Bits & Bites

Women's co-working space Eleanor’s Place is now open at Paces Ferry Plaza in Buckhead.  The new members-only community, named for Eleanor Roosevelt, provides space for women to connect, recharge, work and relax.  The space offers a "luxurious feminine twist to the modern co-working space."  “My vision is for Eleanor’s Place is to empower women – whether they are setting big goals and achieving the unthinkable or checking details off their to-do list – through a space that will welcome and inspire” said Jennifer Morgan, creator and founder of Eleanor’s Place.  From their press release: "Built by women to empower women, this haven provides members with the tools, comfort and friendship to propel them to achieve their goals and reach their full potential.  Eleanor's Place is located in a roughly 2,800 square foot space between West Stride and Baby Braithwaite in the Whole Foods-anchored center."

Eleanor's Place - Photo courtesy of Sara Hanna Photography 

Cinnabon at The Mall at Stonecrest in Lithonia has closed. The eatery, a franchise of Atlanta-based FOCUS Brands, opened at the mall in 2016 and closed earlier this month.  The closure is at least the second at a metro Atlanta area mall this year following the February shuttering of a Cinnabon in Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody.

Babies' and kids' apparel retailer Carter's plans to open a new store at Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody.  The new store will reportedly carry only baby clothing and will be the Atlanta-based company's second in the Perimeter area.  The company opened a store at the Walmart-anchored Perimeter Village shopping center in 2016.  The Perimeter Village store was a relocation from nearby Perimeter Place, which is anchored by Target.

In addition to the four locations that we previously broke news of, growing chain Joella's Hot Chicken is also set to enter the central Florida market with locations in Largo, Seminole and Melbourne.  In all seven locations, Joella's is opening in place of former Pollo Tropical restaurants.  The move to take on so many locations, so fast, entering multiple new markets simultaneously, is quite risky for the Louisville-based chain that also plans to add single locations to Indiana and Ohio - both existing markets for the concept.  All in, the nine restaurants that the chain has "coming soon" are more than double the chain's current roster of just eight restaurants.

Books-A-Million (BAM!) is actively closing its store at Lakeside Marketplace on Cobb Parkway near Mars Hills Road in Acworth.  The Birmingham-based bookseller has been paring down its store count in recent years as it works to compete in a challenging retail environment.  Strangely though, the retailer posted a job opening at the Acworth store August 9 that remains active today.  The Acworth store is currently offering 20% off all books and 30% off all other merchandise, ahead of their planned September 11 closing.  The roughly 10,000 square foot store will be replaced by cosmetics retailer ULTA.  An adjacent space, most recently home to nu look furniture, will be reopening as arts & crafts store Michaels.

A new branch of Bank of America is coming soon to Brookhaven Plaza on Peachtree Road in Brookhaven.  The new bank is opening in a 2,000 square foot space between Mattress Firm and Polished Nail Spa in the Stein Mart/Total Wine & More-anchored center. 

S.J. Collins has sold their Whole Foods-anchored North Decatur Square shopping center for what sources say was close to the $55 million asking price.  The new owner, Houston-based Weingarten Realty, promptly made one significant change: they renamed the center North Decatur Station, likely in an effort to minimize confusion with the nearby Kroger-anchored center North Decatur Square, that predates the Whole Foods center by about two decades. S.J. Collins will likely now turn their attention to their new upcoming projects, The Interock in West Midtown and Southern Post in Roswell.  

     

North American Properties, the developer behind Revel, reportedly has signed leases with Regal Cinemas, boutique bar, bowling, and entertainment venue The Painted Pin, and Tex-Mex eatery Superica from chef Ford Fry.  The tenants will help anchor the 118 acre mixed use development on Sugarloaf Parkway adjacent to the existing Infinite Energy Arena.  Revel has also signed other tenants including yet another Jinya Ramen Bar, Honeysuckle Gelato, Secreto, a Southern restaurant with existing locations in Alpharetta and Brookhaven, The Local Wood Fired Grill, a family-owned, fast-casual eatery currently with one location in Alpharetta and another coming soon to Sandy Springs, Maker’s Coffee & Wine and American Barber.  Upon completion, Revel will feature 300,000 square feet of curated retail, chef-driven dining and entertainment, 650,000 square feet of high-tech office space, a 340 room, 4-star hotel, 900 single and multifamily residences and community green-space.  A new Publix GreenWise Market is also rumored to be part of the Revel project.  

Folks Kitchen has closed its restaurant on Douglas Boulevard in Douglasville after 40 years.  The restaurant, located not far from Arbor Place Mall, closed as of August 19 according to signage on the restaurant's front door.  The City Menus reports that the signage directs would-be patrons to the Folks on Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway in Hiram, about 14 miles away.  The Douglasville Folks is at least the third suburban closure over the past few years for the locally based chain.  Folks closed their McDonough location last year and their Gainesville location in 2016.  The first Folks restaurant opened in 1978 in Chamblee.  Following the recent closures, the chain will operate just four restaurants: Tucker, Woodstock, Hiram and Windy Hill in Marietta.  The Windy Hill location was previously linked to a planned RaceTrac redevelopment, but those plans seem tabled indefinitely.  

Havana Lounge will celebrate its grand opening Friday August 23 with live music, complimentary Cuban hors d'oeuvres, samplings of premium bourbon, scotch and rum, and various drink specials.  The restaurant and cigar lounge is located at 6010 Sandy Springs Circle in the Centre Court shopping center.  

Charleys Philly Steaks will open a new location in the food court at Cumberland Mall near Smyrna later this fall.  The new eatery will be the fourth Charleys in an Atlanta area Brookfield Properties mall, joining existing locations in Perimeter Mall, North Point Mall and Peachtree Mall in Columbus.  The quick-serve cheese-steak eatery also has Atlanta area locations in Simon-owned properties Lenox Square, Mall of Georgia and Town Center at Cobb, among others.