BUCKHEAD IS BACK
COVER STORY
Atlanta’s most fitting symbol of the Great Recession may have been the massive crane-lined crater that sat grimly for six years at the corner of Peachtree and East Paces Ferry. But if that patch of prime real estate is truly an indicator, things are looking up.
Not only has the hole been filled by glamorously appointed—if vaguely named—Buckhead Atlanta, a multi-use mega development set to open this month, but competitors like Lenox and Phipps have doubled down. New restaurants are flinging open their doors. Now the tony neighborhood is experiencing something of a renaissance, which may reaffirm Buckhead as the financial and luxury capital of the Southeast that many—especially those who live and work there—think it should be.
Fashion
Buckhead shopping standbys Phipps and Lenox are stepping up their game
Buckhead's shopping revival isn’t all centered on Buckhead Atlanta. In addition to (or perhaps in reaction to) the new development, Simon, the Indianapolis-based owner of Phipps and Lenox, is investing millions to attract more luxury retailers and better dining options.
An introduction to Buckhead boutiquing
If you get chest pains just thinking about massive retail developments, Buckhead also has some of the city’s finest boutiques tucked away in smaller shopping centers.
Real Estate
Our real estate picks for 3 different Buckhead buyers
Young professional
3180 Mathieson Drive / Unit No. 705
This two-bedroom condo at Mathieson Exchange Lofts suits buyers who covet lock-and-go lifestyles and the convenience of...
Buckhead’s residential real estate bestsellers
The top residential sales since 2007
ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE
4 Buckhead people to know
Everything you need to know about Sara Blakely, Donald Gesell, Robin Loudermillk, and Andres Loaiza.
WAIT, ANOTHER BUCKHEAD?
The Other Buckhead
The Town of Buckhead is open for official business on Tuesdays. Cheryl Saffold mans the phones at town hall; most calls she fields are about business licenses. One of the first questions Saffold asks, politely, is whether callers are sure they have the right number.
Fitness
3 Buckhead gyms and spas for working out and indulging
In Buckhead, the gym you belong to is as important as your town club; business meetings are held over yoga mats, not place mats; and fashion standards still apply. To prevent any social missteps, here are the hottest places to sweat.
PATH400 brings a different kind of green to Buckhead
PATH400, a planned 5.2-mile trail along Georgia 400, stands to provide a breath of fresh air to a district ranked dead last in the city for park space per capita.
EAT AND DRINK
On the town: 3 Buckhead nightlife itineraries
No longer forced to ply the kids with chicken fingers, it’s time for sushi. At Umi (3050 Peachtree Road), find traditional rolls along with outside-the-bento-box experimenting with yellowtail and jalapeño. Camp out in the bar to spot visiting movie stars—like Jennifer Lawrence and Jim Carrey—staying at the St. Regis next door.
Rules of the Buckhead dating game, according to The Bachelor’s Kelly Travis
The moment that Kelly Travis and her entourage glide onto the King + Duke patio, a red-faced, middle-aged man offers a round of drinks. Travis quietly warns her posse, “He’s not the kind of guy you’d want to date.”
