[Renderings] Atlantic Station to build permanent and mobile outdoor retail kiosks

PHOTO UPDATE (August 3, 2011): Construction begins on Atlantic Station’s permanent pop-up shops

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Midtown development plans “London market” style shopping experiences.

Atlantic Station Market Pop-Up Shops and Marketplace Kiosks ~ what now atlanta
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Market Pop-Up Shops

Atlantic Station is adding more retail spaces, marketplace style.

The Midtown development is actively recruiting vendors to join its retail mix sometime between September and October as part of its “Market Pop-Up Shops and Marketplace Kiosks” initiative, according to company spokesman Walter Woods.

Atlantic Station will add two new retail experiences: climate controlled garage spaces (shown in the rendering above) and “retail mobile units” or RMUs.”

There will be eight RMUs and eight climate controlled, garage style units.

Two of the RMUs will be located in the alley on either side of Z Gallerie, two in the West Promenade (where many of the restaurants are) and two by Banana Republic.

“We really want to bring life to this alley and make it feel like a unique shopping experience in Atlanta that feels like a London market or a European street,” Woods said in an email to What Now Atlanta Thursday. “We want the retailers to spill out their products and visuals into the alley so guests can touch and feel and experience.”

The RMUs will provide an entrepreneur, designer or artist the opportunity to try out their products to the public, he said.

“The leasing team is working on securing vendors,” Woods said. “We are looking for entrepreneurs who would like to do a short term lease to try out their new business venture. We are also looking for corporations who would like to promote their products or services.”

According to Woods, products like Crocs, X bracelets and Beanie Babies were introduced to the public through kiosks — something Atlantic Station hopes to accomplish with their new market retail spaces.

Can Atlantic Station create a “London market” feel in Midtown, or will its new marketplace fuel unwanted loitering? Share your thoughts in the comments!

Caleb J. Spivak

Caleb J. Spivak

Caleb J. Spivak

Caleb J. Spivak

29 Responses

  1. Doubt it will encourage loitering but doubt it will discourage it either. But I’m glad they’re doing it. Those allyways have always seemed so very poorly designed, like the outcome of trying to shoehorn a suburban store template into an urban environment. The whole talk of making Atlantic Station an “anti-mall” has the feel of marketing spin to it but maybe they’re actually serious. Hopefully they’ll get something interesting in these spaces. If it become the typical mall kiosk fare of cell phone covers and custom baseball hats, well, so much for the anti-mall. Time will tell but if nothing else, it does appear they’re trying.

  2. Great. They want to loose the “mall feel” yet they bring kiosks, the most annoying aspect of any mall experience.

    And don’t get me started on street performers… another annoyance. When was the last time anyone got excited about a silver painted mime?

  3. Great idea to utilize dead space. I don’t think it’ll give any sort of “european feel”, but perhaps it’ll have a little bit of a european mentality (i.e. local artisans, cheap rents, etc.). Hopefully the vendors will wind up being local, rather than chains trying to expand their marketing offering free samples of assorted crap.

  4. I like this. I’ve always thought Atlantic Station was an asset to the city (especially in comparison to what it replaced), and I suspect this will make it even better.

  5. I think this is a great idea. I’ve always thought that the alleway next to Z Gallerie needed something to enliven it, and this fits the bill perfectly. I agree with the other posters that the tenants need to be top notch, lest AS draws even more of an Underground Atlanta comparison (however unfair).

  6. I hear the word “kiosk” and I immediately think of Underground Atlanta. Not exactly a great association. Second thought is the mall with cell phone covers (sparkly!) and sea salt scrubs. Not much better. I get what the owners want and I really hope it works, but they have to be very, very picky about tenants and given the economy and state of commercial leasing, I find it hard to believe they will have the luxury to be so picky. But I will live in hope!

  7. No matter what they do, Atlantic Station still has the reputation of being a scary place for the ‘non-thug’ population to go to. The others are right, it becomes more and more the clone of Underground every day. Both are places to avoid.

  8. Excellent…Paid parking w/o purchase and now the flea market concept. Who is coming up with this stuff? Geez. LOL

  9. Where will the garage style units be? They actually look like they might be cool if they are all grouped together like the rendering.

