Restaurants, Shops Unveiled For Alpharetta City Center

ALPHARETTA, GA — Developers for Alpharetta City Center, the 26-acre mixed-use district in the heart of the city, announced this week that its retail and restaurant spaces are 98 percent committed, with deals underway on the remaining two small spaces.

“It is virtually unheard of to be fully leased this far ahead of opening," said developer Cherri Morris, president of Morris & Fellows. "This is a testament to the changing trends in retail. Today’s consumers are looking for authentic experiences and a strong sense of community. A place where they will be called by name. Where they can find out-of-the-ordinary goods, enjoy locally-sourced food and drink, and be given hands-on professional services in a real place."

Morris went on to say that the company has expanded Alpharetta's downtown district by six blocks. Since the bulk of the city's downtown was developed over the last 150 years, it was important that the structures part of the redevelopment project blend in with its existing surroundings. They were able to accomplish this endeavor by using historically styled buildings and "classical" park spaces within a street grid network.

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“The vision is now being completed and amplified by our talented shopkeepers and restaurateurs," Morris added. "We allowed no national tenants. Instead, we created a family of locally-owned shops, with hand selected and artisan goods, and luxury personal services. And we have an outstanding cadre of talented local chefs that bring a true passion to their food and impressive creativity to their restaurant design.”

From July to November, residents can expect to see the following retailers open up shop in spaces known as The District:

• Anna Bella: Fine lingerie and beautiful sleepwear with an emphasis on custom fittings.
• The Ballog: Carefully curated items handcrafted by independent artisans and socially conscious companies.
• Chic Evolution in Art: Avant-garde, modern paintings, cast glass, home furnishings, sculptures, crafts, and collectibles.
• Core 57: A fitness studio with highly trained coaches and state-of-the-art equipment for both kids and adults.
• Dress Up: Women’s boutique offering affordable and trendy new styles every week.
• Exquisite Living: Hand-selected furniture, unique housewares, and complementary design services.
• Hemline: Contemporary women’s boutique known for fashion-forward designer apparel, shoes, and accessories.
• Home Expressions Interiors by Laura Bloom: Interior design that focuses on an individual’s needs, budget, and lifestyle.
• Kilwin’s: Chocolates, caramels, toffee, ice cream and other confections, handmade with fresh, premium ingredients and original recipes.
• Mountain High Outfitters: Active lifestyle boutique with an extensive array of apparel and equipment.
• Natural Body Spa and Shoppe: Renown for nail, body, aesthetic, and anti-aging treatments.
• The Red Hound: Unique, high-quality gifts and accessories
• Perched: An eclectic clothing and gift boutique for all things fun, feminine and festive.
• The Pink Valise: Trendy clothes and accessories with Southern charm for all ages and sizes.
• SkinReMEDI: A medical day spa by Natural Body offering a range of treatments
• Southern Local: Locally sourced clothing, accessories, and gifts with classic, Southern flair.
• Spirited: Boho chic high fashion and handcrafted artisan jewelry combine for a boutique of sensory experiences.
• Vitality Bowls: Bowls, smoothies, juices, paninis, salads and soups featuring the freshest ingredients and superfoods

The restaurant area, known as The Gardens, features individual buildings scattered through three city blocks of parks and greenspace. Its 11 restaurants, all with outdoor dining patios, porches, rooftop or gardens, will open from June to March 2019:

• Restaurant Holmes by Taylor Neary, the accomplished chef known for Marcel and St Cecelia, will open in June in the historic Jones House, which sits in The Shade Garden.
• Chiringa, by the team behind the popular Chiringo on Florida’s Highway 30A, will open in August in one of the Town Green jewel boxes. The concept is based on “chiringuitos,” little open-air restaurants and bars on the beaches along the coast of Spain.
• Citizen Soul, the newest venture from Vin 25 owner Phillip Cooper, will open in The Shade Garden in September. The building design pays homage to Hard Bailey’s blacksmith shop that occupied the site at the end of the 19th century.
• SHADE Street Food and Bar by Mikka Orrick, co-owner of Ceviche, will occupy The Carriage House in on North Broad Street in the early fall.
• Never Enough Thyme, Michelle Doyle’s popular local bistro, is moving from its McGinnis Ferry Road location to The Mercantile Building on Main Street in early October.
• JINYA Ramen Bar, with locations in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Buckhead and Sandy Springs, will complete The Shade Garden when it opens in October or November.
• Lapeer, a fine seafood restaurant and owner Louis Soon’s third concept in downtown Alpharetta, will open in November in The Meeting House with a patio overlooking Market Street Park.
• Highland Bakery, which offers an array of fresh bakery goods as well as Southern comfort food such as crab cake benedict and cornbread panzanella salad.

Morris also said leases are out for signature on the other four restaurant buildings, which are set to open in October, December, and February and March 2019. Three well-known concepts are expanding, one each from Ponce City Market, Virginia Highlands and Las Vegas. The fourth restaurant is a new concept, envisioned specifically for its location on Market Street Park.

“We are so excited to see the collective vision that was launched through our city’s partnership with Morris and Fellows become reality," said Alpharetta City Council member Donald Mitchell. "Together with our citizens, we began a journey to elevate Downtown Alpharetta into one of the most desirable locations in the southeast. City Center begins Alpharetta’s newest chapter in creating a city with irresistible appeal and enduring style.”

Photo: Developer Cheri Morris of Morris & Fellows, in front of The Carriage House. Inspired by the fire house that sat on the site in the 19th century, the building will house SHADE Street Food and Bar. Credit: Morris & Fellows