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Retail woes in Stonecrest area reflect metro Atlanta troubles

Voters in the the new city of Stonecrest, located near Stonecrest Mall and I-20, will elect their first government leaders during an election March 21. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM
Voters in the the new city of Stonecrest, located near Stonecrest Mall and I-20, will elect their first government leaders during an election March 21. KENT D. JOHNSON / KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM
By Leon Stafford
April 29, 2016

Twelve years ago, the Mall at Stonecrest in southeast DeKalb County was riding a wave of retail store expansion and spawning growth.

But lately the area around it has taken a hit. Target and Best Buy have closed stores, Kohl’s will leave the mall later this year and a half-built hotel sits as a reminder of the lingering negative impact of the Great Recession.

The woes around Stonecrest, which opened in 2001, reflect the struggles many retailers, and several metro Atlanta malls, face as the sector weathers changes in consumer habits and the disruption of the Internet.

Stonecrest officials are sanguine, saying business is strong and that they will announce soon a new entertainment concept. But the retail industry’s struggles will make a turnaround in the area an uphill battle.

See what's happening at Stonecrest and throughout the area here.

RELATED: Another big metro Atlanta mall revises plan to get its smile back

About the Author

Leon Stafford covers south metro government

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