Stunning 3800 sq ft unit with amazing views to the south, north and east from the 16th floor of The Oaks at Buckhead! Park your car in one of your three parking spaces, and walk to Buckhead’s finest shopping, dining, and services just steps away. Easy access to Marta and freeways for extended commutes. There is not a better Buckhead location!
As you walk into this home you will immediately feel a sense of serenity, sophistication and luxurious style. Gorgeous dark hardwood flooring meets sleek walls and floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The stunning chef’s kitchen features lacquered cabinetry, quartz counters, stainless appliances, and an abundance of storage in addition to a light-filled breakfast room with additional storage and built-in glass shelving. The banquet-sized dining room features beautiful paneling and high gloss walls. The generous great room is divided into 2 open living areas with tons of natural light. There is still enough wall space to give the entire unit the feel of an art gallery. No need to decide which of your favorite pieces to bring to this condo as there is plenty of space for all of your art!
The gracious primary suite features a trey ceiling, sitting area, abundant closet space, and a chic bathroom with separate soaking tub and oversized frameless glass shower. The remainder of this wing includes 2 additional bedrooms with ensuite baths, a full size separate laundry room, and an abundant amount of custom built-in storage. A separate, large storage unit completes this package. Every box is checked in this home!
Residents of The Oaks enjoy every possible amenity, including saline pool and jacuzzi, pristine fitness center, guest suite, 24-hour concierge, club room, business center, gorgeous courtyards, and totally secured parking garage.
North Buckhead blends quiet, walkable neighborhoods with easy access to some of the best amenities in Buckhead. The Blue Heron Nature Preserve and Little Nancy Creek Park offer great outdoor activities within the neighborhood, and the Buckhead Village District and Chastain Park are right around the corner. The active North Buckhead Civic Association hosts numerous events throughout the year to help residents stay connected and engaged. North Buckhead is a great home base for active Buckhead families!
The Buckhead Forest neighborhood is framed by the energetic thoroughfares of Roswell, Peachtree and Piedmont Roads. Surrounded by Buckhead Village to the south, Tuxedo Park to the west, and Buckhead’s tech corridor to the east, Buckhead Forest is truly located in the heart of Buckhead.
This luxurious corner unit on the 22nd floor in Buckhead’s luxurious Ritz Carlton Residences offers panoramic views of Atlanta’s skyline, with vistas that stretch from Buckhead to downtown, and from Stone Mountain to the Perimeter.
Custom cherry hardwood floors exude warmth and sophistication, complemented by electric shades on every window, ensuring both privacy and ambiance throughout the sun-drenched open space high above the scene below.
Step inside the foyer and see the designer touches, custom finishes and sleek fixtures. The kitchen has warm gray cabinetry and really gorgeous marble countertops featuring a waterfall edge on the large island and Viking appliances. The dining room boasts an open butler’s pantry crafted from cherry wood with decorative metal inlays and glass doors, complete with a wine fridge and ready for elegant dinner parties with family and friends.
The bedrooms are on opposite sides and feature blackout shades for a peaceful slumber, while the white marble bathrooms offer a spa-like ambiance. Ample custom closets provide storage space galore.
This unit offers 2 parking spaces and also a storage unit, while the legendary service of The Ritz Carlton Residences elevates your lifestyle. Enjoy all the luxurious amenities you expect and more, including a heated swimming pool, fitness center, in-home spa service, attentive full service 24 hour concierge, porter and valet service, unlimited guest parking, charging stations, rooftop garden and grilling area with a fireplace, comfortable recreation rooms with catering kitchen, and a private cocktail lounge.
If you have a taste for gourmet French cuisine and fine wine, you will thoroughly enjoy F & B French Bistro, or experience Japanese food that is often described as a work of art at TOMO Japanese Restaurant with nationally renowned sushi chef, Tomo Naito, formally of Las Vegas’ Nobu. Both are conveniently just an elevator ride to the ground floor. You can also walk to a wide variety of fine and casual dining and cocktail establishments, upscale retail shopping and to your office if it’s in one of the buildings gracing the Buckhead skyline! Visiting friends and family can stay in a guest suite at the Ritz or at one of the many fine hotels along Peachtree Road. The Ritz-Carlton is synonymous with the highest level of service. The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Buckhead lives up to that reputation.
By Denise Starling, Executive Director, Livable Buckhead
I am thrilled for the opportunity to give readers of The Buckhead Paper an update on PATH400. This project is my favorite topic of conversation, and I never get tired of sharing the latest news about the trail and our progress toward completing the full 5.2 miles in Buckhead. Actually, I also love sharing updates about PATH400’s progress beyond Buckhead’s borders. Making it possible to run, walk or bike to other areas in metro Atlanta is one of the trail’s major benefits, and we’re getting closer to achieving that goal every day.
Before I give you a construction update, let me give you a bit of background on the trail in case you haven’t tried it out for yourself. PATH400 runs roughly parallel to GA 400, beginning at the southern end of Buckhead where one day the Atlanta BeltLine will connect to it, and continuing north to Sandy Springs. The trail is transformative, taking unused right-of-way along the highway and turning it into a beautiful greenway that we can all enjoy.
Most people who walk the trail for the first time are surprised by how many areas of natural beauty there are in Buckhead. If you only travel through our community by car, you’re missing out on wooded areas, creeks and ponds that are just steps away – and now are accessible via PATH400. Walk the trail from Miami Circle to the back of Lenox Square, or from the Buckhead Loop to Wieuca Rd. and you’ll see what I mean.
In November 2022 we broke ground on a section of the trail between Wieuca Rd. and Loridans Dr. This is the last major section of PATH400 as it was originally envisioned in Buckhead and it connects directly to Mountain Way Common, a park that neighbors have worked for years to develop.
This section is three quarters of a mile long with a lot of challenging topography that complicates construction. The centerpiece of the work is a soaring bridge over the park that is taking about 14 months to build and is still a few months from completion. While that progresses, crews are building the trail out from the bridge, moving northward to Loridans and southward to Wieuca at the same time. The bridge really is impressive, and you can get a look at it for yourself by joining us on an upcoming construction tour – visit the events page of Livable Buckhead’s website to sign up.
By summer we will likely be under construction on PATH400’s connection to Sandy Springs. From the Atlanta city limits northward, the project technically becomes someone else’s baby but I am excited to report that there are big plans for PATH400 beyond Buckhead. The City of Sandy Springs has completed design all the way up to where GDOT has built the section of the trail that goes right through the middle of the 285/400 interchange connecting from Peachtree Dunwoody Road down to the Glenridge Connector. Sandy Springs will begin construction on the first section around summer of this year.
I hope you’ll make a point to get out on PATH400 when spring weather returns to Buckhead. If you enjoy biking, mark your calendar for March 24 when we are co-hosting a group ride with Big Peach Ride+Run. If running is more your style, join us on May 4 for buckheadRUN!, our annual 5K along PATH400. And if a casual walk is what fits you best, by all means please get out and enjoy a stroll on PATH400!
Rare opportunity in The Ritz-Carlton Residences located in the heart of Buckhead’s shopping, dining and business district. Enjoy the fabulous views from the 31st floor of this oversized unit with an office space and half bath, plus 3 parking spaces and a storage unit.
