Finalists detail vision for closely watched Grant Park Gateway space

One of three finalists vying to lease and remake Grant Park’s architecturally striking but long-vacant Gateway space has lifted the veil on their plans.

The concept, called “Gateway Park and Market,” calls for a micro food hall “foodie destination” and “cultural experience” that would lean heavily into public programming and capitalize on proximity to Zoo Atlanta next door.

A shortlist of three finalists provided by city officials in April listed the concept as being submitted by Terminus Commercial Real Estate Partners, an Atlanta-based CRE firm. No specifics on the proposal were provided at that time. 

Terminus’ past deals have involved buildings on Krog Street in Inman Park and Old Fourth Ward (the property that became Ammazza Pizza), in addition to the Grant Park retail building on Boulevard that’s home to Ziba’s Restaurant and Wine Bar.  

Joining Terminus’ Taylor Smith in the Gateway pitch are Kraig Torres, owner of alcohol purveyor Hopcity, and Mike Walbert, a longtime Atlanta event curator.

Walbert provided Urbanize Atlanta with draft renderings and details for his team’s Gateway vision, which could be the structure's first tenants since it was completed three and ½ years ago.

The Gateway Park and Market calls for a centralized gathering space with: three fresh food stalls operated by locals; a 360-degree deli-stye counter; a full-service bar; a grab-and-go market; a few indoor seating options, and an abundance of patio seating. The market would also offer preset picnic stations and yard games for guests to set up on the elevated greenspace next door, which tops a parking garage.

According to the pitch, a nonpermanent stage near the market could host live music. Walbert and company also plan to host 120 days of public programming in all seasons, such as yoga and other free events.  

“We feel that Grant Park is more than deserving of its own Town Square,” Terminus’ Smith said in a prepared statement provided to Urbanize Atlanta. “A space where the community can come together. We feel that Gateway Park can be that spot with the right local ingredients and programming.”

Added Torres of Hopcity, which recently celebrated its 15th anniversary: “Imagine drinking a cider or glass of rosé while watching the giraffes stretch in the afternoon sun—while waiting for a pop-up concert or your post-work yoga class. I’m optimistic the City of Atlanta agrees with this vision for our neighborhood.”

Another finalist picked by the city is Savi Provisions, the gourmet market and grocery known for its wine selection and organic foods.

Savi now counts locations in North Carolina and 16 stores in metro Atlanta, spanning from the city’s airport to Howell Mill Road, Decatur, and Brookhaven to the Crabapple district in Milton. The nearest Savi outpost to Grant Park remains the original one in Inman Park, roughly two and ½ miles away.

The third finalist is Rease Group Holdings Inc., an Atlanta-based company led by CEO Andy Rease and founded in 2010, according to the Georgia Secretary of State’s office. Efforts to reach the company for more details have not been successful.

Atlanta City Council member Jason Winston, whose District 1 covers Grant Park, told Urbanize Atlanta in late April the parks department’s selection should be made within 45 to 60 days.

Walbert says his group has not been provided a solid date or timeline for selection from the city.

“Our best guess would be sometime in June for the selection,” says Walbert, “but then there will likely be a final negotiation [and] execution period before there’s an official public statement about the final selection.”

Since officially opening in January 2021, the 2.5-acre greenspace has become a magnet for picnickers, bicyclists, skateboarders, roller skaters, and kids who watch elephants, giraffes, and zebras at the zoo next door. But the retail/restaurant space—designed by Smith Dalia Architects and Winter Johnson Group, situated at the elevated park’s south end—has never been used.

City officials managed to take ownership of the Gateway space from the Atlanta and Fulton County Recreation Authority early last year, a key first step in getting it leased and occupied. But a similar RFP issued in February 2023 didn’t attract a single bid from prospective tenants.

The city’s Department of Procurement, which is charged with helping lead the tenant search, concluded that rising construction costs spurred by inflation, combined with increased interest rates, contributed to the initial lack of bids. The city has since partnered with Invest Atlanta to offer financial assistance to the right operator during the current solicitation process.

The latest RFP was an improved pitch to businesses that could fill such a large space. It provided drone footage, set up tours for potential tenants, and specified how large the shell space is: 7,056 square feet. It called for a single enterprise to create a Gateway concept that will “increase the property value of the neighborhood, improve the area’s livability, serve as a convenience to neighborhood residents and visitors, and continue Atlanta's forward progress.” 

The $48-million Gateway project replaced a parking lot with the park-topped garage. In 2022, it earned the Atlanta Urban Design Commission’s Award of Excellence for sustainable design.

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