (and it's pronounced "prAHlines" for all the yankee transplants), but overpriced. I would still like to see a storefront location in the area.

I haven't frequented Phipps since Lord & Taylor closed.

Unknown said...

Please reopen... Go to perimeter mall. Same crowd as the Lenox location

Unknown said...

And reduce the prices!! I always reevaluated my life after spending $21 on a pound of candy which was only 6 pieces!! Come on man.. It's only candy. Wherever you go make sure the rent ain't so high so the price can be reasonable.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...