On the heels of news that The Forum Peachtree Corners is adding several new restaurants and retailers and was purchased by Ponce City Market owner Jamestown comes news that longstanding tenant Barnes & Noble is on the move. An anchor since the project's 2002 opening, the bookstore is downsizing slightly with plans to reopen with the brand's latest prototype design.
In the years since, the firm has worked to further amenitize and modernize both properties. This work has involved updating the tenant mixes, adding three "jewel boxes," increasing the greenspace, and elevating the guest experience. Also part of this work has been what some might call "asset intensification" or in layman's terms, increasing the amount of stuff at the property.
Barnes & Noble opened a new, roughly 15,000 square foot store in a large portion of an old Bed Bath & Beyond at The Avenue this past November. The current store at The Forum measures about 23,500 square feet with the new store expected to be about 15,000 square feet. The new store represents the New York-based retailer's effort to "right-size" their stores as they continue to remain relevant and profitable in an ever evolving retail landscape. (The retailer previously closed their store at the Edgewood Retail District with RaceTrac looking to takeover their Cobb Parkway store.)
The new Barnes & Noble, at 5135 Peachtree Parkway #910, replaces Old Navy and Gallery Anderson Smith. According to sources close to the project, NAP and Old Navy are in active discussions for Old Navy to remain at The Forum. The gallery, which joined the project as a pop-up, may also find a new home, but where and when remains undetermined, according to a source familiar with the landlord's plans. The property is much like a giant puzzle, and with all the work being done, pieces of all shapes and sizes present unique challenges and opportunities as NAP works to breathe new life into the project and create new space for each piece.
The current Barnes & Noble (5141 Peachtree Parkway) occupies a dynamic corner space in the project. The existing space will be demolished to make way for the previously announced multifamily development. All of this takes time with the Old Navy closure and Barnes & Noble happening first, but likely not until late 2025 or early 2026.
The five story apartment building that will replace the current Barnes & Noble and would face Peachtree Parkway is approved to include as many as 380 units and would also feature up to 13,000 square feet of ground level retail space. The apartments would also include a parking deck with spaces for residents and shoppers.
What are your thoughts on the current and planned changes at The Forum Peachtree Corners? Are you excited to hear about the new and improved Barnes & Noble? What other types of retailers or restaurants would you like to see open at The Forum?
Please share your thoughts below.
74 comments:
Great. More apartments. Wish they would insert a store or restaurant
I'm glad Barnes & Noble is staying, sad it's getting smaller but that's a sign of the times. I used to love The Forum but I don't see myself shopping there anymore. Typically all of these kinds of changes mean less parking and more hassle to visit.
We don’t need more apartments!! I’d like to see some more mall stores such as American Eagle or Madewell.
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I don't believe NAP built Avalon. It was a Hines/Cousins collaboration and Hines sold their share to Cousins and Cousins offloaded it to NAP. Hines is now replicating Avalon in Cary, NC as Fenton, with a lot of lessons learned from Avalon's development being applied to Fenton's development.
Not to change the subject away from Peachtree Corners... but.... has anyone heard about B&N's search for a new site after the Edgewood store closed? I remember reading that they were interested in an intown location somewhere, but nothing was ever identified in the media.
No, I am not excited in the least to hear Barnes and Noble will be replaced with apartments of all things. It’s such a wonderful store, a dying breed. Not thrilled with reduced parking either. Many days it was already difficult to find parking in front of the shops.
More apts in that area of PTC… so many people already. Town Center is like a massive playground, this is headed in that direction.
People against housing in a story about a bookshop staying current to 2024 (not 1984) and rightsizing... go figure.... more housing, more density, there should be no retail that doesn't have housing on top in a busy metro area like Atlanta. hope they transform the entire The Forum into a denser place, with different housing options (guess what, just like Avalon)
Dumbest comment ever. Yes, dense housing is the answer. We've come full circle from the projects. I bet you couldn't read a book without pictures.
Well, two reasons not to visit The Forum. First, I still enjoy browsing in that bookstore. Now, I suspect the new experience will be just a little less enjoyable. Two, more apartments are not what Peachtree Corners needs. There are enough problems on the other end of Peachtree Corners Circle why invite more to this end?
Apartments; glorified housing projects for the 21st century.
Can you just imagine the traffic going in and out of the Forum with a 300+ apartment building!!! Apartments lower property values. Several townhouses would be better. Just adding more traffic, more pollution, over crowded schools, unsightly parking deck, and is making PTC no longer a pleasant place to live!
