Atlanta developer Ben Carter Enterprises is looking to build something that has not been built in the area in more than a decade: a new outlet mall! Plans reviewed by ToNeTo Atlanta confirm that Ben Carter Enterprises (BCE), the firm originally behind the project today known as Buckhead Village District, is looking to build a new outdoor outlet mall just off I-85, along Poplar Road and Newnan Crossing Bypass in Newnan in Coweta County.
The outlet mall - "Georgia Outlets Newnan" - would come to a heavily wooded 60+ acre property on the opposite side of 85 to where Piedmont Newnan opened a new 217 bed hospital in 2012. The property is also about three miles from Ashley Park, a large mixed-use lifestyle center that includes a Dillard's, DSW, Best Buy, a 14 screen Regal Cinemas, Dick's Sporting Goods, and Barnes & Noble, among other tenants. The project opened in 2006, was followed soon after by a second phase, with a third phase currently under construction by original developer Stan Thomas.
Despite the struggles Ben Carter Enterprises had in getting their ambitious Buckhead Village development off the ground, the firm has successfully developed or partnered in the development of several successful projects around Georgia and the southeast including Mall of Georgia in Buford, Tanger Outlets Savannah in Pooler, Columbus Park Crossing in Columbus and St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville, among others.
According to planning materials, the Newnan outlet center is described as a "600,000 square-foot, mixed-use development project, encompassing lifestyle entertainment and outlet development and featuring best-in-class restaurants, shops and entertainment." A site plan for the project indicates there will be a 5 story, 116-key hotel, roughly 6,000 square foot gas station and convenience store, car wash, and small shop space in assorted outparcels along Poplar Road. The outlet mall will include more than 430,000 square feet of retail space plus an 80,000 square foot "anchor tenant" and a 50,000 square foot anchor property that looks a heck of a lot like a Topgolf. (If it does turn out to be Topgolf it would be the chain's fifth in Georgia joining those in West Midtown, Alpharetta, Buford and Augusta.)
For all that the center will offer, the project will also include roughly 2,800 surface level parking spaces.
The new outlet center would be the eighth large format, brand name outlet center in Georgia, but the first in the greater metro Atlanta area since the July 2013 opening of "The Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta" in Woodstock. The 50 acre, 370,000 square foot Outlet Shoppes at Atlanta was a joint-venture development between CBL Properties and Horizon Group Properties.
Ben Carter Enterprises, along with partner Tanger Factory Outlet Centers opened the 550,000 square foot, 175+ acre Tanger Outlets Savannah in April 2015.
Other outlet centers in Georgia include Sugarloaf Mills in Lawrenceville (SIMON), North Georgia Premium Outlets in Dawsonville (SIMON), Tanger Outlets Commerce in Commerce, Calhoun Outlet Marketplace in Calhoun (SIMON) and Tanger Outlets Locust Grove in Locust Grove.
Outlets like their retail sibling, traditional malls, are both facing increased competition from the likes of Amazon, Shein, and other e-commerce retailers. [CNBC published a video this week titled "Why Outlet Malls are Struggling In The U.S"] To combat this threat and to create more of a compelling reason to visit (and hopefully frequent) outlet centers (and malls) are adding new entertainment uses - like Topgolf - to lure customers to their properties in ways that online retailers can't match. The addition of things like gas stations, car washes, and assorted food options provides a variety of reasons for customers to find themselves coming to the property.
Marketing materials for the Newnan project indicate that there is a population of more than 1.5 million within a 30 minute drive with an average household income of $107,000. The center's "regional trade area" serves over 3 million, with an average household income of $125,000.
If all goes according to plan, Ben Carter Enterprises plans to open Georgia Outlets Newnan in Fall 2026.
Do you find yourself shopping at outlet malls more or less than in the past? What is your favorite outlet center in Georgia? What three stores do you look for most frequently when visiting an outlet center?
Please share your thoughts below.
