El Pollo Loco's Cobb Parkway Location Opening Soon

California based El Pollo Loco, Atlanta franchise partner Fiesta Brands, has opened a number of El Pollo Loco's in the past year. They will be opening yet another, this time on Cobb Parkway. Located just north of Cumberland Mall on Cobb Parkway, across from the T.J. Maxx / Cost Plus shopping center, the restaurant is set to open July 10th. Their fresh flame grilled chicken is sure to have you "Thinking outside the Bell". Repeat Atlanta!

Stuart Weitzman Opens At Perimeter Mall

Stuart Weitzman has opened their brand new boutique in the first floor Nordstrom wing of Perimeter Mall. The all white interior with uniquely arranged walls and shoes creates an inviting and soothing environment for any shopper! Repeat Atlanta!

Yet Another Lenox Relocation, This Time TOUS

Spanish jeweler TOUS, currently located on the upper level of Lenox Square, near Abercrombie & Fitch, will relocate in the coming months to the more prestigious, Luxury Wing. The space vacated by Betsey Johnson (which relocated to the upper level itself, near Anthropologie) seems to be an adequate guess for the relocation of TOUS. Repeat Atlanta!

Ermenegildo Zegna Lands In The Luxury Wing of Lenox

Ermenegildo Zegna, known for their expertly crafted suits will open a new boutique in the "Luxury Wing" of Lenox Square. Though not yet official, I expect that they would be better "suited" (pun intended) to take the former Nicole Miller space closer to Neiman Marcus rather than the old Betsey Johnson space across from Godiva. Repeat Atlanta!

7 For All Mankind Leaps Into Lenox

SIMON has done it again, this this time landing the first east coast retail boutique of 7 for all mankind. Though 4 stores in North America are open including one at an outlet center in Orlando, signing them for a portion of the former Polo space is a big deal. Lenox is already home to a number of stores whose only Atlanta area presence is within the mall, but this line has shown it can survive and is not simply a fad. Repeat Atlanta!

Faconnable Opening At Lenox Square

Faconnable, a French high end designer label, featuring tailored mens and womens clothing, will open a new boutique in Lenox Square in part of the former Polo space in the main hallway. Formerly owned by Nordstrom, the label was sold to a Lebanese private equity group last year. With construction having just started, expect them to try and have it open by the holiday shopping season. Repeat Atlanta!

Food Studio Announces Closure And Conversion

The Fifth Group announced today that their successful Food Studio restaurant at the King Plow Arts Center on West Marietta St. will convert from a restaurant to a full-time event space. Food Studio as a restaurant will cease operations as of 7/19 and no date has been named if later in the month for the new Food Studio to open for events.

Saladworks Coming To Atlanta

Pennsylvania based chain Saladworks plans to enter the Atlanta market with as many as 10 stores in the coming months. Adding to what is fastly becoming a crowded market, Saladworks will compete with Atlanta based Dressed and Doc Green's as well as Tossed for diners seeking a freshly prepared salad in an inviting atmosphere. I myself would have to say that the quality at Doc Green's has taken a nosedive since their launch a few years ago. Tossed and Dressed are prime for an Atlanta area expansion if not into other states as well. Expect for Buckhead, Dunwoody, Gwinnett, and Buford to be possible sites.

Room & Board Seeks "room" to Grow In Midtown Atlanta

Minneapolis based "Room & Board", an upscale furniture store, is said to be in talks with area developers to expand their retail presence in the south, possibly opening a store in midtown Atlanta by early next year. The company estimates that it has 2,300 customers in metro Atlanta and would like to add what will be their ninth retail location nationwide, here in Atlanta. Real estate in and around the 1010 development on Peachtree would be the likely choice for such a retailer.

Coming Soon To Buckhead : f2o

Atlanta based "top end" fast casual f2o (fresh to order) will be adding another location, this time in the soon to open Sovereign project on Peachtree Road just south of the Buckhead MARTA station. After their hugely successful location in midtown, they have since opened in Sandy Springs, John's Creek Cumberland Mall, and most recently Chattanooga. The restaurant features many salads and fresh sandwiches all priced below $10. With construction just having been started I would expect to see them open no earlier than mid August.