  10. Could be good: new products and unique retail.

    Could be bad: stupid vendors squirting lotion and otherwise bugging passers-by.

  11. I don’t really see the massive “thug population” that everyone speaks of. Are you all the same people who think MARTA is “ridden by nothing but thugs and smells like urine”??? I think the correct word for some of you is delusional. If you are scared of Atlantic Station maybe you need to be living in Nowhere, GA.

    Also, it’s funny how when the new management company (which has a great track record) tries to turn the place around and come up with new ideas and you all just complain some more. I’m convinced there is nothing they can do to change your minds. This actually seems like a creative use for that alley but all anyone can say is “this sounds like Underground”.

    And Mark Toro, if you are reading, I do agree with some posters that they do need to make sure you get quality vendors and not crap. Bascially, don’t let vendors sell crap that thugs would want to purchase because you all cannot afford that reputation in the long run. It’s very easy for people here to get that perception… these are the same people who think Lenox Square is ghetto too (when it’s really not).

    By the way, I’m white.

  12. This doesn’t seem anything like Underground… it’s actually kind of a cool idea. Just hope they have good, DIVERSE vendors.

  13. Mike – Most of the haters haven’t been to Atlantic Station for quite some time. I live here and actually avoided the retail area for quite some time. I have become addicted to Which ‘Wich so I’ve been in the retail area more often. I have seen a very different crowd than in the past. Though I will say, I’m sure many people who comment consider “black person” and “thug” as synonyms. But those people are just racist. Are there black people? Yes. If people have problems with black people – Atlanta sure isn’t the city to live in!

  14. this just in… atlantic station to add a new foodie destination called “Micks” and a variety of vendors painting characters and sewing machine guy doing logos in baseball hats… this place needs to be called the new underground.

  15. Congratulations Atlantic Station – you’re taking your FLEA MARKET to a whole new level.

    Really giving Underground a run for its money!!

    I remember when Mark Toro announced in the homeowners association with the assistance of the general manager Tom Miles that the artist market wasn’t returning, because of three key elements:
    1) it didn’t enhance the guest experience
    2) didn’t increase revenue
    3) didn’t make people want to return.

    I bet when they got backlash from the community, they re-opened it and promised, hand made items, artist and fresh produce. What did we get… the same old crap – just a smaller flea market. No CHANGES.. nothing.. same old FLEA MARKET!!!!! same old vendors.

    **Hmm.. there’s a reason why they call them vendors and not artist.
    They have one artist that goes and that’s because he caters to the black community. Because that’s what shops at Atlantic Station.

    RE-SELL – RE-SELL – RE-SELL. Nothing interesting, nothing cool.. CRAP and all re-sell.
    This is the SPOT for local… WRONG.

    And WHAT HAS CHANGED? NOTHING.. their just making it permanment.

    Its the SAME OLD TIRED RE-SELL CRAP that has been there for years. Nothing changing.

    Let’s be clear here, they are taking DEAD AREAS that have little to NO traffic and trying to make it interesting. From which their attempts will continue to fail, yet once again.

    Why do you think in 6 years the one space was never built out and the store Knitch closed (in the middle of the night they moved out) and they haven’t been able to fill the Pier One Space. Because no one walks in those areas. NO ONE.

    and the lets not over look the key term here folks ALLEY WAY. (thanks Brendan for at least staying true to the word).

    The ALLEY way that heads towards Atlantic Drive, is the WORST with weather, which is why when they have repeatedly tried to put “tents” in the ALLEY way, they become airborn.

    You can’t make a silk purse from a sows ear.

    And, using the term “market pop up shop” – honestly its a bloody garage space with a roll up door. trying to use the current catch phrases isn’t going to make it anymore interesting or pretty.

    At least we know it will be a quick build, because they’ll probably use fake brick and styrofoam like the rest of the place. Maybe if we huff and puff enough we can blow the place down.

    I bet the folks at Underground are loving it!!

    and if your going to try and make it look and feel like a european market or london street let me give you this piece of advance. Go there first. What your doing is nothing more than a cheap cosmetic build out to make dead space useful, and when that fails and it will. Then what are you going to do?

    HA HA HA.. THIS IS THE SPOT!…ha ha ha…

    I bet you’ll be able to get our knock off Gucci and Prada there, sure, that must be the answer, cater to the crowd that shops there. Didn’t the FLEA MARKET that was down south close and have a bunch of arrest for all of the knock off counterfeit goods.

