Photograph courtesy of Avalon
Two and a half years after it first opened, Alpharetta’s Avalon development will double in size with the grand opening of its next phase, Boulevard East, on April 13.
The expansion features a 225,000-square-foot tower of office space (Microsoft will be one of the tenants) and luxury apartments branded as Veranda at Avalon (rents range from $1,525 to $4,884). A new Courtyard will serve as an additional event space.
As for retail, Boulevard East features a mix of new and old offerings. Familiar shops include Brooks Brothers, Urban Outfitters, Levi’s, Williams Sonoma, Lucky Brand, Pottery Barn, and local boutique Boogaloos. Newcomers include:
Scout & Molly’s: A North Carolina-based women’s boutique that sells brands such as Bernardo, David Lerner, Ipanema, French Connection, Olive + Oak, and more.
Hammer Made: The Minneapolis-based menswear shop specializes in dress shirts and ties in a variety of bold patterns and colors, along with denim, graphic t-shirts, and accessories. This is their first expansion to the Southeast, and they will also open a shop in Lenox Square in May.
South Moon Under: The women’s boutique—which also opens a Ponce City Market location on April 6—carries brands such as Free People, Jeffrey Campbell, Rebecca Minkoff, Sam Edelman, and more.
Boardroom Salon for Men: The Texas-based barber shop aims to provide the “ultimate relaxed grooming experience,” with hot lather shaves, facials, and therapeutic and hot stone massages.
The Apple Store at Alpharetta’s North Point Mall also appears to be moving to Avalon for the April 13 launch. A press release from Avalon noted that since the mixed-use development’s launch in 2014, 12 North Point retailers have abandoned the nearby mall for Avalon.
For dining, Boulevard East welcomes the long-awaited second Rumi’s Kitchen outpost, as well as new locations for Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams, Chick-fil-A, and MF Sushi. Newcomers include:
Photograph courtesy of Avalon
Barleygarden Kitchen and Craft Bar: Spotted Trotter founder Kevin Ouzts will serve as executive chef at the first restaurant from Hop City’s Kraig Torres. The restaurant will serve lunch and dinner and boast an impressive beer selection of nearly 100 taps across two bars. Among the menu offerings are a bratwurst burger, butchers steak, roast pork shoulder sandwich, different types of fries, and a kale salad, and the rooftop bar promises to be a hot summer destination.
District III: Along with MF Sushi, Alex Kinjo will open this Vietnamese restaurant. The name and menu draws from Kinjo’s parents hometown of Vung Tau, Vietnam, a coastal city once under French control.
Brine Seafood Shack: Chicken and the Egg founder Marc Taft brings this seafood restaurant to Avalon, featuring lobster rolls, tuna poke, oysters, fish tacos, and more. Like Barleygarden, this restaurant will also offer a rooftop bar, where they’ll serve tiki cocktails.
Avalon will officially kick off Boulevard East’s grand opening with an all-day, 13-hour event on April 13 that includes tastings, a fashion show, cocktails, and live music. The final planned piece of the development—the Hotel at Avalon and Alpharetta Conference Center—is set to open in January.