Enjoy all the luxurious amenities you expect and more, including a heated swimming pool, fitness center, in-home spa service, attentive full service 24 hour concierge, porter and valet service, unlimited guest parking, charging stations, rooftop garden and grilling area with a fireplace, comfortable recreation rooms with catering kitchen, and a private cocktail lounge.
If you have a taste for gourmet French cuisine and fine wine, you will thoroughly enjoy F & B French Bistro, or experience Japanese food that is often described as a work of art at TOMO Japanese Restaurant with nationally renowned sushi chef, Tomo Naito, formally of Las Vegas’ Nobu. Both are conveniently just an elevator ride to the ground floor. You can also walk to a wide variety of fine and casual dining and cocktail establishments, upscale retail shopping and your office! Visiting friends and family can stay in a guest suite at the Ritz or at one of the many fine hotels along Peachtree Road. The Ritz-Carlton is synonymous with the highest level of service. The Ritz-Carlton Residences in Buckhead lives up to that reputation.
There are myriad reasons you might consider treating yourself to a staycation. It can be a great way to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, or any other reason you may want to get away from your daily grind.
In case you aren’t familiar with the term, a staycation is basically a brief vacation you enjoy without leaving your home or neighborhood. It is often challenging to relax within the confines of your home because of chores or unfinished home projects that may tempt you to work through your staycation. A stay in a local hotel is a great remedy for this problem, and one that can provide a different perspective to the streets you may travel every day.
Buckhead has no shortage of venues that are perfect for a weekend away from home. Buckhead Village has hotels ranging from hip new “lifestyle hotels” like the Thompson Buckhead and Kimpton Sylvan, to Buckhead’s luxury classics like the St Regis. Each of these properties boasts renowned restaurants and easy walking to Buckhead Village shops.
Opened in November 2022, NOBU Hotel and restaurant is part of the recent major expansion at Phipps Plaza that includes Life Time Fitness, Life Time Work, and Citizens Food Hall. The five year process of expanding the mall has resulted in an unmistakable shift from just a high-end shopping center to a multi-use destination for Buckhead residents and visitors alike.
We had a chance to experience the NOBU Hotel and restaurant along with the other new properties at Phipps Plaza, and we would be hard pressed to think of a better place to spend a staycation weekend in Atlanta. Our staycation to-do list offers just a few ideas to get you started planning your next Buckhead getaway.
NOBU Hotel Atlanta is one of just 15 NOBU hotels in the world. Designed by Rockwell Group, the understated elegance of NOBU Atlanta is a quiet contrast to the busier designs found in some other high-end hotels in the neighborhood. Clean lines and natural materials create a calming atmosphere where the decor doesn’t distract from your experience.
The simple elegant design continues into the guest rooms. The hotel includes 152 guest rooms. Accommodations include 400 sqf deluxe rooms, 600-800 sqf suites, and the remarkable NOBU Villa that occupies 2,138 sqf on the 9th floor. A deluxe room can be reserved for a very reasonable $280 per night.
The 9th floor NOBU Villa is a dramatic penthouse with a living room, dining room, private bar, and guest bath in addition to the private bedroom with ensuite full bath. Guests in the NOBU Villa enjoy direct access to NOBU’s rooftop pool terrace. The entire 9th floor can be reserved for events, including the Villa, pool terrace, and rooftop lounge.
The staff at NOBU is friendly and engaging, providing attentive service that doesn’t feel snobby. A walk through the hotel lobby always finds a cordial greeting, and any request is met with a speedy reply.
NOBU has partnered with Porsche Cars North America to create the Porsche Icon Suite and the Porsche Classic Room, featuring Porsche-themed design elements and custom themed amenities. Packages are available that include dining, champagne, and Porsche-themed gifts.
The NOBU-Porsche partnership also includes all-electric Porsche Taycan house cars for complimentary guest transportation. NOBU’s “Porsche Pilots” will deliver you up to 3 miles of the hotel, and pick you up with a phone call. This service alone makes NOBU a compelling option for a weekend getaway. Park the car in the hotel lot when you arrive, and simply take a Porsche around town!
We thought of a few excursions within three miles of the NOBU Hotel that would add some spice to a weekend away:
One of the most sought-after reservations in town, NOBU Restaurant proves it is worth the wait from the moment you walk in. Covered patio seating welcomes you for a pre-dinner cocktail, while the beautiful dining room reflects the subtle design and organic materials from the NOBU Hotel.
Dinner lives up to Chef Nobu’s reputation. The Nobu Old Fashioned cocktail, made with Japanese whisky, was one of the smoothest I have ever had.
Signature dishes like Black Cod Miso, Rock Shrimp Tempura, and Yellowtail Sashimi do not disappoint. The Rock Shrimp Tempura was perfectly cooked beneath crispy batter, and the Yellowtail reminds you how good sashimi can be.
There are lots of dining options in the neighborhood, but we wouldn’t blame you if you had dinner in the hotel each night of your stay.
A short stroll across NOBU’s driveway finds you on The Green. The manicured outdoor space has lots of different chairs and tables for dining, drinking or just enjoying the weather. The Green is surrounded by NOBU Hotel, Life Time Fitness, Phipps Plaza, and the One Phipps Plaza office tower. The surrounding buildings give the green a secluded secret-garden feel that helps a visitor feel far removed from the hustle and bustle of the surrounding city.
Grab a day pass for Life Time Fitness to enjoy the gym, spa, and rooftop Beach Club. Studio, cycle, and yoga classes, plus Life Time’s own GTX and UltraFit classes offer something for everyone. Book a post-workout massage, manicure, or salon treatment before heading to the roof for a snack and a cocktail. Parents will appreciate the 2.5 hours of Kids Academy (AKA built-in childcare) included with your day pass!
The lower level of the Life Time building is home to the Citizens Market food hall. Enjoy 8 chef-inspired restaurant concepts situated around a central dining area. Samoto, Krispy Rice, and Umami Burger are just a few recognizable names. The central Citizen Bar has seating inside and out, with convenient service to The Green. We are talking about several of the best new restaurants in Atlanta, and we haven’t gone more than 100 yards from the hotel!
It is quite a luxury to have the southeast’s premier shopping destination just across The Green. Sacks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Givenchy, Gucci, and dozens of other luxury brands provide ample opportunity to put your credit cards to work. Take a break from shopping and check out the latest movies on the big screen at AMC Phipps Plaza theater, or use your imagination and engineering skills at the new LEGO Discovery Center.
The amenities, and restaurants at Phipps Plaza, plus complimentary transportation to many other local hot spots, make NOBU Hotel Atlanta the perfect headquarters for your next Buckhead staycation.
The final piece of the puzzle for a massive re-development at Phipps Plaza that began in 2018 is now open. Citizens Market Atlanta at Phipps Plaza, joins the Nobu Hotel, Life Time Fitness & Life Time Work, and a 13-story class A office tower called One Phipps Plaza. According to the developers, “The reimagined Phipps Plaza is an unrivaled mixed-use development that redefines the way Buckhead lives, works, plays and shops.”
Citizens Market Atlanta is a culinary market occupying 25,000 square feet on the lower level of the Life Time building. The concept by C3 features eight chef-driven restaurant brands offering “fast-casual” dining for breakfast, lunch, and dinner seven days a week. Guests can enter the Citizens Market from outside or through Phipps Plaza’s lower level. Covered parking is available in the parking deck behind Nobu on Phipps Boulevard.
