Visions for Vacancies: South Cobb Drive Kroger
What would you like to see in the old Kroger location?
Photos
Visions for Vacancies is Smyrna-Vinings Patch's weekly feature that looks at a vacant building and asks readers what they'd like to see there. This is your chance to dream big. If it were up to you, what would you open there?
Smyrna residents are proud of the new Kroger located in The Crossings shopping center on South Cobb Drive. What they’re not so proud of is the vacant building that housed Kroger before it made the big move in January. The building located in Concord Square shopping center at 3315 South Cobb Drive is a stone’s throw from the new store.
The fate of the 42,000 square-foot retail space has been a hot topic in Smyrna since it was vacated in January. One citizen asked about the building at a recent South Cobb Drive Business Town Hall Meeting. Smyrna Mayor Max Bacon confirmed that Kroger’s lease doesn’t end until October 2012. Bacon said it was rumored that Big Lots was interested in leasing the building, but a representative from Newburger-Andes Commercial Real Estate confirmed to Patch that Big Lots recently renewed its lease for its current location at 3791 South Cobb Drive.
What would you like to see in the old Kroger building? If zoning issues and cost were no obstacle, what would you open in the space?
Sydney Busby
2:54 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
Here's what a Smyrna-Vinings Facebook fan had to say: Would love to have a Kohl's or Stein Mart in Smyrna. Also Whole Foods, Fresh Market or Trader Joe's.
Thomas
3:19 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
That would be fantastic to see some quality retailers come to the area. Unfortunately I don't think they would be caught dead next to an abandoned car wash and little caesars, with food depot across the road. Not exactly the demo that could afford whole foods. This weekly feature just makes me unhappy about the number of vacant lots in our town, particularly when there is no development boom in sight to fill them all. Just demolish it, put a Chilis there and let's call it a day.
Sydney Busby
5:02 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
Here's another interesting suggestion from a Twitter follower: laser tag and putt-putt facility...or bowling alley
Katherine Hoskins
5:06 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
Trader Joes, Fresh Market, Steinmart or a beautiful park/green space!
td
10:01 pm on Friday, April 20, 2012
Target! Movie Theater, Stars and Strikes!! Something nice the whole family can enjoy and brings folks to Smyrna and keeps us from leaving for everything!
webaileyjr
7:14 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
How about a mini Kroger, Publix or even a Trader Joes? The new Kroger is nice but too big for quick in and out shopping.
kara g
8:03 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
I would like to see laser tag, jumpy house, or a Dave and Busters. Having a Whole Foods would be nice, but NOT near the Kroger.
Michelle
8:07 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
A Hobby Lobby would be nice.
Amy
3:03 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012
That was what I was going to say, and it certainly fits Hobby Lobby's MO. For that matter, Hancock or Joann - we don't have a fabric store over here anymore. I doubt Joann would come back though, since they couldn't survive at Akers Mill in a good economy.
slbutler
8:09 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
A library for kids under the age of 14. No adults unless accompaning a child. Or some time type of free educational center to help kids do better in school. Or maybe some kind of discounted after school programm for kids. Basically, something educational for kids.
Michelle
8:11 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
Great suggestions....it would be nice to have something like the Mable House for Art and Theatre in the community.
Donna McLarty
10:26 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
Take advantage of the lovely Brown Elementary school being just behind this property and expand the property into a safe, nurturing educational project rather than close Brown and send these young children into an unsafe environment adjacent to Campbell High School where there is chaos. Make the Kroger space into a gym, art facility, and enrichment center available to the entire community in addition to the school body. A pedestrian bridge across Brown Road could easily make access possible for the students.
Michelle
10:43 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
Donna, as much as many of us would love to see Brown stay open as our children are very happy there, that possibility is no longer an option. The school board decided unanimously that Brown will close, the children from Brown will go to the new school and Brown will have work done to accommodate the children who will be coming from Fitz Hugh Lee (that also is closing). However, turning that space into an enrichment center is a wonderful idea.
AM
8:51 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
Sam's Club or Costco's
Denise
10:13 am on Saturday, April 21, 2012
Stein Mart, Trader Joe's, or a Whole Foods would be an excellent addition to our community!
Curious Neighbor
1:24 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012
Trader Joe's or Whole Foods!
Ms. Massey
1:40 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012
I would like to see some nice retail stores like TJ Maxx, Ross, Kohls, JC Pennys, Target, Steinmart,Ashley Stewart, Anna Linens
Paul Smyrna
8:04 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012
Not sure TJ Mass or Ross would put another store in Smyrna, since they already have one on the other side of town on Cumberland Blvd. However, a couple years ago there was a rumor that Target was looking at the South Cobb/EW area so that might be worth a shot.
Najah H.
5:56 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012
Massage Envy, a seafood buffet place or Golden Corral, salon suites space or 24 hour gym. I rather not have direct comp with the Kroger. Also, what about the space across the street on Concord behind Wells Fargo? Only the wing place is holding on abd this is good real etate with heavy traffic.
CVB
6:19 pm on Saturday, April 21, 2012
I would like to see a Whole Foods go in where the Publix was going to go at Concord & Atlanta Rd. The old Kroger space would be a good place for a discount retailer like Burlington Coat Factory, TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshalls, or an office supply store like Office Max, Office Depot, or Staples.
Josh Valentine
9:49 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
CVB: Love your idea of having retails like TJ Maxx or Office Max would be great. This might bring life back to South Cobb Drive. Once again, it might make South Cobb Drive attractive like the days When Cobb Center was popular.
MJR
12:22 pm on Sunday, April 22, 2012
I would like to see a gym with a swimming pool. Like the one at the senior center, but for everyone.
Josh Valentine
9:34 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
How about a skate park for skateboarding. See here, I see a lot of skaters skate in The Publix shopping center and art risk of getting hit by cars. I say that old Kroger Shopping Center would be perfect.
jeremy
11:20 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
something kid friendly like a putt put would be awesome! So would Trader Joes. So would a movie theater with food and drink!
jeremy
11:22 am on Wednesday, April 25, 2012
THE BROWN SCHOOL IDEA IS GREAT but a little too late sadly
dsa
9:43 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012
What about a YMCA for Smyrna? A place where the whole family could work out in a safe environment? And include a pool. There is a YMCA in Buckhead and East Cobb but none in this area. Would love to see this.
Pam J
6:21 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012
How about another DOL (unemployment) office? Okay, maybe not so popular, but if you have ever had to go to the one in Kennesaw, you will understand. They need to separate Cobb and Cherokee Counties offices. Or an indoor flea market or "upscale" thrift store.
30082
5:49 pm on Wednesday, May 30, 2012
A few ideas: Home Goods, Trampoline Park (http://atlanta.skyzonesports.com/), Northpoint Church, Climate Control Storage (http://www.istore-selfstorage.com/)
lynn
11:49 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012
I think a skate park would be an excellent idea! I too see alot of kids all over town.
Fiona
12:54 pm on Tuesday, July 3, 2012
An indoor tennis court! If I remember corrected the Kroger had high ceilings, so it would be perfect. Also, there aren't many indoor courts near Atlanta. This would be perfect for the hot weather in Atlanta and the big tennis community.