Perimeter Business - Reporter Newspapers

Construction of Hyatt hotel next to Buckhead’s Lenox Square to start soon

by John Ruch | Mar 30, 2020 | Buckhead Reporter, Perimeter Business | 0

Construction of a Hyatt hotel next to Buckhead’s Lenox Square mall is scheduled to begin soon for a 2022 opening. The “Hyatt Centric” boutique brand hotel was announced for an April start just prior to the coronavirus pandemic. The timeline could be affected by the city’s temporary emergency order restricting certain businesses. The hotel will be 218 rooms — down slightly from the originally planned 221 — and 16 stories tall. Its site is 3301 Lenox Parkway, behind the mall and along Ga. 400 and the PATH400 multiuse trail at the George C. Bynum Jr. Pedestrian Bridge. The 1-acre...

Buckhead CID sees one upside to pandemic shutdowns: faster repaving

by John Ruch | Mar 26, 2020 | Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Perimeter Business | 0

The Buckhead Community Improvement District says there’s one upside to pandemic shutdowns: faster repaving of local streets. “There is some shining hope in the world,” said Tony Peters, director of capital projects and programs for the self-taxing group of commercial property owners, in a paving discussion at its March 25 board meeting. The shutdowns of many businesses mean low levels of traffic, Peters said, while paving remains an “essential” business under Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms’ emergency order. So paving contractor C.W. Matthews is “going full bore” on local streets, recently completing three within four days, he said. That means...

Local chambers of commerce try new methods to keep members engaged during pandemic

by Hannah Greco | Mar 25, 2020 | Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Perimeter Business, Sandy Springs Reporter, Top Stories | 0

With local chambers of commerce having to postpone or cancel all forthcoming events, the business networking organizations are trying new ways to keep members engaged during the coronavirus pandemic. The Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber has created an online radio series that will provide advice to chamber members on how their businesses can survive the coronavirus pandemic. The program has been created through a partnership between the chamber; Business Radio X, an internet station that pre-records enterprise-based content for its website; and the Sandy Springs Innovation Center. All interviews will be conducted at the Business Radio X studio within the...

Buckhead CID to launch security patrol, more cameras in $300K crime response

by John Ruch | Mar 25, 2020 | Buckhead Reporter, Perimeter Business, Public Safety, Top Stories | 0

The Buckhead Community Improvement District aims to launch a new security patrol vehicle and add more surveillance cameras in a nearly $300,000 response to shootings that drew the attention of the police chief and others. The investment of up to $297,000 in spending on “safety measures” was approved in three items at the March 25 meeting of the BCID board, which was held via teleconference due to the coronavirus pandemic. BCID Executive Director Jim Durrett, speaking of one set of new cameras, said the Atlanta Police Department suggested them “to help them address the situation here in Buckhead, and...

Commentary: How you work may never be the same

by Reporter Newspapers | Mar 23, 2020 | Brookhaven Reporter, Buckhead Reporter, Commentary, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Perimeter Business, Sandy Springs Reporter | 0

2020 is not off to the start many of us expected. Anxiety is high and social distancing restricts much of what we rely on. But I have some good news: The way we work may never be the same. Recent efforts to fight the spread of the coronavirus means the number of people working from home—also known as “telecommuting” or “remote work”—has skyrocketed. This time last year, only about 11% of employees were telecommuting. Most people (76% , according to 2019 Atlanta Regional Commission commute data) were driving alone to work every day. Despite advances in technology, the 9-to-5...

Invest Atlanta offers zero-interest loans to small businesses during pandemic

by John Ruch | Mar 22, 2020 | Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Perimeter Business, Top Stories | 0

Invest Atlanta, the city’s economic development authority, is offering zero-interest loans to aid small businesses to survive through the coronavirus pandemic. The Business Continuity Loan Fund is starting with $1.5 million provided as part of an emergency funding package ordered by Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms. “The fund will offer small businesses zero-interest loans to address a lack of working capital and cash flows as a result of reduced consumer demand, the ability to fulfill product or service orders and other economic conditions,” according to Invest Atlanta’s website. The fund will offer loans ranging from $5,000 to $30,000 per applicant....

