Thursday, May 17, 2012
The Crossings at Four Corners opened in January and is still looking for some tenants. What would you like to see there?
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? Recently we asked what you’d like to see in the old Kroger location on South Cobb Drive. Now we’re crossing the street to The Crossings at Four Corners shopping center, home of the new Kroger and several vacant retail suites. Smyrna’s new Kroger opened with much fanfare in January and judging by the full parking lot it’s a popular shopping destination. Several of the suites in the shopping center now have tenants like T-Mobile and Nail Styles, but others have yet to be filled. The square-footage of the available …
The state's unemployment rate is 8.9 percent, Smyrna's 8.5 percent. How will pending layoffs impact these rates?
The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the state’s unemployment rate declined for the ninth straight month in April to 8.9 percent. This news comes a week after Cox Enterprises gave the department notice of pending layoffs at its Atlanta Journal Constitution distribution centers in Smyrna and Kennesaw. Smyrna’s unemployment rate for March 2012, the most recent data available, was 8.5 percent, but that could change when the layoffs take effect in July. Andy McDill, a media representative from Cox Enterprises, said the company is outsourcing the home delivery of the AJC. This means 102 employees at its Smyrna distribution center will be out of the job beginning as early as July 16. McDill could not say how many of the …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Smyrna's newest music store specializes in boutique guitar pedals, guitars and accessories.
Smyrna-Vinings is about to get a little louder with the opening of Megatone Music on Spring Road. Owner Darryl Arthur said Smyrna’s newest music shop specializes in guitars, boutique guitar pedals and amps for the “gigging musician.” “I’ve been a local musician since I was a teenager and I’ve had hundreds of guitars, amps, effects and that’s kind of what got me into this,” he said. “I was such a gearhead and I had so much of it. And I said, ‘You know what. There are other people like this too and there’s not a store to go to in Georgia that caters to gearheads.” That’s what we are. We’re a store that really caters to guitar enthusiasts that live, eat, drink guitar playing.” Arthur has been a musician for 25 years and operated Megatone …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The city's community development department saw the number of new home building permits nearly double in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2011.
The city of Smyrna is reporting a dramatic increase in the number of new home permits issued when compared to previous years. Is this a sign that things are looking up? Smyrna’s director of community development thinks so. “At least in Smyrna, things are coming back,” said Ken Suddreth. The community development department issued 70 new home permits in the first four months of 2012 compared to 38 for the same time period in 2011 and 21 for 2010. “The interesting thing about the numbers I’m giving you from 2012 is it’s not just one or two subdivisions that someone picked up and is finishing out,” he said. “It actually involves 11 different subdivisions, which is good because it’s spread out.” Suddreth said developers are beginning to …
Monday, May 14, 2012
Learn about a major project that will close a Vinings street for six weeks and find out what else is coming up in the week ahead.
Here’s a look at what’s coming up in the week ahead for Smyrna-Vinings. Government News Vinings residents who live near Woodland Brook Drive are invited to an informational meeting to learn more about the drainage project that will prevent flooding in the neighborhood, but close the street for four to six weeks this summer. The meeting hosted by District 2 Commissioner Bob Ott and Cobb County Department of Transportation begins at 5 p.m. at the Vinings Public Library. Cobb County School Board meets Thursday at 7 p.m. to legally adopt the 2013 budget. The preliminary budget the school board approved on a 6-1 vote April 26 uses five furlough days, a 175-day school year, a half-year delay in step pay raises, $21.2 million from the reserve …
What's your choice for the best frozen yogurt in Smyrna-Vinings?
For this week’s Readers’ Choice contest we want you pick the best place for frozen yogurt in Smyrna-Vinings. Bella, the Cowlick’s Yogurt and Floats mascot, would love your vote. There’s also Yoforia on Cobb Parkway. Don't fogret Smyrna-Vinings newest fro-yo shop Sub Zero Yogurt Bar, which offers several gluten-free options in addition to traditional frozen yogurt. Where do you go to satisfy your craving for a frozen treat? Let us know by leaving a comment below or writing a review in the Patch Directory. The Smyrna-Vinings Patch editor will determine the winner based on comments, reviews and poll results. Please vote only once per survey, per Patch and be sure to cast your votes soon. Only comments, reviews and votes made before 9 a.m. …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Patch rounds up some recent health inspection scores for Smyrna and Vinings establishments.
Here are some Cobb County food service inspection scores, conducted by the Cobb & Douglas Public Health Department, for establishments in our community: American Grill 3150 Highlands Parkway Date: 3/27/12 Score: 88 CityView Cafe 3330 Cumberland Boulevard Date: 3/26/12 Score: 100 Great Wraps 1328 Cumberland Mall Date: 3/26/12 Score: 82 Hooters of Cumberland 2977 Cobb Parkway Date: 3/27/12 Score: 99 Maggiano's Little Italy 1601 Cumberland Mall Date: 3/29/12 Score: 100 Starbuck's 2680 Cobb Parkway Date: 3/26/12 Score: 91 Stevi B's Pizza 4480 S. Cobb Drive Date: 3/20/12 Score: 91
What would you like to see in the vacant 4,170-square-foot restaurant space?
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? This week Visions for Vacancies takes a look at the vacant building at 2596 South Cobb Drive that was formerly a Dairy Queen. This 4,170-square-foot building was built in 1969 and is still restaurant equipped from its days serving Blizzards and Sundaes. The building is listed at $479,000 and is in the same shopping center as the new home of Adventure Outdoors. An added bonus, the building is located within the North Smyrna Opportunity Zone meaning that business owners within the zone who hire two full-time employees …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Cox Enterprises will lay off 102 employees at its Atlanta Journal Constitution home delivery distribution center in south Cobb County.
Cox Enterprises has filed paperwork with the Georgia Department of Labor indicating that it will lay off 102 employees from its Atlanta Journal Constitution home delivery distribution center in Smyrna. In a letter sent to GDOL, a representative from Cox Enterprises said it “plans to outsource its home delivery distribution” beginning July 16. The distribution center is located in south Smyrna at 5000 Highland Parkway. Andy McDill, a Cox Enterprises media representative, explained the reason for the layoffs. “In an effort to streamline our operations and circulation and distribution operation expenses we’ve made the business decision to outsource all our home delivery operations,” she said. “I don’t have the exact number on me, but I want …
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
The zoning amendment was based on changes to the development's site plan and the elevation of its new units.
At its meeting Monday, Smyrna City Council tried to juggle the sometimes conflicting desires of neighbors and the developer of Vintage Square subdivision on Atlanta Road across the street from Campbell Middle School. The developer, TI Vintage LLC, proposed to Council a zoning amendment to modify the existing site plan and zoning condition approved for the development in 2006. The amendment was recommended for approval by city of Smyrna staff with some added conditions. Council ultimately voted 6-1 to approve the request with Ward 2 Representative Andrea Blustein casting the dissenting vote, but not without some lengthy discussion. The Amendment TI Vintage LLC, represented by the applicant Jeff Freeman, sought the amendment as a means to …
Alecia Nastoff McLochlin
4:39 pm on Thursday, May 17, 2012
A kid's salon, like Pigtails & Crewcuts or Snip Its or the like. There currently aren't any in the Smyrna area. You have to go to East Cobb, West Cobb, or Buckhead for the nearest one. more ›