New RaceTrac to Open in Norcross in 2014

RaceTrac's plans to build on a portion of the cleared site on Jimmy Carter Boulevard are still moving forward - albeit a bit slowly.

The gasoline retailer is part of a master plan that includes retail shops and restaurants on the 9.78-acre tract adjacent to the Veridan Office Park located near Peachtree Industrial Boulevard.


In 2011 the city approved a demolition permit for the owner, Atlanta West Wolf, LLC, to remove part of the existing office park for redevelopment.

"The office park was build in the early 1970s," said Chris McCrary, Community Development Director for Norcross. "The space had less than 50 percent occupancy and the owner wanted to redevelop a portion as retail."

RaceTrac was the first to come on board and just recently Zaxby's has expressed interest said McCrary.

But fast forward to August 2013 and the site still consists of mounds of red dirt, earth-moving equipment and large drainage pipes that sit on the property with weeds growing up all around.

"There were site issues," explained McCrary that set the development back including discovering a bed of rock and buried utilities that had to be relocated. "But the rain was probably the biggest issue," said McCrary as the reason for the construction delay.

Patch contacted RaceTrac's Atlanta-based corporate office for an update on its planned 6,000 square-foot prototype store which will be built on 1.9 acres fronting Jimmy Carter Boulevard.

Ashleigh Collins, spokesperson for RaceTrac said the store is "set to open in early 2014 and will bring about 20 new jobs to the community."

"This new store is one of our prototypes which debuted in metro Atlanta in 2012," she said.  The new design features indoor and outdoor seating and free WiFi along with 20-24 gas pumps.

McCrary said there are also discussions for a fitness center to be located in the new development.