The space is a far cry from what you might expect from a dining experience attached to a mall. Citizens Market feels more like a restaurant than a food court. Indoor seating, designed by David Rockwell, includes high-tops, banquettes, and upholstered ottomans. Diners can also enjoy a variety of tables and benches outside on The Green, the manicured greenspace between the Life Time and One Phipps Plaza buildings. Each restaurant currently offers grab-and-go service, but a full-service area will be open soon for dining in.
Restaurant counters surround the indoor dining area. Cohesive signage and design throughout the market adds to the high-end vibe. The only real individual touches are the menus above the ordering counters. LCD panels display the menus and feature unique designs for each culinary brand. If there is a down side to this design, it is that it takes a bit of exploration to determine what each counter is selling. For example, the counter at Cicci Di Carne doesn’t give much hint to its Italian butcher shop concept, or the delicious sandwiches they make.
Citizens Bar is an indoor/outdoor bar featuring craft cocktails and a variety of beers, showcasing many local brands. Guests can enjoy the full-service bar from counter seating indoor or out, or from the extensive patio seating on the Green. Citizens Bar is consistently among the most popular vendors in the market, according to Assistant General Manager Ben Richards.
C3 (Creating Culinary Communities) was the brainchild of Sam Nazarian, launched in February 2020 as a partnership between sbe Entertainment Group, Simon properties, and Accor to pioneer new culinary technology. C3 jumped into the ghost kitchen space as the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered restaurants across the country. The group partnered with acclaimed chefs like Dani Garcia, Masaharu Morimoto, and Dario Cecchini to build restaurant brands designed exclusively for carryout and delivery. These partnerships led to restaurants like Krispy Rice, Umami Burger, Ella Mia, and the other restaurant concepts you find at Citizens Market Atlanta at Phipps Plaza.
Ben Richards discussed the transition from delivery-only concepts to brick-and-mortar restaurants, “When Sam Nazarian started the C3 fast casual concepts, they started as ghost kitchens.” He continued, “Conveniently, he started [C3] right before COVID when all the ghost kitchens popped off, and they became pretty recognizable brands. It’s fun to bring the packaging and everything to life in a freestanding operation like this.”
Even though Citizens Market Atlanta features eight different culinary concepts, they are all overseen by executive chef Jeremy Weaver. The eight open kitchens and corresponding service counters are essentially branches of the same restaurant. This concept sets Citizens Market Atlanta apart from other food halls in the Atlanta area that rely on multiple restaurants, with individual chefs, leases, decor, etc.
Chef Weaver oversees the execution of each restaurant’s cuisine according to the acclaimed chefs who created the concepts. The connection between restaurants allows for streamlining measures that are not possible with individual restaurant vendors. Ingredients such as pickled onions, sauces, and more can be shared between restaurants to save time. If one counter is busier than another, staff from a less busy counter can join in to help cover the rush.
Open kitchens behind each counter are used for food preparation, but there is more going on behind the scenes. There are multiple coolers and an additional prep kitchen three floors below the Citizens Market where food storage and prep is handled for all of the restaurants. “It’s all open and you see a lot of work going on here.” Chef Weaver said, “But there’s more going on downstairs.”
Another advantage to the common management of the food hall is the ease of transition if C3 wants to replace one of the restaurant concepts. Chef Weaver explains, “If we make a space change, it will probably be unnoticeable except for one day it was here and tomorrow it is something different. Everything really is plug and play, so that is an option for us. It’s not in the plans right now. But the flexibility of the space was thought of [in the design].”
After sampling several dishes from various vendors at Citizens Market Atlanta at Phipps Plaza, we can enthusiastically recommend that you visit Buckhead’s newest food hall. Residents we spoke to said they are already visiting Citizens Market multiple times per week, and we were thrilled to see the market already busy with the lunch crowd just a few weeks after opening. Check out the full list of culinary concepts below, and we will see you on the Green this summer!
Umami Burger: A rich and savory taste sensation that goes beyond the commonplace flavors of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter. Umami is the fundamental element of the Umami Burger experience. We make the most craveable burgers known to man.
Sam’s Crispy Chicken: A fast-casual dining concept offering Southern-fried chicken specialties, 100% antibiotic and hormone free. Sam’s Crispy Chicken specializes in crowd-pleasing, hand-battered, cornflake-crusted, all-natural chicken sandwiches done right.
Krispy Rice: An elevated sushi experience that’s anything but ordinary. The menu centers around the iconic Krispy Rice dish alongside handrolls, maki cut rolls, nigiri, and chef-curated combinations. All fast and fresh.
Sa’Moto: A collection of Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto’s most loved Pan-Asian dishes, merging Asian flavors, Japanese techniques, and American spirit.
Ella Mia: (Open for breakfast at 7:00am) A modern and sophisticated coffee shop that brings guests a slice of craft coffee culture. Ella Mia serves breakfast, lunch, and early dinner, including breads, sandwiches, and soups rich with an international flair.
Cicci Di Carne by Dario: Centered on the local deli and butchers’ shop concept, with a menu helmed by world-renowned Butcher Dario Cecchini, known as the “world’s best butcher.”
El Pollo Verde: El Pollo Verde by Dani Garcia offers roasted organic chicken and Spanish-inspired salad bowls on the menu courtesy of Three Michelin-Starred Chef Dani Garcia, who is the creative-force behind renowned Casa Dani.
Soom Soom Fresh Mediterranean: Soom Soom serves authentic Mediterranean pitas and wraps packed with flavor in dishes like Chicken Shawarma, Kabobs, Classic Hummus, and Falafel served with housemade tahini.
Your imagination is the only limit to what you can create at this amazing estate! The 14+ acres and stunning home at 825 Davis Drive is the largest property available in the Buckhead area! Home of the late Charlie Loudermilk, a business leader and civic legend in the community, this fully fenced and gated property is being offered for sale for the first time.
The centerpiece of the estate is the regal 15,000 square foot home whose iconic facade is visible across a long lawn from the corner of Davis and Northside Drive. The home was designed by William T. Baker with significant influence from Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello in Virginia, and built in 1999 by Jerry Bonnor with the highest quality standards.
The grounds include 14+ usable acres with no floodplain. A formal entrance enters on Davis Drive and a staff entrance is accessible from Northside Drive. This property and all surrounding properties are zoned for 2-acre minimum lot size, providing options for developing portions of the land for investment in the future if desired. Paths winding through the wooded property connect various improvements that include a fishing pond, waterfall, greenhouse, raised garden beds, an old log cabin that was once a hunting lodge, and and a barn.
The approach to the main entrance along the winding driveway is quite an experience. The home reveals itself suddenly as you round the corner. The classically-styled entrance is framed by oversized columns and a grand staircase, surrounded by generous quantities of hand-carved limestone, and crowned by a copper rotunda and Vermont slate.
Inside, the massive rotunda soars 30 feet feet high and calls for a moment of reflection just to take it all in. A formal living room, banquet dining room, hidden bar, and paneled library radiate off of this central space that also flows seamlessly into the back gardens. This space was designed for entertaining and has served this purpose well!
