In December we exclusively reported that Canadian retailer Aritiza would be making its long awaited debut in Atlanta at Lenox Square. At that time, City of Atlanta permits indicated the store would open in a nearly 11,000 square foot space in a suite that did not exist. Newly installed signage confirms that Aritzia is opening in the mall and that it will replace GAP, which closed its Lenox Square store about two weeks ago. Lenox Square planning documents indicate that the GAP store is roughly 9,300 square feet when you include basement storage.
The closure in Lenox is especially perplexing when you consider that A) there seems to be plenty of available space in the mall and B) GAP is seeing renewed interest in the brand following the release of the new Yeezy GAP Engineered by Balenciaga collection. GAP sister brands Athleta and Banana Republic remain open in Lenox Square.
We noted several other updates on our recent visit to Lenox Square.
British Luxury label Alexander McQueen will make its Atlanta debut with a kiosk at Lenox Square. We use the word "kiosk," but the storefront is essentially a micro store on the mall's main level that takes up the space of roughly three typical kiosks side by side. The McQueen label is owned by French luxury goods conglomerate Kering which also owns Balenciaga, Bottega Veneta, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent, among others, all of whom have existing locations at Lenox Square sibling property Phipps Plaza. ToNeTo Atlanta reported December 15 that Gucci will be adding a second store at Lenox Square later this year.
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ToNeTo Atlanta first reported March 1 that Italian automaker Ferrari plans to bring just its third overall full-line American retail store to Lenox Square later this year. Luxury watchmaker Breitling is also opening in the mall with a boutique near Mayors Jewelers and Rolex.
Elsewhere in the mall, "coming soon" signage is up for North Italia at the front of the mall where it is replacing Zinburger. In the food court, Shake Shack will open a second Buckhead outpost when it replaces the recently shuttered Rise Pies, a quick-serve pizza eatery. Also, on the mall's second floor, coming soon signage is also up for Blue Nile, the online born jeweler that has been expanding its brick & mortar presence. ToNeTo Atlanta exclusively reported on the company's planned Atlanta entry this past December.
Former locations of Tourneau, Microsoft, Apple and Williams-Sonoma, among others, all remain vacant without so much as a barricade up to disguise their closures.
Are you surprised by the changes at Lenox Square? When was the last time you visited Lenox Square? Does the presence of so many armed security and police officers at Lenox Square make you feel more safe or more anxious?
Please share your thoughts below.