Although roughly a year of construction remains, a mixed-use venture that’s transforming a significant portion of Brookhaven’s de facto Main Street is fielding “substantial interest” from local and regional brands, resulting in a wave of new retail leases, officials announced today.

Atlanta-based developer Connolly revealed seven signed tenants for its $70-million project Parkside on Dresden, which broke ground in summer 2022 to continue the densification of Dresden Drive just east of the city’s MARTA station.

The retail signings—in spaces between 1,000 and 5,000 square feet—include new-to-market concepts and what Connolly officials call “some of Atlanta’s most popular names in dining and group fitness.”

Construction progress at Parkside on Dresden as of last month. Connolly

Parkside on Dresden is rising across a four-acre site at 1350 Dresden Drive with 32,000 square feet of commercial space, an adjacent public plaza (aka, “City Park”), and a six-level parking deck. It will also include seven townhomes and 176 luxury apartments being developed by Charlotte-based Terwilliger Pappas.

In preparation for new development, a former county building and several other small structures were cleared from the Brookhaven Village site, which also included a large empty lot.

Meghan Schmidt, Connolly director of development, says the goal with Parkside’s retail component is to create a vibrant and diverse lineup of wellness, culinary, and independent boutique options. “Space is at a premium along this high-energy corridor that is surrounded by a strong, loyal consumer base,” noted Schmidt in today's announcement.  

The proposed look of boutique shopping and multifamily residences next to a new communal greenspace.Courtesy of Terwilliger Pappas; designs, Rule Joy Trammell + Rubio

The initial tenant lineup is described by the development team as follows, edited for length:

  • Confab Kitchen and Bar (3,600 square feet with patio adjacent to City Park)—inspired by the dining culture of Europe, Confab is a gathering place designed for people to eat, drink, and converse with friends around food, beer, wine, and spirits. It’s a new concept in metro Atlanta from local restaurant operator Doug Gross.
  • Honeysuckle Gelato (1,000 square feet facing City Park)—a creamery serving gelato inspired by decadent flavors and desserts of the South. It’s the fourth metro Atlanta location serving up scoops, pints, gelato sandwiches, and milkshakes.
  • Café Vendôme (1,000 square feet facing City Park)—an authentic artisanal French pastry bakery café that offers refined pastries, baguettes, and croissants along with coffee, sandwiches, salads, quiches, macaroons, and desserts in a traditional Parisian atmosphere. Both of the current locations are in Sandy Springs.
  • Clean Juice Brookhaven (1,100 square feet adjacent to the park)—the first and only USDA-certified organic juice and food bar franchise that serves the brand's popular all-organic, handmade smoothies; wraps; salads; acai bowls, and more. There are currently seven locations throughout metro Atlanta.
  • El Valle (2,900 square feet with patio at the corner of Dresden Drive and the park)—offering Mexican cuisine that showcases unique ingredients and flavors prepared with contemporary techniques alongside a wide selection of Mexican and Latin American wines and craft cocktails. It’s the second metro Atlanta location.
  • F45 Training Brookhaven (3,000 square feet along Dresden Drive)—a global fitness community offering innovative, high-intensity functional group workouts. The training facility is owned by a local franchisee with two existing locations around Atlanta.
  • MIRAE (5,000 square feet with patio at the corner of Dresden and Parkside Drives)—from an operator with a successful restaurant in Chamblee, MIRAE (meaning “future” in Korean) is a new modern Asian concept that fuses Korean, Japanese, and other Asian flavors alongside a craft bar.

Overview of planned uses at Parkside on Dresden. Connolly

Officials say remaining storefront spaces range from 1,000 to 2,500 square feet for soft goods and services boutiques.

A standalone, 4,150-square-foot restaurant building with a large patio is also still available, with Lavista Associates heading leasing efforts.

Find more context and imagery in the gallery above.

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