New stores dive into metro market

By Rachel Tobin Ramos

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The retail climate is still tough, but new restaurants and retailers are sprouting around metro Atlanta. Examples include Wild Cherry, an accessories shop for women at Gwinnett Place Mall and Stein Mart at North Point Market Center in Alpharetta.

I.O Metro is opening furniture stores at The Avenue projects in Marietta, Cumming and Snellville and Domestic Comfort, a furniture store, opened at Ansley II Mall in Atlanta.

It’s a far cry from last spring, when thousands of stores nationwide, and dozens here, were withering on the vine.

Real estate services firm Cushman & Wakefield reported more than 5,000 store closures in 2009 and nearly 8,000 in 2008 nationwide. There were also more than 40 retail chain bankruptcies in the last two years.

“It’s better today certainly than a year ago,” said Kirk Williams, associate director of retail brokerage, for Cushman & Wakefield. “It was like every week there was a flood of bankruptcy notices last year. We’re not seeing that this year.”

To be sure, some retailers have continued to struggle. Atlanta-based gift and stationery chain Swoozie’s started liquidating last week, following a bankruptcy filing.

Andre Koleszar, vice president and regional officer for Regency Centers, said retailers expanding now “understand and feel strongly that we’ve hit the bottom and are on the way up. And they are looking to capitalize on a retailer-friendly environment.”

Meaning, he said, they can get good locations at great prices.

“There’s a perception out there that now is the time to jump into the deep end of the pool,” he said.

A sampling of other new tenants:

* Accessories store Bijou, shoe stores Clarks and Rockport, and sushi kiosk Sarku Japan at Lenox Square.

* Children’s clothier Coco Bonbons and Atlanta Dental Spa at Phipps Plaza.

* The Seasons, a Southern restaurant at Northlake Mall.

* Charming Charlie, an accessory store for women at Arbor Place Mall.

Williams mentioned the Costco at Town Brookhaven, a Nordstrom Rack at Buckhead Station, The Dump in Buckhead, and CB2 furniture store at 12th & Midtown.

“These are certainly signs of encouragement,” he said.