The Braves come to Cobb with a new stadium in 2017, but before then, an abundance of businesses will open around the stadium and across the county. Here's a brief look at what's in store for business development in Cobb.
Smyrna
Construction on The Shops at Belmont -- a 48,000-square-foot retail center at Windy Hill Road and Atlanta Road in Smyrna -- is well underway, with the first phase scheduled to open later this year.
Among the tenants so far are Whitehall Tavern, Parisian Nails and Spa, and Cielo Mexican Grill and Cantina.
Scheduled to open in early 2016, Whitehall Tavern will be the first restaurant in the Smyrna area with a rooftop patio, which extends 1,200 square feet. That's on top of the 5,200-square-foot interior space and 1,100-square-foot ground-level patio. Whitehall Tavern also has a location in the Peachtree Battle Shopping Center in Buckhead.
For Parisian Nails and Spa, this location will be its third. The 3,500-square-foot day spa offers manicures, pedicures, massages, waxing services and laser hair removal.
Cielo Mexican Grill and Cantina has leased a 4,000-square-foot space for its second location. The company also runs La Bamba Mexican Bar & Grill, a chain of seven Mexican restaurants in metro Atlanta.
The Shops at Belmont is part of the 48-acre mixed-use development being built by Atlanta-based Halpern Enterprises. In addition to retail, the development will boast a 153-house subdivision, called Village of Belmont, by David Weekley Homes and a 274-unit apartment community, called Alta Belmont, by Wood Partners.
This site is already home to Smyrna Elementary School, which has more than 900 students.
Austell
Six Flags Over Georgia
Next year, Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell will debut two new children's areas featuring 12 rides and attractions.
Opening in early spring, Bugs Bunny Boomtown will boast seven new attractions for families, new live shows and a renovated Bugs Bunny World Theater.
On Memorial Day weekend, the first DC Super Friends Kid's Area will offer five new attractions, replacing the original Dolphin Show area with such DC superheroes as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.
Federal Express
A new Federal Express distribution center opens on Factory Shoals Road near Six Flags. The center is expected to add 300 jobs.
Roadway construction is underway to align vertical curves and install curbs, gutters, sidewalks and paving from the Cobb County/Douglas County line to White Road along Factory Shoals Road. Completion is set for May 9.
Acworth
Horizon Hospitality Management Inc. of Alpharetta is expected to open two hotels next year in Acworth. Fairfield Inn and Suites is set to open in the spring and Hampton Inn by late 2016.
Nearby Hampton Inn and Suites will open in Emerson early next year along with Home2Suites in Cartersville.
About the Author
