Atlanta’s 22-mile loop of trails, commerce, and villages of new housing is again proving itself a magnet for high-profile companies and job creation. 

California-based electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian announced today it will plant its new East Coast headquarters along the Atlanta Beltline in Old Fourth Ward, opening offices as soon as late 2025. Rivian’s decision—described as a “landmark investment” for the Peach State in an announcement—was applauded by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp and Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. 

Rivian plans to occupy the top floor and lobby level of Portman Holdings’ Junction Krog District, a modernistic, mixed-use structure bordering the Eastside Trail at 667 Auburn Ave. that opened in late 2023. 

“Atlanta embodies so much that makes Georgia great—top talent, exceptional creativity, and a desire to always be moving forward,” said Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe in a statement.

The mixed-use Eastside Trail corridor in question, prior to the recent addition of restaurants. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Rivian’s plans call for locating roughly 100 employees at the Portman building by the end of this year; the company expects 500 employees will eventually be stationed at the new HQ complex when it’s fully built out. 

The location is described in a press release as “easily accessible by public transportation,” though the city has pivoted away from building an extension of the Atlanta Streetcar through the area, which would have linked downtown to Ponce City Market. 

According to Rivian officials, the Old Fourth Ward office will open in late 2025. It will expand next year as construction ramps up at Rivian’s massive, 7,500-person manufacturing facility in the pipeline east of Atlanta near Social Circle. Rivian reportedly plans to resume site work on the Georgia plant next month in preparation for vertical construction in the first quarter of 2026. 

Retail spaces and office patios fronting the Eastside Trail, as seen in fall 2023. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

“Atlanta continues to lead in EV innovation and technology integration, and Rivian’s growing presence here reinforces our city’s role in shaping our future economy,” said Mayor Dickens in the announcement.  

“We’re glad to see Rivian will soon join the growing list of brands not only operating in our state but also wholly or partially based in our capital city,” added Kemp. 

Rivian won’t be the only recent addition to Junction Krog District. 

As part of a mini restaurant boom on the Beltline between Irwin Street and Edgewood Avenue, Japanese-modern concept Yuji opened at Junction Krog District earlier this year. It’s situated on the building’s ground floor and connected with what Portman calls the “expansive public porch” of its contemporary, black-painted building. The Kaiseki-inspired concept from the creator of MF Sushi, Kinjo Room, and other restaurants includes two outdoor bars, along with a 1,700-square-foot patio. 

That was followed in May by the second location of Italian concept Yeppa & Co., which took an expansive, largely open-air space at the southernmost base of Junction Krog District. Yeppa & Co. debuted in Buckhead Village in early 2023, and its breezy Beltline digs are meant to evoke the Italian coastal town, Rimini, that inspired the concept. Outdoor components include a large bar, sidewalk tables, and covered and heated year-round seating. 

Coffee and cocktail purveyor Brash Coffee Roasters also opened in a kiosk-style space next to Yuji last fall.

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