Aaron's considers relocating headquarters to Cobb County (Atlanta, Arlington: 2015, apartment)

[Airforceguy]

Hate to see them potentially leave the city for the burbs, but more than likely their old HQ will be redeveloped into a mixed-use project.

After saying it would sell its Buckhead headquarters building earlier this year, Atlanta-based rent-to-own retailer Aaron’s is now considering whether to relocate to Cobb County.
Aaron’s Inc. (NYSE: AAN) has entered advanced discussions with Atlanta Galleria Office Park owner Childress Klein. A deal would allow the company to move its headquarters from the Buckhead Village, an intown Atlanta neighborhood expanding rapidly with new apartment towers and street-level retail, to the well-known suburban office park overlooking the Cobb Galleria.

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/r...s-to-cobb.html

[Lagwagon113]

Good riddance Cobb County Aaron's! I'm done with them. Have fun in the burbs Aaron's!

[JoeP]

Good riddance Cobb County Aaron's! I'm done with them. Have fun in the burbs Aaron's!

Why? What does it matter? Buckhead is the city in name only.

[flyonpa]

So they Sold there building, and are moving to a Rental in there new space...

I wonder if there new landlord will use Aaron Rent To own rates for them...

[jsvh]

Cobb has been missing out on a lot so this would be a win for them. Though I think the article, in a way, highlights why it has become so hard for Cobb to appeal to companies now:

Aaaron's leadership may have been growing disenchanted with the denser urban environment evolving in the Village, and, especially, the traffic that came with it, people familiar with the company said. Aaron’s is led by CEO John Robinson, who was unavailable for comment.

It wouldn't exactly be moving to a quiet neighborhood in the Cobb Galleria. The Braves are developing SunTrust Park and its surrounding mixed-use development, which is drawing inspiration from projects that blend shopping and entertainment such as Clarendon Center in Arlington, Va., and L.A. Live and The Grove in Los Angeles, Calif.

If you are going to have to deal with the traffic and added costs anyways, then you might as well locate in the city. Cobb's appeal has historically been less bustle / traffic and lower costs / taxes. That has changed now.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by JoeP

Buckhead is the city in name only.

It also pays a whopping share of the city's taxes and funds a lot of its charities, museums, hospitals, etc.

[jsvh]

Yeah, Buckhead is one of the most powerful forces in the city and has a lot of powerful active members including former mayors. Many of them would probably be pretty insulted to be called Atlanta in "name only" considering all they do for the city.

You might be confusing them with the "Atlanta" Braves.

[Gulch]

Originally Posted by jsvh

Yeah, Buckhead is one of the most powerful forces in the city and has a lot of powerful active members including former mayors. Many of them would probably be pretty insulted to be called Atlanta in "name only" considering all they do for the city.

I never understood where the "Buckhead isn't part of Atlanta" meme came from. Hipsters?

[GeorgiaPeanuts]

Originally Posted by Gulch

I never understood where the "Buckhead isn't part of Atlanta" meme came from. Hipsters?

Yep, same people who whitewashed the Krog Street Tunnel when that Halloween party happened last year because they thought How Dare Buckhead Betties enjoy this public space.

[arjay57]

I would imagine that many (if not a majority) of the folks on Central Atlanta Progress are Buckhead residents. That's also true of many of the developers who've built up downtown and Midtown and those who have been behind important institutions and businesses all around the city. We wouldn't want to lop those people off.