Beyond the formal rooms is the family zone of the home where the kitchen, family room, an exercise room, and utility rooms are found. All principal rooms on the main floor feature 13-foot ceiling heights.
The owners suite occupies its own wing off the main rotunda. After passing through a large sitting room with a fireplace you enter the palatial bedroom area. Light streams in during the day from windows on both sides of the room. Separate his/hers bathrooms are connected by a shared shower and each has its own walk-in closet.
A sweeping grand staircase from the rotunda, as well as 2 smaller staircases on either side of the home access the four oversized guest suites on the 2nd level. There is also a media room and guest living room on this level.
Above the three-car attached garage is a 2-bedroom/2-bath guest apartment that can either be fully connected to the main home or locked off as a separate apartment.
The terrace level features several thousand square feet of unfinished storage areas that may be finished if more space is needed. The walkup 3rd-floor attic provides additional storage.
The classic exterior architecture of this lovely North Buckhead home features double porches spanning the width of the home while the interior offers many wonderful surprises! The location is right around the corner from Sarah Smith elementary, shopping and a variety of popular dining establishments. Sidewalks take you right to the entrance of PATH400.
Gated and situated on just under an acre, the surrounding wooded views can be enjoyed from every room throughout this spacious home. There are also two expansive decks, off both the kitchen and family room, and multiple patios on the lower level, from which to enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings. The attached 3-car garage has a Tesla charging station, with additional parking for several cars on the parking pad adjacent to the garage.
A dramatic 2-story foyer welcomes you to a very well-designed floor plan with excellent flow for both formal entertaining and everyday living. Walls of windows in each and every room allow light and wooded views to flood the entire space.
Families will enjoy the large kitchen open to the keeping room, informal dining area and expansive rear deck. A separate family room occupies the entire rear of the home and can easily accommodate an oversized multi-sectional sofa with room enough for the whole family including the dog!
A formal living room and dining room can easily accommodate large holiday gatherings, plus a lovely sunroom completely lined with windows and french doors to the front porch is a great place to relax and enjoy quiet moments.
The primary bedroom suite is a private oasis with his & hers walk-in closets, sitting room, his & hers vanities and access to the deck.
Upstairs are three bedrooms and two full bathrooms. The kiddos will love the vaulted ceilings and window seats!
The completely finished lower level is the ideal set up for multi-generational living now or in the future. With separate access, lots of windows, and numerous large living spaces, guests and family will enjoy their own private space. You’ll find a large rec room, two generous guest suites, and a private home office with dual built-in work stations.
The North Buckhead neighborhood enjoys lush, forested surroundings and peaceful streets complemented by nearby bustling shopping and restaurant destinations. The Civic Association keeps neighbors socially active with creative ways to enjoy their beautiful neighborhood, and families love the nearby Blue Heron Nature Preserve and Little Nancy Creek Park.
JLL announces 3379 Peachtree, a boutique Class-A office building in Buckhead, has secured two new tenants, taking the building occupancy from 60% to 90% and leasing more than two full floors of the building. Lucid Private Offices, an upscale alternative to casual co-working space, has leased a total of 30,000 square feet of space at the 126,000-square-foot building. JLL Atlanta Senior Vice President Claire Ross and Vice President Will Tyler handle marketing and leasing on behalf of the owner, Nuveen Real Estate.
Lucid Private Offices, represented by Cresa’s John Pelletier and CBRE’s Kush Mirani and Dale Lewis, is establishing its third Atlanta location at 3379 Peachtree, taking 30,000 square feet on two floors of the nine-story building. The Buckhead location comes on the heels of Lucid’s first location outside of Texas – in Alpharetta, GA – which opened in mid-February. The company is also preparing to open a second Cumberland location at the end of April. “We are very excited about our growth in the Atlanta area.,” said Tosha Bontrager, Executive Director at Lucid Private Offices. “In addition to solidifying our third Atlanta location in Buckhead, our Pennant Park/ Cumberland area location will open next month, and our first location outside of Texas, in Alpharetta, is filling up quickly.”
Following Nuveen’s acquisition of the property in 2019, the owner refreshed the brand and updated building features throughout, creating an amenitized office that emphasized a work and play environment – one that users would be excited to return to post-pandemic. Popular Atlanta eatery 5Church and Pinnacle Bank reside on the ground floor of the office tower, activating the newly renovated lobby.
JLL’s Tyler added, “Collaborating with Nuveen and reintroducing 3379 Peachtree to the office brokerage community has been a very rewarding process. The excitement built around this asset is ultimately a testament to the strength and continued desirability of Buckhead; 2023 is shaping up to be a year of exponential growth for the submarket.”
3379 Peachtree is nestled between Shops Around Lenox and Lenox Mall, the tower is a five-minute drive from GA-400 and walking distance from the nearby Buckhead MARTA station, with multiple points of ingress and egress. It’s surrounded by distinguished Buckhead hotels such as The Westin, Grand Hyatt, The Whitley and Waldorf Astoria, further contributing to the overall convenience of the office’s prime location.
“Our new location in Buckhead presents an extremely valuable opportunity for our business,” said Bontrager. “The building’s landscape allows us to provide our clients with upscale private offices and professional coworking spaces in the heart of Buckhead, with proximity to elevated shops and dining, as well as optimal accessibility. We are excited for this expansion and are looking forward to continuing our investment in the Atlanta market.”
Pickleball is America’s fastest growing sport, and that trend has taken hold in the Atlanta area. Buckhead residents are picking up the paddles in neighborhood parks and country clubs, and pickle ball-specific facilities are popping up around the city. The “pro tour of pickle ball”, the PPA Tour, even has a stop in Atlanta in May.
Atlanta has been slow to pick up the sport compared to other parts of the country, but now pickleball is picking up steam. Milos Vasovic, Director of Rackets at the Cherokee Town and Country Club, said, “I feel like [Atlanta] is becoming more part of the up and coming pickleball world, and I think it’s going to grow for sure.”
We explored this seemingly new phenomenon to find out where it came from, who’s playing, and where our readers can get in the game!
Pickleball is a racket sport that is played with solid paddles and a perforated plastic ball. The paddles resemble oversized ping pong paddles, and the balls are similar to a Wiffle ball with smaller holes. A pickleball court is smaller than a tennis court, but similar to a badminton court at 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. The net is a bit lower for pickleball as well. 36 inches at the posts and 34 inches in the middle, versus 42 inches and 36 inches respectively for tennis.
A pickleball court is the same size for single or doubles play. Many facilities that offer pickleball and tennis simply apply pickleball lines in addition to the tennis court markings, and use the same net placement. It is also easy to play 2 pickleball games at once on a tennis court by adding a court on each side of the tennis court’s net.
Pickleball was conceived in 1965 by Washington State Congressman Joel Pritchard and businessman Bill Bell. The men returned to Pritchard’s home on Bainbridge Island, WA after a round of golf to find their families looking for something to do. They explored the badminton court on the property, but couldn’t find enough rackets. After scrounging ping pong paddles and a Wiffle ball, the families began to play over the badminton net. The net was soon lowered to 36 inches, and pickleball was born.
The name pickleball was coined by Joel’s wife Joan. She said the game reminded her of a mismatched rowing crew, referred to as a “pickle boat”. There is also a story that the game was named for Joel Pritchard’s daughter’s dog “Pickles,” but apparently the dog was in fact named after the sport.
