Bits & Bites [Atlanta Commercial Real Estate News]

With a new look and a new location, Ponko Chicken will reportedly reopen "very soon" on Chamblee Tucker Road, just off I-85.  The eatery, which now looks "franchiseable," features Japanese + Western fusion cuisine and is known for their panko breaded chicken.  Previously known as Food Ease, the restaurant was once located on Stone Mountain Highway (US 78) in Stone Mountain.  

Zifty, the Atlanta based food delivery service, has reportedly eliminated their employees and are adopting an Uber like model of all contractors. The change reportedly went into effect earlier this month. This of course saves Zifty money but also eliminates their competitive advantage of being able to promote their company as more trustworthy and reliable due to their drivers being actual employees. Additionally, the company requires its contractors to have their own vehicles, which would seem to eliminate the free advertising provided by the company-owned and highly visible branded vehicles.  Sure this change was in an effort to compete with the many new food delivery services that have entered the market, but I fear this change will result in their downfall.   

Aspire Fitness  plans to open three new gyms in Georgia in the coming months.  One will be located near Northlake Mall in the former Sports Authority at Northlake Village. The gym will occupy about 42,500 square feet in the center and should open early next year. The company seemingly chose the former retail space over the former Bally Total Fitness in nearby Northlake Tower Festival.  The gym will compete with LA Fitness in the former Service Merchandise, among other fitness facilities in the Northlake Tucker area.  Aspire also plans to open a new gym in Stone Mountain at Stone Mountain Square. In this case, Aspire is making use of a former Bally Total Fitness with 37,000 square feet of space.  In Stone Mountain, Aspire will also compete with LA Fitness, among other fitness facilities nearby.  Aspire additionally plans to open a new gym in Macon where they will make use of a former hhgregg, following the retailer's bankruptcy and liquidation earlier this year.  The gym will be about 30,000 square feet and will be located in the Eisenhower Crossing Annex shopping center. Colorado based Aspire Fitness entered the Atlanta market earlier this year when they opened in place of a former LA Fitness on the East West Connector in Austell.  LA Fitness had itself relocated to a new facility nearby. Aspire gyms are open 24/7, year round and often include cardio machines, free weights, fitness classes, a cardio movie theater, a swimming pool, big screen TVs and full locker rooms according to its website. Memberships begin at $10 per month with no commitments.  

In other Northlake news, Quiznos Sub has closed its location at Northlake Village in Tucker.   

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/news/business/article170885247.html#storylink=cpy

Neiman Marcus and DreamDry have partnered to open salons within select locations of the luxury retailer.  One of the first salons will open within the Neiman Marcus at Lenox Square.  DreamDry salons are expected to open within the Lenox Square and Fashion Show Neiman Marcus stores in Las Vegas late this year with plans to open a third at the Fashion Island Neiman Marcus store in Newport Beach, California early next year.  New York based DreamDry already operates a Buckhead salon at Powers Ferry Square on Roswell Road near Chastain Park.  The existing Buckhead salon opened last summer in place of GlowDry, a similar Atlanta-based business that was acquired by the New York firm.  DreamDry specializes in blowouts and updos, and was founded by fashion designer & stylist Rachel Zoe and former Creative Artists Agency veteran Robin Moraetes. 

Starbucks is opening a new location on Holcomb Bridge Road in Alpharetta/Roswell.  The coffee shop is relocating from their nearby inline location without a drive-thru in Ellard Village to a new freestanding location with a drive-thru in an outparcel of Rivermont Square shopping center.  Rivermont is anchored by a Goodwill thrift store with Starbucks building their store beside an existing Wells Fargo bank in the center's parking lot.  

Lenox Square is bringing booze to their Fashion Cafe. A new concept, Peachtree Pint, is expected to open later this winter in place of the shuttered Which Wich sandwich shop.  The new locally owned and operated concept will have over 30 international and domestic beers on tap from craft breweries around Georgia. Peachtree Pint will also feature "creative snacks curated by local chefs, perfect for pairing with the selection of drafts offered."

Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream is now open at The Prado in Sandy Springs.  Another location is expected to open downtown near Centennial Olympic Park in the coming months.  

A new Popeye's Louisiana Kitchen is planned near the intersection of Riverstone Parkway and Juniper Street in Canton.  The approximately 2,700 square foot freestanding restaurant will be built on presently vacant land.  

RaceTrac will open their new location on Canton Road near Shallowford Road in Marietta tomorrow.