Two Taverns Opening Soon In Duluth

Arena Tavern will open in the former Roadhouse Grill at the corner of Satellite Blvd. and Sugarloaf Pkwy. while Marlow's Tavern will open in the new The Shopping Center Group leased space across the street. Both will hope to attract business from the nearby Arena at Gwinnett and the many affluent neighborhoods. This will be Marlow's 6th location when it opens January 27th and the first for the Arena Tavern which was initially set to be a Hudson Grill. Repeat Atlanta!

Falcons Take Flight, Leaving Malls

The Falcons will close their two "Falcons 365" stores in Lenox Square and Perimeter Mall tomorrow, December 31. The Perimeter store on the second level of the Nordstrom wing opened in the summer of 2005, followed by the Lenox store in the Bloomingdales wing in the Fall of 2005. Neither location ever seemed to be especially busy, nor did I ever notice too many of their bags on my walks through the mall. It seems the Falcons have experienced better results with sales of merchandise via the store at the Georgia Dome as well as the recently revamped website. Repeat Atlanta!

Repeat Atlanta Receives 50,000th Visitor!

Earlier tonight, we received our 50,000th visit to the site. As we close in on our first year, we owe a big thanks to the many readers of Repeat Atlanta both in state and abroad that have made the site such a success. Sadly there has been more bad news than good of late with some favorite Atlanta establishments faltering under the pressures of the current economy. We here at Repeat Atlanta hope for a bigger and better 2009 and hope the same for all of you!

Final Offer Of The Year! $25 Gift Certificates for $2 + FREE GIFT

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Baja Fresh and La Salsa Look To Make A Comeback In Atlanta

With new owners and a new plan for the greater metro Atlanta area, Baja Fresh and its sister chain La Salsa are gearing up to reenter the Atlanta market early next year. After closing their Sandy Springs and Alpharetta stores almost two years ago (when under Wendy's ownership), the chain in back with a vengeance and looking to compete with the likes of Chipotle and Moe's better than it did previously. Personally I've grown to love the flame grilled chicken and burritos of newcomer El Pollo Loco, but Baja Fresh sure beats Moe's and Chipotle for me. Repeat Atlanta!

New Denim Joint Pure(ly) Appears To Have Missed The Memo.

Pure Denim, a new opening in the former Nicole Miller on the first floor Neiman's Wings of Lenox Square appears to have missed the memo regarding the recession and will undoubtedly be closed in the coming months. I visited their initial store at SouthPark mall in Charlotte and was amazed at the price point of the clothing, and the fact that they were next to Belk, but that's beside the point. Selling such items as $1300 Great China Wall hoodies and $525 Robin's jeans, both items carried at Blue Genes, who filed for Chapter 11, they seem destined for the same fate. Unlike the sales at Pure, all stores are not final, expect for a closure to occur by summer. Repeat Atlanta!

Hanging By A Thread No Longer

Its seems its getting worse for small retail before it gets better. Recently DressCodes in Decatur closed as well as Veruca and Thread House in Midtown. Even national powerhouse American Apparel closed their 5th St. location adjacent to Georgia Tech. In the coming weeks, 1*FIVE*0 in west Midtown as well as DrewMatic's in Buford will close their doors. January 3rd will mark the last day for Universal Gear in Midtown. Additionally, after downsizing their space, Blue Genes in Buckhead filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, owing creditors more than $1 million, it's quite possible they won't make it far in 2009. Repeat Atlanta!

Adrenalina's Atlanta Store Delayed Till March

Adrenalina, a new retail experience billing itself as "the extreme store" has delayed its opening at Northpoint Mall. Announced earlier this year with an initial opening of June, the store has been delayed now once again, this time the new scheduled opening is not till March 2009. The major thing that sets Adrenalina apart is their on site FlowRider. The FlowRider has never before been utilized in a retail environment and is pure genius. "The FlowRider® generates a thin sheet of water that flows over a stationary wave form. The resulting “wave-like” shape permits riders to slide down, carve a turn, and ride up the simulated wave surface." Three stores are currently open in Florida (Orlando, Tampa and Miami), with Atlanta being the first in a series of planned expansion markets. I had the opportunity to visit their first store at The Florida Mall on a recent trip to Orlando and was amazed at how cool and unique the store really is. The FlowRider is enclosed with glass walls, has an employee riding around to attract additional attention, and patrons can test out products on the system as well. Adrenalina recently upped their unsolicited takeover bid of PacSun and has asked to have a meeting with their CEO. PacSun is far larger and more established so it would surely help Adrenalina almost immediately to have a nationwide presence. Repeat Atlanta!

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Save some green this holiday season with great deals on Restaurant.com gift certificates from Repeat Atlanta. Gift certificates, valued at $25 that normally sell for $10 are now just $2!!! Hurry this offer ends December 25!

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Another One Bites The Dust : DressCodes In Decatur

DressCodes, a SoHo like store may have been ahead of its time, but no matter the reason it was unable to make it here in Atlanta and will be closing. Located in downtown Decatur, near other boutiques, it had a cult like following for many of their rare and exclusive lines, but were unable to sustain what has been confirmed as a recession in this country. No official date, but the liquidation sale is currently in progress. Up to 95% off! Repeat Atlanta!

Universal Gear Closing Store In Midtown

Universal Gear is closing their midtown Atlanta location. After opening a few years ago, Universal Gear seemed to have been doing a good job appealing to their mainly gay male clientele in the midtown area, but with the downturn in consumer spending, the store has suffered in the sale of its core inventory. A liquidation sale is currently in progress with a wide assortment of items still in stock. They are currently scheduled to be closed as of the first week of 2009. Repeat Atlanta!

Jimmy John's Opening Soon In The Metropolis

Jimmy John's will again expand their Atlanta presence with an additional Midtown location. Set to open in the former Tropical Smoothie Cafe in the streetside level of Metropolis on Peachtree, expect an opening within 4-6 weeks. Repeat Atlanta!

American Signature Furniture Closing In Buckhead

American Signature Furniture's Buckhead location in Lenox Marketplace will be closing by years end. One of the first locations in the state a few years back, it appears a furniture store on the second level of a shopping center could not get people up and buying in this down economy. With liquidation sales now in progress, expect to see them closed by years end. Repeat Atlanta!

Maddio's Pizza Joint Opening Soon In Former Fu's At Toco Hills

Work is slowly progressing at the former Mama Fu's in Toco Hills to open a new concept, Maddio's Pizza Joint.  No word on why the name has already been changed from "Mattio's" to "Maddio's", but perhaps one existed already. Former Fu's and current Moe's franchisee Tony Lewis has brought on a few other former Raving Brands employees including Moe's co-founder Matt Andrew to launch the new concept. I've heard there are as many as six "owners", which seems like a lot from the start.  No word on an opening date but from the looks of it, an opening may take place sometime in January. Repeat Atlanta!

Ocean Drive's Atlanta PEACH Magazine Fails, Closes Shop

In what might have been an expected and inevitable outcome of the poor economy, one of Atlanta's luxury magazines has ceased operations. PEACH Magazine, introduced in 2006 by Ocean Drive Media, entered a crowded market with a similar magazine, The Atlantan, entering within weeks of PEACH. The Atlantan is owned by Modern Luxury Media, and is of similar size and stature as PEACH. The two magazines competed for readers and advertisers in a market where Emmis Communications' Atlanta and Cumulus Media's Jezebel magazines had already accumulated readers and clients. PEACH Magazine's December release will be their last.
Repeat Atlanta!