Buckhead Boutique Beth Ann "Squeezed Out," Announces "Moving On" Sale

Popular Buckhead boutique "moving on." 

Beth Ann Taratoot, a popular model in Atlanta in the 70s and 80s who opened her eponymous boutique in Buckhead in 1980, is "moving on."  Beth Ann, the boutique Taratoot first opened on East Andrews in 1980 and later moved to its current home at 47 Irby Avenue in 1998, will be closing later this spring.  Taratoot, always the optimist, envisions taking at least some of her offerings, likely her proprietary cosmetics line and "Collect by Beth Ann," online via a yet-to-be-finalized ecommerce offering. 

Currently all in stock merchandise at Beth Ann (excluding cosmetics) is 30% off, and all of the furniture and fixtures are also for sale. 

Taratoot, a 25+ year resident of 2520 Peachtree Road, a lowrise condominium building, recently moved to north Buckhead following the building's sale to  JPX Works, LLC. Headed by Jarel Portman, the property will soon be demolished and replaced with a super modern 22-story highrise.  

In more ways than one, Taratoot and Desiree Osmon, owner of neighboring Sabot, feel squeezed out of the neighborhood they have called home for decades.  

Taratoot's decision to close her store (likely to close permanently not later than May) comes at a time when her store's home in the Buckhead Village, once a quaint setting for local shops, is being completely transformed by vertical development.  Beth Ann's closure comes on the heels of that of neighbor Razzle Dazzle, another boutique, which closed this past January after over 40 years in business.  

Beth Ann's space and many properties nearby have been purchased by Columbia, South Carolina-based Edens.  While the real estate firm is keeping many current tenants in the dark with regard to their plans, it is understood that the firm intends to significantly increase the rents of most, if not all, tenants in the near future.  A redevelopment is reportedly in the works, but it remains unclear what the project may look like.  

Interestingly, according to the Edens website, they are "Devoted to Local Neighborhoods." 

"Today’s society is too fast-paced. We’ve lost that central sense of place, that sense of community typified by the old town square. We’ve lost places where people can slow down.  

We’re out to reclaim and rebuild places that give our communities gathering places where people can slow down in a convenient, safe, and vibrant atmosphere. Here, people can do more than shop. Our centers are friendly, stress free environments with a strategic mix of shopping, dining, and gathering spaces that’s just right for their communities. These are places where people can have real, face-to-face time with neighbors.  

We understand our responsibility to help build and support the communities we serve. By creating engaging, spirited retail centers, we’re helping people forge strong community connections in places where life happens."

This past week, Range Boutique and Brina Beads, two businesses operated by Sabrina Davis which had been on Cains Hill Place for the past thirteen years, relocated.  The boutique moved to Buckhead Court on Roswell Road where dtox, a juice bar also previously in the Buckhead Village, had also recently relocated. 

Kathryn's Boutique, another Buckhead Village mainstay, closed at the end of last year after having what it called a "Retirement Sale."   

It's sad to see the once quiet Buckhead Village being replaced with unbridled new vertical development.

What are your thoughts on the massive developments under construction and planned for the Buckhead Village?  Will you miss Beth Ann and the other independent boutiques? What would you like to see open next in the Buckhead Village?

Please share your thoughts below