Starbucks, the hugely popular coffee chain with roughly 40,000 locations worldwide, has now permanently closed its locations in both Phipps Plaza and Lenox Square. Both locations occupied prime mall-level space and have been fixtures in their respective malls for roughly two decades, likely longer.
Both locations closed for extended periods during the 2020-2021 pandemic period, but each reopened, only to close a short time later.
ToNeTo Atlanta reported in December on the various changes at both malls including the closure of the Starbucks at Phipps Plaza this past September. Signage at the Lenox Square location indicates that it closed permanently as of January 10.
Vicki Hanor, senior executive vice president and managing director of luxury leasing for Simon, claimed at the time of the Phipps Plaza closure that it shuttered to avoid cluttering one of the mall’s wings, which Hanor said would “enhance the common area.”
When contacted last week for comment on the Lenox Square closure and what may be planned in its place, a representative for the mall took a contrary stance, saying [we] "don’t comment on store closures."
A temporary mall directional at the former Lenox Starbucks directs would be coffee patrons not to the remaining Starbucks inside Macy's, but to Amorino, the gelato shop in the middle of the mall near the recently closed Pottery Barn.
Starbucks previously closed a coffee shop in Simon-owned Sugarloaf Mills in Lawrenceville, but remains open at the Mall of Georgia in Buford , also a Simon property.
In Lenox Square, Cami Cakes, a local cupcake shop that abruptly closed this past fall during the lucrative holiday shopping season, has reopened. Formerly located in a "jewel box" space created years ago for Sugarfina, Cami Cakes now occupies a counter between Coach and David Yurman that was for many years the mall customer service desk. Mall management removed staff from the counter several years ago, opting instead to direct those wishing to purchase gift cards or in need of assistance either to the security office or the Mall Management office, both clear to the opposite end of the mall near the food court.
Lenox Square has also in recent weeks further enhanced the common area with the addition of three new large-format kiosk-type stores including Leo Jewelry, Luna Jewelry Italy, and Hadarah, a Dubai-based luxury fragrance maker hawking $425+ perfumes.
Elsewhere in the mall, existing tenant Capital One Cafe filed a permit with the City of Atlanta January 5 for "security modifications" including an "interior remodel; bullet resistant enclosures & associated structural support."
French luxury retailer Sandro recently debuted in place of Madewell on the mall's main level. Other upcoming openings in the mall are set to include a larger, relocated Gucci (in addition to the large store at Phipps Plaza), Moncler, The Webster, Maje, and Mango, among others.
When was the last time you visited Lenox Square? What do you make of Starbucks closing in both Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza? What do you think will be added to "enhance the common area" in place of Starbucks at Lenox Square?
Please share your thoughts below.