Developer Cashes in on Former Bank to Bring New Tenants to Northlake

This former bank building will soon be demolished

Former Wells Fargo to be replaced by three new businesses

Southeastern Retail Development plans to bring two restaurants and a dental office to LaVista Road near Northlake Mall.  The project, which has been in the works since last year, is finally moving forward.  Current plans call for the new businesses to open late next spring.

The two story, nearly 8,000 square foot former First Union/Wachovia/Wells Fargo bank branch at 4070 LaVista Road will soon be demolished and replaced with two buildings.  Wells Fargo closed the branch last summer and directed customers to their other location, which is literally across the street. (Although a SLUP request from last year indicated the building would be retrofitted, it will in fact be demolished.)

A freestanding, 2,200 square foot building, closest to Northlake Mall, will house a new Starbucks Coffee shop and drive-thru.  The new location will reportedly serve as a replacement of the existing Starbucks sans drive-thru in nearby Northlake Festival.  (The current Starbucks occupies a portion of a former The Sport Shoe.)

A SLUP sign with the other Wells Fargo branch in the background

A separate building, which will be constructed beside the Starbucks, will house an approximately 2,100 square foot Willy's Mexicana Grill and a roughly 3,500 square foot Aspen Dental office.  

Willy's joins existing Mexican quick serve restaurants (QSRs) Chipotle Mexican Grill and Moe's Southwest Grill in the Northlake market.     

Atlanta-based Willy's, which last year celebrated their 20th anniversary, also has locations in the works in Columbus, Cartersville and Smyrna. The chain remains exclusive to Georgia, but with the new locations, the chain will surpass 30 units. 

Aspen Dental, based in DeWitt, New York, has been aggressively expanding its presence in Georgia.  Currently, the company has over a dozen locations in Georgia with new offices coming soon to Snellville and Kennesaw.  

As with neighboring Northlake Mall, the new development lies just outside the new city of Tucker, in unincorporated DeKalb County.  

In addition to this project, and after a slow start, work is progressing at Tucker Meridian, near the intersection of Northlake Parkway and LaVista Road in the city of Tucker. 

ATR Corinth, the new owners of Northlake Mall, have reportedly been getting "strong interest" from various retail, medical and commercial partners.  No details have been announced, but well placed sources indicate that the firm should be prepared to share more details of its vision for the project in the coming weeks.  

Additionally, the new Pollo Tropical, coming to an outparcel of the Northlake Target, is expected to open September 10th. 

Are you excited about these new businesses coming to Northlake?  What other restaurants would you like to see open in the area?  What one retailers or restaurants would you like to see be part of the Northlake Mall revamp?

Please share your thoughts below.