Fairlie Poplar and the need for chains
Fairlie Poplar should have exploded by now. It should be so popular
that no part of Atlanta could compete with it… In fact, many in
Atlanta have been waiting for that to happen for 30 years.
Fairlie Poplar is the part of downtown bounded by Peachtree on the east,
Marietta St. on the South end, Centennial park on the west and Peachtree
Center on the northside. If ever you wanted a smidgen of New York
City in Atlanta, you’ll find it here.
During the Olympics, lots of old stores and office buildings were converted
into loft space, and it was expected that the neighborhood would finally
take it’s place as a hot spot. It has the Tabernacle, lovely
turn of the century architecture, the Rialto, plenty of parking, and easy
access to MARTA. So where are all the people?
As pointed out in the previous entry, Georgia State students did what
residential lofts could not do. They added life to that part of town.
Unfortunately, they are only a beginning.
Though it pains me to say this, what it needs are the chains.
It needs a 24 hour Whole Foods, 24 Hour Starbucks, and a 24 hour drug store.
More than that, it needs a Jillian’s.
“Are you nuts?” I hear you cry… Yes, maybe, but try this
on for size… Those brand names indicate to people from outside
the city that the community has reached a certain level of stability.
Additionally, those large chains can leverage additional police presence
and security. When people generally feel safer, they’ll venture out
more. When they venture out more, the community becomes more attractive
and the smaller more interesting shops stand a much better chance of making
it!
Please use these links and explore the neighborhood!
June 4th, 2004 at 4:49 pm
It might be a good start just convincing the Starbucks in the Equitable Building to stay open hours which cater to residents and weekend visitors.
Unless they’ve recently expanded the hours they’ve kept amazingly constricted hours for such a central location.
And I agree with you about Fairlie-Poplar. And I’ll state further that if Atlanta’s wealthy had any taste whatever Fairlie-Poplar would have been bid up to an astronomical degree.
June 5th, 2004 at 12:22 am
I think young affluent folks have slowly been filling in parts of town such as East Atlanta, Inman Park, and Midtown where they can get both a funky urban feel and a house!
As for Starbucks, it is interesting that the residents and GSU students don’t keep that location hopping longer. I was just in Chicago and delighted at the 24 hour Starbucks near Depaul.
April 6th, 2006 at 1:56 pm
The wealthy haven’t bid up that part of town because they don’t want to get mugged.
Pretty simple. Safety First.