The storefronts on Georgia Avenue in the Summerhill neighborhood once buzzed with activity, boasting butchers, barbers, and shops before sitting neglected for decades in the shadow of I-85 and sports stadiums. The historic commercial strip is in the midst of a transformation by developer Carter & Associates and now hums again with restaurants like Little Bear, Talat Market, Junior’s Pizza, Little Tart Bakeshop, Wood’s Chapel BBQ, and the forthcoming fast-casual Southern joint Maepole drawing crowds to the neighborhood alongside the new Georgia State Stadium.

Until now, however, the slew of new offerings on the neighborhood’s main drag—four blocks in a mix of refurbished historic buildings and new infill in similar style—had been limited mainly to food and drink, minus Maggie Murphy’s Salon, which moved from Grant Park to Summerhill last year. The latest announcement adds retail and more beauty and wellness to the neighborhood lineup, with the announcement of the second location of the Old Fourth Ward spa Aviary, and a chic gift shop and letterpress, the Press Shop, both expected to open in June. The development has also inked plans for a major grocery store, community bank, and a dentist, addressing more practical needs that may show Carter’s intent on serving the surrounding community—which includes longtime residents and the recent influx of GSU students—and not just building a destination.

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By Mary Logan Bikoff, Atlanta Magazine

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