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The Champion, Thursday, December 17 - 23,2015 BUSINESS
Page17A
New signage notes that the The Holiday Inn now has a larger registration desk
Burger Theory restaurant is than it had before the renovation,
now open.
The refurbished hotel now has a restaurant and bar.
Many answers to
what 7 s
new? 7 at Northlake
by Kathy Mitchell
Those who haven’t been to the Northlake area
recently may find there are shopping, dining and
lodging options that weren’t present a year ago.
Renovated Holiday Inn holds grand
reopening
The Holiday Inn Northlake held its grand
reopening Dec. 10 as corporate executives, local
officials and guests gathered for tours of the newly
renovated facility.
“Even though we are calling it a reopening, we
never stopped operating. At times we had to close
off areas, but we stayed open through the process,”
explained Michele Rucker, Holiday Inn director
of sales.
Rucker said the lobby was given a fresh open
look with a larger registration desk. “And we
opened the bar and restaurant, which had not
been open for a while.”
The new restaurant, Burger Theory, is part of a
chain introduced a year ago under the Holiday Inn
brand. Although hamburgers are the restaurant’s
signature offering, salads, steaks, fish, pizza and
other items also are on the menu. It also features
32 varieties of beer, including several brewed in
Georgia.
“This will really make the place more attrac
tive,” said Tom Muse, a general manager at the
Tennessee-based company that now owns Holiday
Inn Northlake. “Business travelers who want to get
dinner or have a drink can do so without leaving
the Holiday Inn.”
Rucker said corporate use represents a large
part of the facility’s business.
“This is a fast-growing area,” said Muse, who
said his company is looking to open another—
possibly two—lodging facilities around Northlake
in the next two years. “We’re thinking of bringing
a Candlewood Suites here. This area could easily
support more lodging. Since it’s right on 1-285 it’s
easy to get to other parts of the metro area from
here. With Tucker having just become a city, we’re
expecting nothing but growth.”
The Holiday Inn Northlake is slated to become
larger if permits can be obtained, Rucker said. A
sixth floor, which would be entirely conference
space, would be added. Currently the facility has a
meeting room that can accommodate 35 people—
or 50 with no tables—and a “board room” for
meeting around a large conference table. There are
an exercise room, a business center and 129 guest
rooms, including one suite with a full kitchen.
Rucker said another suite may be added next
year.
More options come to the mall
Several new retailers have come to 40-year-old
Northlake Mall in recent weeks, including two
Atlanta-based women’s boutiques and two locally
owned food court restaurants.
“We’re always looking for exciting new retail
stores to add to our mix,” said Sue Storck, mall
manager at Northlake Mall, who noted that 2015
has seen a larger-than-average number of stores
added to the mall. “A blend of national chains and
locally owned stores give us lots of variety. Our
goal is to have what our customers are looking
for.”
Vivi’s Boutique is one the two clothing stores
to open in the mall in recent weeks. It offers a
wide variety of handmade children’s clothes and
accessories, as well as a unique selection of home
decor, according to Storck.
Already in several southeastern cities, includ
ing Chattanooga, Tenn., and Auburn, Ala., Si
enna & Bellini opened its first Atlanta area store
at Northlake, according to co-owner and lead
designer Thalia Gottesman, who described the
store’s merchandise as “a hip, trendy, stylish and
fashionable brand that supplies European style
and design. Sienna & Bellini seeks to make stylish
fashion affordable for everyone,” she said.
“The store offers an apparel selection—many
one-size-fits-most—with flattering cuts and per
sonalized customer service,” Gottesman said.
“While we primarily target teens and women into
their late 20s, we have something for everyone.
“We chose Northlake because there’s noth
ing else in this area offering fashions of this type,”
Gottesman said. Two more Sienna & Bellini are
opening soon, including one in Little 5 Points that
is scheduled to open before the end of the year.
The store sells dresses, pants, skirts, tops, shoes
and accessories.
Among the new eateries in the food court,
according to Storck, is Tio Tinos, which features
blended ice creams—crafted just for the shop—
along with gelato, hot dogs, fountain drinks and
other items.
Also now in the food court is Cairo Cuisine,
which features Mediterranean food, including au
thentic Egyptian fare.
GLOBALLY AWARE
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