59 comments:
It's been years since I last shopped at an outlet mall, as the only store I would typically go to an outlet mall for, Haggar, closed their brick and mortar locations.
Not big on Outlet Malls but, a Top Golf is an excellent idea!
We Coweta residents, actually from Coweta do NOT want this! How about filling all the empty stores we have. How about reducing our traffic influx, how about not causing our taxes to go up more. Leave us alone! The people currently in office for this county, have RUINED it to line their own pockets.
No please. Traffic is already bad enough.
Will they have a neiman’s outlet? Only place I can get Le Renoire bras for less than $200 each. They fit me so well
No alot of people shop at outlets anymore. I hope this doesn’t happen. I’m sick and tired of big companies coming into areas where people move to for a peace of mind.
I hope this doesn’t happen. I wish these big companies would stop building in areas where people move to for peace of mind.
I’ve lived in Coweta County for 30 years and I don’t want this either. I loved it here for a long time but the traffic now just gets worse and worse.
I want this to construct because it’s better than sitting in Atlanta traffic to have some type of golfing experience.
They do when there’s things to do like Golfing
That's going to be a NO from me. We already have plenty of shopping centers. If they would limit the scope of the development to the TopGolf, the car wash, and some restaurants that we don't already have in Newnan, that might be better.
If we are to do this can we at least have like a fishing shop or an outdoors shop in it? Maybe like a small business fishing shop.
It seems there are plenty of empty store space available within Newnan. What does this tell you, tells me this idea will not work and only cause more traffic problems that we do not need as well as someone or plural are getting some kickback somewhere to agree to this.
What concerns me is that the hospital next door to this proposed development is overwhelmed and cannot handle more growth without significant expansion. Prepare for your taxes to continue to rise.
Speak for your self please
Then move to a desert island. No one wants you anyway
NO 👎 Newnan is charming... we support our local small businesses.
There’s plenty of room for you in Cuba! Bon voyage!
I was born and raised in Coweta County and I hate the idea of an outlet mall here. The Coweta Government has ruined our county in my opinion. I use to love Coweta but now since all the growth I have come to hate living in Coweta. The country has been taken away and I don't like the population we have now. I can't wait to move to a county further south so I can actually look out across my yard and still see trees and animals. Stop all the development in Coweta County.
I was also born and raised in Coweta and so were parents and grandparents. My grandfather has a construction company and this is good for business and he never wanted people to skip our county. Its good for everyone. It’s not Little House on the Prairie. As a lifelong family from Coweta I can say we support this and think its a great idea! Can’t wait for it to open, we’ll be there on opening day and enjoy every single moment of it.
I am speaking for myself. Did you think I was speaking for you? I want the outlets, can’t wait!!!
The roads will be improved and traffic won’t be an issue. Good for Coweta County!!
A bait shop! And a general store with candy sticks, calico fabric and eggs right out the chicken’s ass. And slates and chalk for school.
Are the taxes going to go down if they don’t build it? Is that what you are saying? If so, that is ignorant.
And they can lease space at the outlet mall just like anyone else. Local!! Yay!! At the outlet mall. Good, and do it!
I am excited for this. I love Coach, Kate Spade and the Disney store.
Nice to know!
Sounds yummy.
I wish we could get a outlet on the Eastside of Metro Atlanta, there's plenty of land in Newton county for one. We currently go to Locust Grove or Commerce when we want to shop at the outlets
And you still can, those that want to shop at the outlets have that right
Why do I get the feeling several "Anonymous" who are pro-sprawl are the same person? Must be that dang women's intuition. :-D
This massive retail outlet is going to bring more traffic, majority of which from out of towners, and more strain on our existing roads. Attending the July working commissioners meeting yielded real financials and that our county is STRUGGLING to maintain what we have - EMT's, roads, prosecutors, recycling centers... There was discussion over the price of asphalt!! How about a mixed-use village that includes some shops, housing at different pricing levels (hello affordable), walkable, green space, etc. Throw in a Top Golf - you would have the built in residents to go.
