[EXCLUSIVE] Kohl's Plans to Do More With Less, Reducing Size of Most Atlanta Area Stores

Kohl's has retained Atlanta's The Shopping Center Group to market a number of junior anchor boxes created by the planned downsizing of over a dozen of the chain's department stores in metro Atlanta.  The brokerage firm is marketing the spaces as "Prime Retail Space."  The move comes as the Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based retailer looks to "right size" its stores to better compete in today's challenging retail climate.  The retailer announced the "rightsizing" plan last August and plans to reduce the size of about 500 of the chain's 1,100+ stores. 

A typical Kohl's store 

[UPDATE] The Local Pizzaiolo Looking to Exit Atlanta, Restaurants For Sale

The two Atlanta locations of upstart pizza chain The Local Pizzaiolo are for sale.  The restaurants, located in West Midtown and Toco Hills, opened in January and May 2018, respectively, and were to be followed by additional locations in Sandy Springs late this year and at Madison Yards on Memorial Drive in Reynoldstown next year.  

Bits & Bites

Gyu-Kaku, the popular Japanese BBQ chain, will open their first Atlanta area restaurant later today at Atlantic Station in Midown.   The restaurant, which replaced a large portion of the former Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro, will soft open tonight for dinner only starting at 6PM with the last seating at 8:15PM.  The corporately owned restaurant plans to add both lunch service and longer hours after the new year. 

[UPDATE] Mandarin Oriental No Longer A "Fan" of Buckhead, Waldorf Astoria Taking Over

The Mandarin Oriental Atlanta will be re-flagged as a Waldorf Astoria hotel in December.  The hotel, which opened in 2008 as The Mansion on Peachtree, A Rosewood Hotel, became the Mandarin Oriental in 2012.  The 42 story property designed by American architect Robert A. M. Stern is home to 127 hotel rooms as well as 45 private condo units and three private villas.  The change is scheduled to take place December 8.

The historic Waldorf Astoria in New York 

[UPDATE] Whole Foods Market 365 to Open in Buckhead and Decatur December 12

Whole Foods Market 365 announced today the grand openings of their Decatur and Northside Buckhead stores on Wednesday, December 12 at 9 a.m. The 35,000 square foot Decatur store will anchor the new North Decatur Square shopping center at 1555 Church Street, with the 29,740 square foot Buckhead store anchoring the existing but reconfigured Paces Ferry Plaza shopping center at 3535 Northside Parkway.  

Whole Foods Market 365 Buckhead earlier this summer