The sport grew among Pritchard and Bell’s friends, and became more widespread throughout the 1970’s. 1976 saw the first pickleball article in Tennis Magazine and the first known pickleball tournament in Tukwila, Washington. The United States Amateur Pickleball Association was formed in 1984, and the first official rulebook was published. By 1990, pickleball was being played in all 50 states.
Pickleball has been around for almost 60 years, but the sport really started to gain notoriety after 2010. According to the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) in 2022, there are 36.5 million pickleball players in the U.S., and the sport’s average growth rate is 158.6% over the past 3 years. The sport that has been popular in retirement communities in Florida for years is getting younger all the time. Recent statistics say the average pickleball player is 38 years old, and the fastest growing segment of players is 18-34 years old.
Mike Gottfried is the CEO of PCKL, an Atlanta-based pickleball equipment company. He was introduced to the sport in 2013 by his parents at their club in Florida. His parents and their elderly friends loved it, but he thought, “Okay, this is just old people tennis.”
Fast-forward to 2020 when Mike and his friends were looking for something fun to do while social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2021 he was playing pickleball 2-3 times a week, and soon he put his consumer product and marketing experience to work building a pickleball brand. Since starting PCKL, Mike has been pleasantly surprised by the growth of the sport. He saw opportunity in the market, but he says, “I never expected the sort of wave that I saw coming to be the tidal wave that it is in terms of the growth of the sport and the number of people playing, but here we are and pickleball is seemingly everywhere.” PCKL was recently named the official tournament ball for the Amateur Pickleball Association and the Southern Pickleball Association.
Milos Vasovc says there is more crossover between pickleball and golfers than there is with tennis players at the Cherokee Town and Country Club. Of the 110 players in the Club’s pickleball league, only 40% also play tennis. The club’s golfers are his target audience for pickleball. Milos says that many tennis purists see pickleball as too easy, but it offers golfers and other club members an entry into racket sports that doesn’t have the steep learning curve of tennis. “I always tell people when you play tennis, you’ve got to give yourself three years to become okay.” Milos says, but with pickleball, “everybody can play in 10 minutes.” He credits pickleball’s underhand serve and smaller court with helping to make the sport easy for beginners.
Milos came to the Cherokee Town Club from southwest Florida, “the hotbed of pickleball.” One of his initial goals as the Director of Rackets was to grow the sport of pickleball in the community. He was hoping for 40-50 players in the club’s house league, but they ended up with 110 players on 6 teams. The league plays each Wednesday for six weeks, then the top 2 teams play a house league championship. This year the Cherokee Town Club will host a pickleball Grand Slam tournament, pitting their league players against club teams from Ansley Golf Club, Capital City Club, and others.
In addition to league play, the Cherokee Town Club will host a pickleball member and guest event for the first time. Milos said there will be programs for kids as well. “We’re going to start our first ever Junior pickleball program. We purchased 10 brand new movable pickleball nets that we put on the courts, so every facility looks a little nicer. And I purchased 50 pickleball paddles that we give away to the kids who participate in the program to help them get started and get involved in pickleball.”
Many of our experts mentioned the social nature of pickleball in one way or another. Mike Gottfried explains, “The game lends itself to our short American attention spans. The games are quick, they play to 11, win by 2.” He continues, “It’s social, it brings a lot of people together. So if you had a group of 4, 8, 12, or 16 people, you can rotate in and play, and not be sitting and waiting on the sidelines for hours and hours.” Of course some players are more advanced than others, but Mike adds, “I’ve seen it in all forms and formats, but I think the core of pickleball is still driven and oriented around fun.”
Like bowling alleys and golf-entertainment concepts such as Top Golf, pickleball allows friends to get together around a sport where everyone can have fun regardless of their skill level. Several new pickleball facilities are coming to Atlanta from companies with experience in similar markets. The Painted Pickle is coming to Armour Yards this summer from the team behind the upscale Painted Pin bowling and entertainment venue on Miami Circle. The Painted Pickle will include 8 indoor courts, along with a restaurant and full bar. Alpharetta regulars may be familiar with the golf-entertainment venue Fairway Social. The company is working on the upcoming Pickle and Social in Gwinnett County.
There are several opportunities to play pickleball in and around Buckhead, including private clubs, public parks, and neighborhood courts. Homes in Buckhead with private pickleball courts are now starting to appear in the market. The following is a list of pickleball hot spots in and around Buckhead. If you know of a great court we missed, please drop your favorite in the comments. Also, please let us know if your neighborhood tennis courts are home to a pickleball community.
155 West Paces Ferry Road, N.W.. Atlanta, Georgia 30305-1365
The private Cherokee Town Club has 10 pickleball courts. The club league has a six-week season on Wednesday nights. The pickleball program includes staff pickleball pros, pickleball clinics, a junior program, and pickleball grand slam events.
1160 Moores Mill Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30327
YMCA members enjoy 8 pickleball courts, clinics, open play, and league play. Pickleball pros are on staff to help with training and events.
https://ymcaatlanta.org/sports/adult-sports/pickleball
705 Hammond Dr, Atlanta, GA, 30328, USA
Hammond Park is in Sandy Springs, but this pickleball hot spot is worth checking out if you’re interested in the sport. The 8 public courts are regularly buzzing with activity, and you can always find a friendly game.
1359 Ellsworth Industrial Blvd NW suite b, Atlanta, GA, USA
The Atlanta Pickleball Center is the go-to indoor pickleball club in town. The facility features 10 indoor courts, league play, trainers, and lessons. Courts are available for reservations.
https://www.atlanta-pickleball.com/bookings
5200 S Trimble Rd, Sandy Springs, GA 30342
This public park has gone all in for pickleball! The 6 dedicated outdoor courts have permanent lines and nets.
290 Chastain Park Ave NW, Atlanta, GA 30342
The Chastain Park Tennis Center has 1 court available for pickleball. Court reservations include the pickleball net.
2125 Northside Dr NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
The Betsy Grant Tennis Center offers pickleball reservations on their 4 platform tennis courts.
https://bitsygrant.playbypoint.com/
308 Peachtree Hills Ave NE, Atlanta, GA, 30305, USA
Peachtree Hills Park has 3 outdoor tennis courts with permanent pickleball lines. Players have access to restrooms, water, and lights.
2720 Shady Valley Dr NE, Atlanta, GA, 30324, USA
Public park with 3 outdoor asphalt courts. Pickleball lines are overlaid on the tennis courts.
Lenox Marketplace now bears a new moniker — The Block At Phipps — but the updates to the 9.4-acre retail center on Peachtree Road go beyond its name. Construction begins soon to revitalize the shopping area opposite Phipps Plaza that includes Dick’s Sporting Goods, Target, L.A. Fitness, and more. Selig Enterprises, which purchased Lenox Marketplace in 2020 and is a notable firm in the Buckhead real estate market, aims to create a “vibrant, walkable retail district” with a suite of upgrades to the retail destination. The renovation project is slated to begin soon with completion expected by the end of this year.
“The goal is to create a more walkable, inviting retail experience,” Shirley Gouffon, senior vice president at Selig Enterprises, said. “The vision includes new merchandising along with thoughtfully designed façade improvements and enhanced pedestrian connectivity with approximately 50,000 square feet of flagship retail and restaurant space.”