“Peace of Mind” Lol. What does that even mean?
“Peace Of Mind”. What does even mean? lol. If you think people move to Newnan for a peace of mind then you must be living in an alternate reality.
Nothing about Newnan is that charming.!
We’ll get ready because it’s only gonna get worse.
I agree to this.
Really? I’ve been seeing this a lot on Facebook on the same topic saying it’s gonna bring more crime and whatnot but every outlet mall I go to is packed. Maybe you’re thinking about those malls built in the 70’s that haven’t been relevant for 20 years.
This. Ashley Park can literally do all of this!!!!
I’m ready! It’s only going to get better! More business, more income, more options. Good for Coweta!!!
I disagree to this.
How about putting in a Trader Joe’s! That would be awesome!
And a Whataburger!
I would greatly appreciate if if you brought an outlet mall to Newnan!!! I hate having to drive 2+ hours to Locus Grove or Woodstock. Newnan is only 1 hour north of me so this would be amazing. I would love having closer access to Coach, Kate Spade, and Michael Kors. Please make this a reality.
Same here!
Please bring an outlet mall here. We don't have anything on the southwestern part of the state. This is so exciting!
The project literally says "600,000 square-foot, mixed-use development project, encompassing lifestyle entertainment and outlet development and featuring best-in-class restaurants, shops and entertainment." Reading is fundamental.
"600,000 square-foot, mixed-use development project, encompassing lifestyle entertainment and outlet development and featuring best-in-class restaurants, shops and entertainment." It literally says mixed use.
Everybody saying it's gonna ruin Newnan's "small town vibe" has no idea what they are talking about. Newnan hasn't been small since the 2000's and it's only going to get bigger. Even then I think the "small town" still has maintained its character while incorporating a lot of businesses that you can't find anywhere but if you feel that way you are very much obligated to move wherever your heart takes you.
I'm assuming you're talking about Ashley Park. What do empty store spaces have to do with a new development? That doesn't automatically mean the new development will fail. If Ashley Park didn't have high rents and catered more to the average crowd, it might not be in its current state. If the developers played their cards right, a well-planned project can attract businesses and consumers, revitalizing the area blowing Ashley Park right out of the water. Also complaining about traffic at this point is like refusing to swim because you might get wet.
I agree that we should get some more restaurants but these "shopping centers" aka Ashley Park has nothing but boutiques and mixed use stores that will inevitably close in 5 years like a cycle. Other than some department stores and a handful of name brand stores there's nothing we have in Newnan. I think the outlet mall is a broader development that can attract a wider variety of businesses. Could Ashley Park do this? Yes. Will they? Probably Not. Also a Car Wash.... Really? No.
Well times change I don't know what to say. Also dude, Coweta still has farmland it's not New York. If it bothers you that much go to South Georgia. Everybody loves to complain about traffic and population but does nothing about it. Either be the solution or continue to spare and complain. Complaining about traffic being bad is complaining about hurricanes being in Florida.
If there's a bass pro, I want it. If not, then hard pass.
If there’s a bass pro, I’ll be hard
I'm excited for this. Traffic to current outlets is a nightmare so I'd love one in Newnan. While we're listing requests I'd like a Trader Joe's, Seven Brew Coffee, Krispy Kreme and a good Asian restaurant. Please no more Mexican places, we've got plenty in Newnan.
Silly assumption . No, taxes will not go down if the outlet mall gets denied. Taxes will rise rapidly if the county continues to approve large developments. It’s simply an unavoidable consequence of growth.
So that we can also have nightmare traffic to our outlet?
Yes yes yes! Outlets have much better prices
And variety. Not stores that sell at manufacturers retail. Designer stores are attractive to many people. If they don’t like living in a progressive Atlanta suburb/bedroom area I suggest you move south where there is no nothing but Walmart and pitiful sdevelopment except for a strip mall.
Thanks for proving his point
Agreed! It is too far for me to drive 2+ hours to the ones in Locus Grove and Woodstock.
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