"We don't need more apartments." If that were true, they wouldn't be building more apartments!!
Horrible- thought this was supposed to ‘plans.’ Adding too much to Al already congested space.
And dirty pictures at that…
Hines did the office buildings at Avalon not the retail or apartments. That was done by NAP. NAP just doing what they always do- go to the city and say if you want to get us to upgrade The Forum and add new tenants you have to let us build apartments. Classic way to jam density in a town that does not want it.
Apartments should go where the residents want it and embrace it- City of Atlanta. Atlanta never turns down apartments no matter how poorly conceived or cheaply constructed- this will be a regret as some of these cookie cutter deals age poorly down the road.
Just because it makes economic sense in a profit motive does not mean residents want apartments. If the profit motive determined city planning let’s pave Piedmont Park and put in some warehouses - there is economic demand.
City.Council said no more apartments, but here we go! Big mistake! They should leave B&N as is
It is a staple to our community. Very disappointed.
I have no plans to shop at the forum moving forward. They have forced several great small businesses out. I guess Cookie Fix elevates the space.
Originally it was a development called "Prospect Park" that was going to be built by Thomas Enterprises, who developed The Forum Peachtree Corners. But it was a victim of the Great Recession and became an eyesore for several years before NAP acquired the site and developed Avalon.
Developers are going for a young, dynamic demographic including millennials, Gen Z and the next generation (Alpha Gen?) -- that is either not interested in owning traditional homes or in some cases, simply cannot afford them. The name of the game is to maximize profits. Follow the 💰 money. Get X and up are forgotten.
The city was incorporated to specifically fight apartments where the Town Center is. They got townhomes because legally they couldn't stop multi-family dwellings there. It was also intended to stop billing you for garbage collection via property taxes. That's currently how you are billed for garbage collection. Homeowners may not want apartments in that part of the city, but the city has allowed other high density projects to be built since it was created, all by your neighbors and all that was denied by the proponents of the city. All those additional franchise fees you e been paying have done you little good.
They’ll miss you! Come again soon!
Yep, leave the old building and don’t renovate or maintain it , and triple their rent. They should just pay more than they can afford because we don’t like apartments. That’ll teach ‘em!!!!!
Great , just what Peachtree Corners needs more Apartments and congestion, why do we have a city council they are useless 😕
I sure hope so. I miss the Edgewood store
We need more parking at the Forum and Town Center period. When you get into either, there's no parking . I'm too old to walk across the bridge .
not even at Home Goods and DSW?
Interesting that parking innovation was touted at the start of Town Center, with plans for electronic notification for available spaces. Nothing ever happened with that.
This is absolutely horrible. Peachtree Corners officials have lost their minds and only have money in their sights. Forget about living in a nice small town. We are becoming an over crowded, full on traffic, miniature inner city with all these rentals popping up.
Anyone thought about infrastructure and schools? Good grief.
I am so disappointed. The architecture of the current Barnes and Nobel is very attractive I just imagine more of these horrible block buildings that resemble those of Soviet Union. The congested traffic crowded schools decreased home values make the revamp of the Forum a really terrible idea. Have you ever tried to park at Avalon? It is a nightmare!!!
I don’t care for these outdoor malls personally for the reason parking is always a problem and even if you add parking decks it’s never enough. Norcross area is already congested enough with traffic and to add 380 apartments will make it even worse. I hate going to the Avalon with its parking. It’s seems you ride around and ride around to find a parking spot. Whole Foods had to add security for their parking and if you park in their lot by mistake to go to the Avalon you will get towed.
More high priced apartments for what? There are enough
This plan is terrible and a major disappointment.. it already has taken customer s away!
NO MORE APARTMENTS.
As others have said, put the high-density housing somewhere else. Anywhere else. Ruin someone else's community and overcrowd someone else's schools.
Thank you Mr. Mayor Mike Mason
You created this mess!!!
OMG, PLEEZE not another apartment.
While you’re filling your coffers, consider the overcrowded EVERYTHING, especially the schools.
Would any of the powers that be want to send their children to a Peachtree Corners school?!
It’s time We the People, give a thought to We the People.
-Marianne Schenke-Curtin
More urban thugs and illegals
Agree.. I call these blocks communist houses
then you should run for the city council and change things . Or go to city council meetings and speak up
there. To just be silent and posting on here is to accept things as they are . If you are really concerned , attend city meetings .