The project is highlighted by a new open-air corridor that will join the sidewalk along Peachtree Road to the parking deck to enhance connectivity in the shopping center and create public seating and gathering areas. Selig says the “Paseo” corridor will feature landscaping and lighting “reminiscent of a European alleyway.” Additionally, the project will reinvigorate the façade along Peachtree and Oak Valley roads with landscaping and improved walkways.
Bonnie Dean with Selig Enterprises said the design will create a sense of place and pedestrian friendliness that is currently lacking at the development.
Selig had planned upgrades for the retail center since it completed its purchase of the property in 2020, Gouffon said. Connectivity was a priority during the design phase, which was done in conjunction with design firm ASD|SKY.
“We worked with ASD|SKY to create the Paseo which will greatly enhance the pedestrian experience between Peachtree and the tenants with entrances within the parking deck,” Gouffon said. “From there we looked at materials and features to enhance the existing facade and create a space for relaxing or gathering for guests. The design as a whole is meant to mimic the vibrant yet relaxing feel of a European alleyway with manicured landscaping and seating areas.”
The Block At Phipps is the latest property under Selig’s expansive umbrella of Atlanta properties. The company also owns the 1105 West Peachtree office tower, the Epicurean Atlanta hotel and 40 West 12th residential tower. “Buckhead has long been a retail hub for the Southeast, and we are proud to play a role in continuing to elevate the community into a premier place to shop, dine and spend time,” Gouffon said. “We are excited to continue our footprint in the neighborhood. We hope to make Buckhead even more inviting and appealing for shoppers by upgrading this corner of the neighborhood.”
Legoland Discovery Center Atlanta closed its doors for renovation after Labor Day 2022, and it will reopen as the LEGO Discovery Center on March 31, 2023. The popular kids’ attraction occupies much of the third floor of Phipps Plaza opposite the AMC Phipps Plaza 14 cinema. This will be the first LEGO Discovery Center in the United States, following first one in Brussels.
Legoland Discovery Center visitors will recognize the Kingdom Quest ride, Pirate Adventure Land, and 4D Cinema, but most of the Center is being upgraded and remodeled. The Great LEGO Race VR simulator is being upgraded, and DUPLO Park has gone from a small corner of the attraction to an expansive play area where younger visitors can build and explore with their parents. General manager Jamica Butler told us, “We’ll have a bunch of games here where the young kids really start to stretch their imagination and build things, especially with their parents. We’ve never had a Duplo park this size, so I’m excited to see the happy faces.”
GM Butler pointed out what makes LEGO Discovery Center different from the previous iteration of Legoland. “We did a $5 million renovation to turn us into the next generation of these Discovery Centers, where parents and kids can all do the same thing together.” The family connection drives much of the new design. Butler describes the new space, “It’s filled with imagination and wonder. We have a new LEGO building scan where you can build a rocket ship. It’s something fun for all ages, parents included. We went away from just just a certain age kids. You’ll see it’s really bringing us into that whole family oriented type of place.”
The Spaceship Build and Scan is one of the new features at LEGO Discovery Center. Kids and parents build rockets with LEGO bricks, then scan their designs and pilot them using a joystick and video monitors. Build Adventures is another upgraded area where guests build, race, and jump their own LEGO creations.
Guests will notice a lot of changes in the Miniland section of LEGO Discovery Center. This intricate LEGO model of Atlanta landmarks is the creation of Master Model Builder Phillip Quinn-Simmons. I asked Quinn-Simmons how long it took to build Miniland, and he replied, “Everything takes forever all the time.” He continued that a project like this is made up of “Really small pieces and really big builds,” and the time involved varies. The new Zoo Atlanta model took about 6 weeks, in which Quinn-Simmons was sitting in the model “like an animal on display.”
Quinn-Simmons has been working with LEGO professionally for 5 years. His 3 years at LEGO Discovery Center were preceded by 2 years of teaching STEM classes using LEGO bricks. To build the models in Miniland, he photographs the locations, then builds each model from scratch using his photos for reference. He says he completes these highly detailed builds by having a “quantum understanding of how the pieces work, and knowing how it all goes together.”
Quinn-Simmons and his team add details and fun extras that bring the models to life after the main models are done,. Guests can interact with the models to activate movement and lights. I hear there are a lot of secret details hidden throughout Miniland.
Guests at LEGO Discovery Center will have new opportunities to interact with the Master Model builder. GM Butler told me, “Our master model builder has a new guest facing office where he’ll have sliding windows where guests can come up and build with him, hang out with him, and see what’s new.” The remodeled LEGO shop also includes demonstration areas where Quinn-Simmons will do presentations and building demos.
The LEGO shop includes LEGO model kits, loose bricks for sale, and a new minifigure creator. Guests can design a custom minifigure that is printed right there in the store. This goes beyond just picking pre-printed pieces and assembling a minifigure!
LEGO Discovery Center is designed to be more accessible and inclusive. The ticketing process has been streamlined for easier entry, and a lot of thought has been put into the minifigures on display. GM Butler told me, “The cool thing about our transition into this next generation LEGO Discovery Center is if you look at all the minifigures, they’re so diverse. We have older people minifigures, we have professors, we have people in wheelchairs with disabilities. Minifigures of all different types of people.” She sees this as an evolution of the LEGO tradition. “I don’t think Lego ever goes anywhere. It just continues to evolve. And we were evolving.”
Learn more at legodiscoverycenter.com/atlanta
Work is now underway to extend the PATH400 trail from Wieuca Road to Lordans Drive.
PATH400, the 5.2-mile greenway running alongside Ga. 400 connecting residential and retail areas that is currently under development, is entering its final stage in Buckhead with construction recently commencing on a major section of the pathway. The northernmost section builds off the existing trail and will run from Wieuca Road to Loridans Drive connecting PATH400 to Mountain Way Common. Click here to read our preview and see photos of this section of PATH400.
Livable Buckhead, which is spearheading the project, held a groundbreaking ceremony for the near-one-mile section of the greenway in November with construction crews now beginning initial work on the latest portion. It is perhaps the most significant undertaking of PATH400 so far with a $12.5 million price tag and added intricacies due to the topography of the area and the section passing underneath Ga. 400. The total construction time of the section of greenway is 22 months, which is dependent on weather.
“This is a pretty big section and the last of the major construction,” Livable Buckhead Executive Director Denise Starling said. “It is also probably the most complex with the grades along [Ga. 400].”
Clearing of existing trees is underway with plans for new trees to be planted once construction is complete. Grading will also soon begin, and Starling said work will primarily be done during “regular work hours and during the week,” though some Saturday work is possible. This summer, construction on the bridge over Mountain Way will begin and is anticipated to take 14 months to complete.
Starling said the bridge will be a “cool feature” running adjacent to Ga. 400 before traversing underneath it to provide views of Little Nancy Creek and a portion running into the nearby nature area.
Once bridge construction is complete, the trail section will simultaneously be built out northward to Loridans Drive and south to Wieuca Road.
“Creating pedestrian and bike-friendly connections between parks in Buckhead was one of the central purposes for building PATH400, and we’re excited to deliver on that promise with this new segment,” Starling told those gathered at the groundbreaking of the new section in November.
