Perimeter Mall: Dunwoody, Georgia's Rejuvenated Shopping Center


Perimeter Mall is located in the northern suburbs of Atlanta near the intersection of Interstate 285, Atlanta's beltway, and Georgia 400, the major route directly north out of the city. The mall is in the lucrative Perimeter office market, the largest office submarket in the city, with nearly a quarter-of-a-million workers. Perimeter's primary trade area includes almost one million people and is one of the most affluent in the Atlanta area. The mall is truly super-regional, however, as more than half its visitors hail from outside the primary trade area, coming from as far away as Birmingham, Chattanooga and Augusta.

The 1.6-million-square-foot mall is the second largest in the city. Built in 1971, it has undergone several renovations and expansions. After a decline in the 1990s that eventually drove out original anchor JCPenney in 2001, the mall has rebounded in an extraordinary way. The mall's owners have been targeting upscale, specialty retailers of the sort that were once only found in the Buckhead shopping district of Atlanta. They plan ultimately to devote 20 percent of the mall's space to these luxury stores. In addition to the four anchors - Macy's, Dillard's, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's - Perimeter Mall now boasts such names as Stuart Weitzman, Hanna Andersson, Swarovski Crystal, Sur La Table, Lacoste, L'Occitane, Coach, Brooks Brothers, and Betsey Johnson.

Perimeter Mall is also known for its signature restaurants, several of which open onto the front promenade. The 77,000-square-foot outdoor promenade, an area meant to replicate an urban streetscape, opened in 2000. It features outdoor access to retailers and restaurants, as well as caf,-style seating. Perimeter's restaurants include:

Goldfish, a steak, seafood and sushi restaurant from famed Atlanta chef Tom Catherall, which features a 600-gallon fishtank, high ceilings and breathtaking murals. Goldfish is one of north Atlanta's "seen and be seen'' destinations.

Maggiano's Little Italy, a traditional Italian restaurant with large portions and friendly service. Maggiano's is equally appropriate for family dining, romantic evenings or business and corporate get-togethers.

Hudson Grille, an upscale sports bar with basic, well-prepared tavern food. Lots of flat-screen TVs and a large cocktail menu make Hudson Grille a boisterous hang-out for young people.

Seasons 52, a grill and wine bar featuring healthy food that changes according to what is in season, accompanied by an award-winning wine list. Seasons 52 is perfect for couples or for important business meetings.

The Cheesecake Factory, a casual American restaurant known for its seemingly infinite variety of cheesecakes and other desserts. The Cheesecake Factory hosts family parties early in the day and turns into a bar scene later at night.

Wildfire, an old-fashioned, 1940's-Chicago-style steakhouse that also offers chops, seafood and pasta. This upscale chain is another place to be seen in Atlanta and is equally comfortable for evenings out on the town and power lunches.

Atlanta's light-rail line, MARTA, has one station that goes directly to Perimeter Mall and three other stations that offer easy access to the mall. The area is also served by numerous bus lines. The Perimeter Community Improvement District is studying other transportation issues to ensure that the mall remains accessible in spite of Atlanta's ongoing traffic woes. Perimeter has proven so far to be resilient in the face of the problems that have faced many older malls around the country.

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