Sandy Springs-based car shows postponed indefinitely

by Hannah Greco | Mar 20, 2020 | Arts & Entertainment, Dunwoody Reporter, Perimeter Business, Sandy Springs Reporter | 0

The Sandy Springs-based Caffeine and Octane and Caffeine and Exotics car shows have been postponed indefinitely for the coronavirus pandemic. Caffeine and Octane was to take place at Perimeter Mall in Dunwoody on April 5 and Caffeine and Exotics at City Springs in Sandy Springs on April 19. “Our sole concern is the health and safety of our many fans, sponsors, show participants, and our Caffeine and Octane team,” Bruce Piefke, CEO of High Octane Events, which stages the shows, said in a press release. “As the coronavirus situation continues to evolve, it is simply prudent to postpone our...

Atlanta mayor halts dine-in restaurants, shutters many types of businesses

by John Ruch | Mar 19, 2020 | Arts & Entertainment, Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Food & Drink, Perimeter Business, Slideshow, Top Stories | 0

In a sweeping response to the coronavirus pandemic, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has ordered a shutdown of many types of businesses — from nightclubs to gyms — and restricted restaurants to take-out or delivery only. The duration of the order, which was to take effect at midnight, was not immediately clear. “The fate of cities across the globe will be upon soon if we do not follow recommendations on ways to slow the spread of the coronavirus,” said Bottoms on social media in announcing the March 19 order. The order follows her pattern of progressively tighter restrictions on...

Buckhead’s Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza malls close due to pandemic

by John Ruch | Mar 18, 2020 | Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Perimeter Business, Top Stories | 0

Buckhead’s Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza malls are closing down until March 29 due to the coronavirus pandemic, along with all other outlets owned by Simon Property Group. The closures were scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. March 18, according to a Simon press release. “The health and safety of our shoppers, retailers and employees is of paramount importance and we are taking this step to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” said David Simon, the company’s chairman, chief executive officer and president, in a press release. COVID-19 is the disease caused by the coronavirus. In...

New Sandy Springs Goodwill store opening is delayed indefinitely

by John Ruch | Mar 17, 2020 | Coronavirus, Perimeter Business, Sandy Springs Reporter | 0

The opening of a new Goodwill store and donation center in Sandy Springs has been delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. The area’s existing Goodwill sites will remain open for now, but with limited hours, according to a social media post by Keith Parker, CEO of Goodwill of North Georgia. Those new hours are Monday-Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The new Sandy Springs store and donation center was originally planned to open in late March in the Northridge shopping center at 8331 Roswell Road. The space held a Kroger for 35 years until October 2017. The...

Launch of Buckhead shuttle service delayed by coronavirus pandemic

by John Ruch | Mar 16, 2020 | Buckhead Reporter, Perimeter Business, Top Stories | 0

The launch of an on-demand, low-cost shuttle service in Buckhead has been delayed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. The new, Uber-style version of the Buc shuttle was to launch April 1. The current Buc, which runs a limited, fixed route in the business district, will continue. The announcement was made March 16 by Livable Buckhead, the nonprofit that is working with the Buckhead Community Improvement District on the shuttle plan. Livable Buckhead also canceled all of its March and April events. The new Buc shuttle will be operated by a company called Via. It will consist of...

Coronavirus shutdowns to have ‘huge impact’ on local arts economy

by John Ruch | Mar 13, 2020 | Arts & Entertainment, Brookhaven Reporter, Buckhead Reporter, Coronavirus, Dunwoody Reporter, Perimeter Business, Sandy Springs Reporter, Slideshow, Top Stories | 0

The coronavirus-prevention shutdown of scores of metro Atlanta venues is already putting the pinch on artists who depend on crowds for their livelihood and on the thriving local arts economy. “It’s going to have a huge impact – a complete drag,” said jazz musician Joe Gransden, who plays many metro Atlanta venues, of the hit to the arts economy. “It’s very scary, and I’ve talked to a lot of musicians around town already and everybody’s feeling the crunch.” There is anxiety among organizations that have had to cancel shows, such as the City Springs Theatre Company, and among those...