Though completion of the latest section of PATH400 is still nearly two years away, Starling said the greenway is a “legacy project” that will greatly enhance the area. Community interest in the completion of PATH400 has been strong with “plenty of excitement” for the project, she added.
“It is a signature connection in regional trail plans…and as an organization, this is our biggest project,” she said. “And frankly, I don’t think anyone at the beginning thought we could get it done. But we put our heads down and got after it. And where we didn’t have the resources, we went out and found them. We have a crazy amount of partners.”
Those partners include the PATH Foundation leading construction management and local funding, the Georgia Department of Transportation, which provides technical aspect oversight and federal funding, and the City of Atlanta, which is matching local funds through TSPLOST revenue.
The latest section will run north into Sandy Springs where the City of Sandy Springs will continue the path further north.
“Essentially, it will open up the entire north Metro Atlanta area to access the Beltline,” Starling said.
As construction takes place, access to Mountain Way Common and roadway access on Mountain Drive will be impacted, Starling outlined in a PATH400 blog post. The post stated pedestrian access to Mountain Way Common could be limited “at times” while bridge construction is underway. This could include the area being “fully closed for an extended period.”
“We know this stinks so we are going to try and keep some access to it, but we are going to err on the side of safety,” Starling wrote.
Meanwhile, some roadway access to Mountain Drive between North Ivy Road NE and Ga. 400 is likely to be closed completely to traffic for an “extended period of time.” Starling said residents will be informed of these closures/restrictions as more details on specifics and timing are available. Those with additional questions or concerns can reach out to Starling at denise@liveablebuckher.org or call 404-842-2682.
Georgia Power has plans to bury electric lines in several Buckhead neighborhoods starting this year as part of a multibillion-dollar plan to reduce blackouts. First, they need to secure the necessary easement by winning over property owners in the path of the project.
Buckhead’s impressive urban forest is a huge civic asset, but also means that storms – like the remnant of Hurricane Irma in 2017 – often topple trees into power lines. Burying – or “undergrounding” – the lines is a way to avoid that problem.
“Placing power lines underground makes the grid more resilient because they’re less vulnerable to storms and wind, but it’s not fault-proof,” said Georgia Power spokesperson Marie Bertot. “In areas prone to flooding, digging, root vegetation and other underground activity, it’s not always an option.”
Undergrounding is sometimes done for aesthetic reasons as well. But the Buckhead plan will leave existing poles standing to carry lines from the street to houses and businesses, and for use by telecommunications companies (AT&T, Comcast). According to one source, additional poles will actually be added to deal with the new web of connections. In rare cases where neither Georgia Power nor the telecommunications companies are using a power pole, it will be removed.
In addition, the underground system requires a series of transformers housed in familiar green metal boxes that will be installed in front yards and along sidewalks, so many residents will be hearing from Georgia Power contractors about purchasing easements for those devices.
The local work will cover the Paces Ferry, West Paces Ferry, and Powers Ferry roads corridors in such western neighborhoods as Chastain Park, Paces and Tuxedo Park, as well as part of North Buckhead between Ivy and Wieuca roads. Georgia Power aims to begin construction this spring and summer, with the work lasting approximately 12 months.
The work is just one part of Georgia Power’s “Grid Investment Plan,” a major, multiyear project of systemwide improvements. The goals are improving the reliability of Georgia’s electric grid and lessening the impact of any failures. The company is about two years in the first phase, for which it is spending $1.3 billion.
Improvements are not performed randomly. “We are making strategic grid investments, selecting project locations based on historical service and performance data to ensure that we are putting our resources in the right places to improve reliability,” said Bertot.
The grid has two basic components: transmission, where power is sent over long distances to localities, and distribution, which is sending the electricity into your home or business.
On the transmission side, the plan includes replacing wires and/or structures, and substation improvements as significant as full reconstruction.
On the distribution side, undergrounding is just one of several improvement tactics. Others include: adding “automated line devices” that automatically isolate outages to smaller parts of the grid; adding connections, which can provide a backup power source; relocating lines in hard-to-reach areas so that repairs are easier; and line strengthening, which can refer to a variety of upgrades in localized spots that make damage or other failures less likely.
Buckhead is also getting automated line devices and strengthened poles, according to Georgia Power.
Many other neighborhoods, such as Druid Hills, are getting similar improvements, including undergrounding.
Undergrounding requires various metal boxes to be set into the ground to provide power switching and delivery. In particular, a box called a “single phase transformer” has to be placed “every few homes” for delivery, according to Georgia Power’s website. Those are green boxes on a concrete pad that are roughly 26 inches high, 34 inches long and 31 inches wide. They are built on a concrete pad and need about 10 feet of clearance to be maintained on all sides.
There is not sufficient space for the boxes to be installed in the public right of way, which in residential areas typically means a narrow strip of lawn along the road. Acquisition subcontractors are now contacting residents seeking easements to install the devices, offering around $1,000 as compensation. If the initial offer is rejected, the offer escalates quickly and significant amounts have been reported.
The easements are all voluntary, according to Georgia Power, though it is less clear what happens if property owners refuse, especially on an entire street. The company’s answer is that in such cases it would “explore other project alternatives.”
The company says it aims for “minimal disruption” in installing such devices. But the work might require trimming trees, removing landscaping and digging up sidewalks and road trenching. Landscaping and sidewalks would be replaced by the company.
The undergrounding affects only the main distribution line, not the lines going to individual properties, so poles will remain for that purpose. Georgia Power also says it notifies telecommunications companies that may also use the poles about the work, but can’t control whether they also choose to bury lines. Any pole used purely for carrying a Georgia Power distribution line would be removed after the undergrounding.
Georgia Power provides extensive information about the Grid Improvement Plan – including frequently asked questions and construction maps – on its website.
The following are the general areas and timelines for undergrounding of lines in Buckhead, according to Georgia Power. All of the general areas include “most side streets in the area.”
Buckhead is home to many of Atlanta’s great restaurants. Residents know they don’t have to dine in West Midtown to find interesting options and hot local chef’s. Several new restaurants have opened in Buckhead since late summer of 2022. Check out our restaurant round-up, and you may find something you add to your list of favorite spots.
This long-awaited Lebanese restaurant is now open at the Modera Prominence. The team behind Mission & Market and Tre Vele, Ryan and Jonathan Akly and chef Ian Winslade, have created a dining experience inspired by the Akly’s Lebanese heritage. The restaurant is named for the Akly’s grandmother, and the menu includes family recipes among other traditional and original Middle Eastern dishes.
Chef Windslade says, “I am really excited to dive back into the flavors of the eastern Mediterranean that I experienced early in my career and expand upon that while bringing out the deep, rich Lebanese culture and drawing inspiration from meals the Akly’s grandmother made for them growing up that have been passed down from generation to generation.”
(404) 433-2180
3699 Lenox Rd NE Ste 3, Atlanta, GA 30305
Bo Kvergic and Nem Filipovic aim to bring a “coastal-European, south-of-France vibe,” to Buckhead at the new Dorian Gray restaurant. Leaning on the duo’s cultural heritage, Filipovic says, “We wanted our space to have the feeling of seaside resorts like Capri, Monaco, and Belize.” Kvrgic adds, “Dorian Gray was designed to express our personalities through food, wine, music, and people,” including upscale continental cuisine, craft cocktails, and Deep House music.