Do not want to see apartments there, maybe condos above the stores. I have loved the Barnes and Noble store. Hate to see it downsized. Does Old Navy fit in with the new look?
Once approved, it’s now approved. We all
Need to find out about the planning meeting for final design approvals. No more of these containment style apartment complexes and useless “——“ brown bridges. What happen to the European theme? I see nothing that shows continuity as a city along our main 141 thoroughfare.
Yes the Constitution of the United States should be invoked here and utilized to STOP this American injustice of a Barnes and Noble moving , and apartments being built. Nothing in our storied history could be worse. We should take this to the Supreme Court immediately. We the People!!!!!!!!’
It is not helpful to go to city council meetings where citizens can express their opinions. Rarely, are council, mayor, city manager minds changed.
I agree with No More Apartments in Peachtree Corners and definitely not in the Forum. The traffic and parking are already way too crazy. Apartments or any housing in the Forum will make it hard on everyone!! Peachtree Corners powers listen to the people. Adding housing to Waterside has made a huge mess.
Well said!!
I agree with the plan! People need new places to live and they can walk to the new bookstore and have a coffee and a nosh.
Anonymous
What are you thinking messing with a good thjng . Is the city council bought off ? The developers just want to see how far they can fill their pockets ?
My husband and I spend many hours in Barnes Noble and being older hate parking garages . We enjoy most all the stores there because we despise escalators in Malls
Can you imagine the crush of traffic in the morning pouring out onto 241 ? It is horrible now and no Marta nearby
Anonymous
Kids are overwhelmed now with too much going on we do not need more fun spots ! No more apartments ! What is the city council thinking to allow building so many apartments. I have to drive through this area to work and back and it is horrendous now . Yu crazy ?????
I guess we won’t shop at Forum any longer . Older folks do not like Parking garages and stress getting to our favorite stores . Stop this madness ! All our friends are livid at what is happening to our favorite shopping area . You will be sorry when we do not show up !
Every Peachtree Corners elected official needs to be voted out of office. Starting with the mayor and every city council member.
Crime is up.
Traffic out of control.
High rise buildings popping up everywhere.
Our beautiful community has and is being destroyed by an out of control city council who now represents the developers. Not the home owners of Peachtree Corners.
Vote out every city council member and the mayor.
I am a 43 year resident who hates what is being done to our community by this mayor and city council.
Not afraid to stand by my comments,
Greg Lindquist
Yes, how dare people need a place to live that cannot afford the 500k+ houses in the area
Wait, as an apartment dweller myself I’m supposed to be a thug and illegal? Darn, need to get started on that.
Man and I thought buckhead had nimbys. Yall sure are gunning for first on nimbyism in these comments
City council, city council……la la la, la la la
Older people, older people…..ha ha ha, ha ha ha
No more escalators! No more parking lot haters!
No apartments! Ding dang dong!!
Weeeeeeee!!!!
This ain’t an airport, no need to announce your departure
They’re gonna read this and change their minds! Yes they will! They don’t want you to stop shopping there. They need you and your $ales. They’re gonna cancel it, yes they will! When they see this!
They are communists...except their color is blue. APTs everywhere, because local politicians line their pockets nearly, all are corrupt, in most metro cities. Glad my kids are out of school, I can leave when it becomes unbearable.
Well I’ve already stopped going to the Forum anyway because of all the mess that they’ve created. Whoever came up with this idea sure didn’t think about customers. There’s lots more places to go shopping
Well, I never!!! Hmmph!!
Peak NOT IN MY BACKYARD content in these comments.
Nothing attractive in the Forum anymore. The new businesses opening are certainly not exciting…nothing that would make one say “oh, I’ve got to go to the Forum to shop at ???? Hate, Hate, Hate the thought of almost 400 apts going in plus a hotel.
Stop the insanity.
Just head on up the road to John’s Creek. Better shopping.
Anywhere but here
Just as we were making “Best places” lists.
Leave now! Buh bye!
Whatha f....is wrong with this mayor???...can we forward all these comments to him? .... He has destroyed our beautiful city ,... enough with the greediiness ,and benefit their pockets by selling our community.
No! I love the Forum and will always shop there. I don’t like any thing in Jons acreek
He’s doing a great job! This project is the culmination of all his amazing leadership. A new bookstore and apartments is just what the businesses need here to grow! I love it and will continue to shop at the Forum multiple times a week for years to come!
Avalon here I come
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