Wednesday, February 19, 2020

[EXCLUSIVE] JOANN Jumps Ship to Open in Former Kennesaw Toy Store

Crafts and fabric retailer JOANN is on the move in Kennesaw.  Currently located in a 46,000 square foot space in Barrett Pavilion, the Hudson, Ohio based retailer plans to late this year relocate to the former Toys R Us in Town Center Station, adjacent to Town Center Plaza and across from Town Center at Cobb.  Permits were recently filed with Cobb County to begin renovations on the 53,000 square foot space where a minimum of $325,000 will be spent converting the space.    
Updated JOANN logo at recent store opening 
JOANN's relocation follows the relocation of HomeGoods from Barrett Pavilion in 2013.  HomeGoods moved to Town Center Plaza where it joined fellow TJX Cos. brands Marshalls and TJ Maxx.   In both cases, the retailers relocations netted them increased visibility and better co-tenancy/nearby tenants.  (HomeGoods today occupies a former Michaels, a rival retailer of JOANN.)  

Barrett Pavilion, home to a 24 screen AMC Theatres, Target, ULTA, REI, and Total Wine & More, among others, was recently sold. Lincoln Property Company Southeast (Lincoln) acquired in partnership with Stockbridge, the 458,740 square foot, value add retail center with plans to  "reinvigorate the center through strategic leasing, densification and repurposing of some of the existing boxes, according to a release from Lincoln.  A newly updated site-plan for the center indicates that the current JOANN space will be available as of 1/31/21.  

JOANN's lease of the former Kennesaw Toys R Us is the latest in a string of intriguing back fills of metro locations of the toy retailer.  

The former Buckhead Toys R Us was later replaced by both a Saks OFF 5th as well as a relocated Cost Plus World MarketHobby Lobby opened in place of a former Toys R Us in Akers Mill near Cumberland Mall and in place of a Babies R Us in Alpharetta near North Point Mall.  Burlington opened in place of the former Alpharetta Toys R Us.  In Buford, half of a former Toys R Us is now occupied by a Goodwill thrift store while in Douglasville a former Babies R Us reopened as an Ashley Furniture HomeStore.  

Elsewhere in the greater metro Atlanta area, former Toys R Us/Babies R Us stores in Lithonia, Tucker, McDonough and Dunwoody, among others, remain available.   

Are you excited for the expansion and relocation of JOANN?  What types of business would you like to see open in Barrett Pavilion?  What has your local Toys R Us become?  

Please share your thoughts below  

3 comments:

Alan Cason said...

TRU in Athens became Southern Surplus, a local place that relocated from a former Lowe's.

Anonymous said...

The former Toys R Us space in Lithonia is now an American Signature Furniture.

rosegorham said...

The former Babies R Us in Dunwoody has been leased as Santas Fantastical Adventure. Apparently it was cheaper for them to have a long term lease then to just lease it short team for the holiday season so the signage is up all year and then they just open it up for the Christmas season.

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