Executive chef Christian Evans is a veteran of The Ritz Carlton Buckhead, The Intercontinental Buckhead, and Nine Mile Station, among others. General manager Andrej Pop was previously with the Buckhead Life group for almost fifteen years.
404-963-5820
111 W Paces Ferry Rd NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
This “21st century diner,” recently opened in the Peachtree Battle shopping center. Brought to you by Unsukay partners Ryan Turner, Todd Mussman, and Chris Hall, the team behind Muss&Turner’s, Local Three, and other local staples. The restaurant is now serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Atlanta locals and long-time residents will love the nods to our home town throughout the restaurant. The Turtle’s Records and Tapes wall and Atlanta skyline murals are only the beginning. The Roshambo website describes it as, “Our homage to Atlanta with a steady diet of wit, whimsy, & irreverence.”
404-835-7373
2355 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30305
You may have noticed the bright blue facade of Recess between the Buckhead Theater and the Iberian Pig on Roswell Road. This is the second location of the popular grain bowl and salad stall in Krog Street Market. The Buckhead location features indoor and outdoor seating in addition to the walk-up window for takeout orders.
The healthy menu offers curated bowls and salads, or you can build your own. Vegetables are the star of the show, but diners can add chicken and other protein options as well.
678-235-5380
3150 Roswell Rd NW STE A1, Atlanta, GA 30305
We previously reported this New York-based chain coming to Buckhead Village next to Lucy’s Market. Isla&Co is now open, highlighting Australian cuisine, along with European and South East Asian influences. You can enjoy the healthy, seasonal dishes for brunch, lunch or dinner.
404-228-4060
56 E Andrews Dr NW STE 17, Atlanta, GA 30305
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens joined Atlanta City Council Representatives Howard Shook and Mary Norwood, along with other officials on November 11, 2022 to officially break ground on the last major piece of the PATH400 Greenway. This northernmost section will continue the existing PATH from Wieuca Road to Loridans Drive, and connects PATH400 to Mountain Way Common.
Denise Starling, executive director of Livable Buckhead, has been the lead on the PATH400 project from its inception, and she is excited to get this last piece underway. “We are thrilled to kick off construction on the last major section of PATH400 as it was originally envisioned in Buckhead,” she said on Thursday. “This section connects directly to Mountain Way Common, a park that neighbors have worked for years to develop. Creating pedestrian and bike-friendly connections between parks in Buckhead was one of the central purposes for building PATH400, and we’re excited to deliver on that promise with this new segment.”
The new project is expected to take 2 years to complete, at a cost of $12.8 million. The Wieuca-Loridans segment is funded through federal and local government funds, including approximately $8.8 million from transportation improvement project funds administered by the Atlanta Regional Commission and $3.8 million from the City of Atlanta’s TSPLOST funds with additional funding for design contributed by the Buckhead Community Improvement District (BCID).
Mayor Dickens spoke about the importance of green spaces in the community, as well as the economic benefits. “PATH400–a $12.8 million investment made possible by TSPLOST and Federal funding—is part of a growing trail network that can eventually serve as a valuable economic development tool for our city and the region,” said Mayor Dickens. “Trails like PATH400 help make Atlanta a healthier city, providing accessible and equitable opportunities for exercise and recreation.”
Be sure to check out our preview of the new PATH400 section form our tour with Denise Starling last year.
A brewery and restaurants could be coming to North Buckhead’s Piedmont Center office complex as part of a large-scale retail conversion.
The plans for the doughnut-shaped Buildings 1-4 in the sprawling complex at 3565 Piedmont Road involve converting nearly 32,000 square feet of ground-level offices into retail space to serve workers and the public.
The plans by owner Ardent Companies also involves remaking the circular courtyard and adding patios and outdoor dining. The Piedmont facade would get some improved screening as well.
The plan, which would need a special administrative permit from the City, was presented Nov. 2 to the Development Review Committee (DRC) of Special Public Interest District 12, a zoning area aimed at design details and walkability that Arden voluntarily joined in recent years.
Representatives of Ardent’s team told the DRC that no tenant deals have been struck yet, but that a brewery is in discussion. The brewery would not serve food, they said. DRC members and City planner Nathan Brown said a brewery might not be an automatically allowed use in the local zoning, something for the team to check.
A site plan in the presentation showed other spaces, including one labeled “market deli.” Others are designated for retail or “food and beverage,” while some would remain offices.
The Ardent representatives said a general contractor is in place and work could start soon after permitting. The work would involve only renovation, with no additions, they said.
The plan would continue to allow room for a stop on the Buc shuttle, an on-demand van service offered by the local nonprofit Livable Buckhead.
The plan drew praise from DRC members. Member Peter Davis called it a “badly needed” improvement to a complex that has long had a “barren feel.”
Ardent last year completed its acquisition of all 14 buildings in the sprawling, maze-like office park. Since then, it has embarked on a campaign to enliven it, make it easier to navigate, and open it up to the public. Among new tenants in that regard is the co-working space Switchyards, which opened early this year in Building 2.
North Buckhead’s Sarah Smith Elementary School is celebrating its 70th school year.
The anniversary will be celebrated at the school’s annual Fall Festival Oct. 20 and at a 1970s-themed party in the spring for past and present parents of students.
Part of the Atlanta Public Schools system, the school opened at 370 Old Ivy Road in 1952, the same year Buckhead was annexed into Atlanta.
It opened as Marion Smith Elementary, named for an attorney who served as chairman of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. Marion Smith also was the son of Hoke Smith, a powerful political figure who served as Georgia governor, a U.S. Senator and Atlanta Board of Education president and published the Atlanta Journal newspaper.
As recounted by Northside Neighbor columnist Thornton Kennedy, the new school soon ran into confusion with an identically named school in East Point. So in 1954, the Buckhead school was renamed for Marion’s late wife, Sarah Brock Rawson Smith. It is known formally as Sarah Rawson Smith or Sarah R. Smith Elementary.
The school has expanded significantly over the years and now has two campuses: the K-2 Primary Campus at the original site and the Grades 3-5 Intermediate Campus at 4141 Wieuca Road, the latter of which opened in 2010. That expansion followed a period of overcrowding that saw kindergartner classes held at a nearby church for several years.
The school is known for its dual-language immersion and International Baccalaureate (IB) programs. It offers the IB’s Primary Years Programme.
Over the past decade, the school has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools and the Georgia Department of Education’s Schools of Excellence awards, which are programs noting high student achievement test scores or the closing of achievement gaps.
This year, the school campus became the anchor for a community program of pedestrian-friendly green space improvements along neighborhood streets.
The school is seeking photos and stories from alumni for anniversary celebration uses, which can be sent to ssefmarketing@gmail.com.
For more about the school and its events, see its website.
The spirit of Buckhead heads forward. This is the way it has been, and perhaps this is the way it will always be. The spirit of Buckhead points forward. You see it in the way we work, and you see it in the way we play. The reach is always extending further. The search is for excellence and beauty and grace and vibrancy.
We are a community of individuals. We are diverse, we are dynamic, and we are discerning. We are builders. We are connected to one another with a common bond. A common dream. A common quest. Pointing life in one direction. Forward.