The Sharper Image To Close ALL Retail Locations!

The Sharper Image has announced that it will close all of its existing retail locations whilst maintaining a catalog and online business. The closure of a number of locations was announced earlier this year, but the close of all, should mean great liquidation sales for consumers. Check your local store for details.

Steve & Barry's Plans First ITP Location This Summer

Steve & Barry's will open its second store in Atlanta and first inside the Perimeter this summer at The Gallery at South DeKalb mall. Already having stores in Columbus and Savannah among other cities, the chain is now focusing on growth in Atlanta with stores inside the perimeter in low rent centers.

The men's and women's clothing store chain will take 79,000 square feet of space in the south wing of the mall at the former Amazing Rooms site. Known for affordable clothing, shoes and accessories, the store will carry the entire line of exclusively designed items from Sarah Jessica Parker's line, "Bitten"; Amanda Bynes' line, "Dear"; Venus Williams' line "EleVen" and Stephon Marbury's line "Starbury".

ZARA To Add Second Atlanta Store

It has been reported that this Fall, ZARA will open a second Atlanta area store. Where, you might ask, will this new ZARA open? Perimeter is the most likely mall for the store. With the recent closure of the old Victoria's Secret at Perimeter, this location makes the most sense.

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H&M Opens To The Public Friday June 13 at Noon... But...

As with the opening of the North Point store last month, the opening of H&M's flagship Atlantic Station store will award early arrivals with a chance to win a valuable shopping pass. The first 300 people in line for the opening ( I'd advise arriving late on the 12th) will be rewarded with a shopping pass valued at $10-$500 to be used that day. Limited edition T-shirts to commemorate the opening will also be distributed to early shoppers. Additionally I have been made aware that there will be an exclusive pre-opening shopping event Wednesday June 11 at which point merchandise will be 25% off. This is a private event only open to select VIP's.

Tom Ford Coming To Atlanta?

Tom Ford executives were spotted this past weekend scoping out available space in Lenox and Phipps Plaza and may be interested in opening a new boutique in Buckhead by the first quarter of 2009. Repeat Atlanta!

Harry Bissett's New Orleans Cafe Coming To Buckhead

Harry Bissett's based in Athens, GA is opening their first Atlanta area restaurant in the former Spondivit's in Buckhead. The restaurant specializes in Cajun/ Creole cuisine. Located at the corner of Pharr Rd. and Grandview the restaurant is set to be open by late fall.

No Official Word Yet, But Former Know Style Store May Soon Have New Tenants

This just in! SIMON is close to signing a pair of "new to the market" retailers to the former Polo and most recently Know Stlye store in the main hallway of Lenox Square. My personal guesses... Zegna or Mango.

Mayor's Moving Within Lenox

Mayor's Jewelers currently located on the main level across from Macy's and a couple doors down from GAP will be expanding and relocating in the coming months to the former Harold's space on the opposite side of the hallway across from Mark Shale.

Chick-fil-A Opens At Turner Field

Atlanta based Chick-fil-A opened two new locations at Turner Field yesterday. Unknown in whether there was a line all day to receive free chicken for a year, as is customary at new openings, but somehow I doubt it. Their entry into Turner Field follows on the heels of another Atlanta restaurant, Moe's Southwest Grill who entered the stadium in 2006.

Hudson Grille Opens At Perimeter Mall

Metrotainment Cafes has opened their newest Hudson Grille restaurant in their former Garrsion's Broiler & Tap at Perimter mall. Hudson Grille now has locations in Alpharetta, Brookhaven and now Dunwoody.

Costco Coming To North DeKalb Mall

As I first reported this past January, and now made official, Costco will begin construction shortly on a new store at North DeKalb Mall. In the works for years, Charlie Hendon of Hendon properties, the mall's owner has finally sealed the deal! Additionally the AMC 16 theaters will undergo a makeover of their own, as presumably the entire mall will get a facelift for their new tenant. The agreement would place Costo "in the center of the existing mall between Burlington Coat Factory and AMC Theatres." A Costco gas station would likely be built on Hendon owned property adjacent to the mall behind Pier One.