    Now it makes sense, put them in a garage space – JUST LIKE CANAL STREET in N. Y. have all your fake knock-off goods there.

    Way to go A.S./ N.A.P. – THAT IS THE SPOT!

  16. Mike – Yes, I’m reading. And I wholeheartedly agree with you. Thanks to you, and to all who’ve joined in support of our efforts.

  17. @ DUH… dream team…Your first post came off as enlightening and refreshing. A lot of people know the names you named and share in the sentiments. Now, you are coming off as a drunk poster or a disgruntled ex-employee. This is not the Yahoo! comment section. Let’s do better.

    Truth is, most Atlantic Station residents only frequent 1. Target, 2. Publix, 3. Movie Theater, 4. LA Fitness, 5. West Elm, 6. I guess Ikea counts (mostly students), although it is a destination for out-of-town people. Food Trucks Friday is a wonderful addition, also. I believe Marc can get it right **crosses fingers**. Unfortunately, Dillard’s cannot become Bloomingdale’s and Publix cannot become Whole Foods or Dean & Deluca.

    I was very excited to drive through Atlantic Station when it was being developed. Then came the Dillard’s sign. I’ve never met an in-town person who shops at Dillard’s except for women who love the makeup/fragrance counters. Next disappointment was when my job set myself and other persons from around the country up at Twelve Hotel. I was very embarrassed when everyone kept pointing out the fake bricks and comparing it to the Truman Show! There is a big artificial feel about the place. Is refacing a few buildings out of the question?

    Bottom line: the ‘unwanted crowd’ no longer exists. Shutting down the clubs at Twelve, Strip, Ten Pin, Fox Sports, Geisha House and PJ’s did wonders. Seriously, have you been lately? It is very bland, scrubbed and ready for additions.

    Boutique clothing won’t be first, though. A destination restaurant (brunch?, burger?, steak?) and electronic store would be great. Apple doesn’t fit. This belongs in midtown. I settled for the Target. A B&H would work, too. Lego Land was a huge loss. Let’s not let that happen again.

    Marc, you’ve done fine with eliminating things. Next step is the additions. I understand the confidentiality you have to keep, but give them a hint a few developments.

  18. Ponceyhighland#1 – you are insightful, informed and perceptive. You are correct in pointing out that the stage is set for new additions…and they are coming. I am pleased to report that leasing momentum is building, due to the changes we’ve made to date and the strength of the intown Atlanta market. In the most challenging commercial real estate environment in recorded history, we are making deals…..deals with retailers and restaurants that will resonate with intown Atlanta. Stay tuned for announcements in the next few weeks, with more to follow in the next few months.

  19. How about a farmer’s market / green market concept? (ie Santa Monica FM or Union Square Greenmarket) Thugs proabably don’t care about eating organic produce…

  20. I think this is going to be fantastic and I apprecaite that North American Properties is thinking out of the box. All the people comparing Atlantic Station to Underground clearly have a skewed vision of reality. The racial undertones of peoples negative comments on here is what is really scary, not the patrons of ATL station.If you want a homogonized retail experience where everyone looks and dresses the same, please feel free to visit Forum at Peachtree Parkway in your BMW 3 series. I like AS and am excited to see the chances that come into play.

  21. I appreciate that Atlantic Station is open to new ideas and is thinking out of the box. Obviously not everything can be changed overnight, but they’re working on it.

    I came to them a few weeks ago with the idea of Feast Noir. Actually, it was more than an idea: I already had 1000 tickets given away and was now looking for the perfect spot to do this one-of-a-kind event, There was no profit involved for me. I was just doing it for fun, since I am part of a community of foodies.

    They loved the idea and made it work. How much easier would it have been to say ‘well, nobody’s ever done anything like this in Atlanta. So, do the first one somewhere else and if it works out then you can ask us again. Very few people/companies/businesses are willing to be the first with something.

    Well, it came of wonderfully. The space was perfect for it. Everybody loved it and I’m sure many of the attendees will come back to AS .

    So, I appreciate the team being willing to take a chance on something new and unusual, instead of only going with the ‘tried and true’.

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