Fore more than a week, rumors have been swirling that Walmart may be coming to Suburban Plaza shopping center in North Decatur. Tomorrow's News Today, a well-respected Atlanta real estate blog, reported June 13 Walmart's already gassing up its backhoe and could have the store open by 2013, attributing its information to unnamed sources.
Another blog, What Now Atlanta?, then called Selig Enterprises, the shopping center's developer. Selig told them there were no solidified plans, and a Walmart representative told the blog Selig had approached them and Walmart is interested but remains committed to nothing.
North Druid Hills-Briarcliff Patch made some calls too. We couldn't get in touch with Selig, but Glen Wilkins, a Walmart spokesman, also confirmed the international retailer is interested in many potential Atlanta-area sites, including Suburban Plaza.
We're going to continue following this, but what would you guys like to see in Suburban Plaza? (I'm expecting a profusion of "Trader Joe's" responses.)
BTW--where is the nearest Joes? Could be the saturation model doesn't allow two stores within.... Anyway--don't change the bowling alley whatever you do. Where is the nearest hardware store? Be real--the "new normal" won't be about discretionary spending, unless you're in the Top 98%--everyone else's income will slide.
I know everyone says Suburban is horrible and an eyesore, but I really think it is pretty functional, if empty in places. I would rather hold out for something that's a good fit for the neighborhood rather than just throw something in there so it won't be ugly anymore.