Long-shuttered Kohl’s being reborn as 80K-square-foot church project

A unique, $28-million adaptive-reuse project in Atlanta’s northern suburbs is being described as going “from Kohl’s to souls.”

Roswell-based Eagles Nest Church is gearing up to debut its 80,000-square-foot, top-to-bottom remake of a long-shuttered, big-box Kohl’s location on Sunday, Sept. 6, marking the completion of the first phase of development at 2342 Holcomb Bridge Road.

The 16-acre Kohl’s property—situated east of Ga. Highway 400, just south of Roswell’s Centennial High School—had sat dormant for nearly a decade and saw little use beyond becoming a de facto parking pitstop for tractor-trailers.

The remade and modernized space is now a versatile events center designed to host large church services, community gatherings, weddings, graduations, conferences, large-scale meetings, corporate training, and even concerts seven days a week, per project officials.

A “CrossOver” ceremony—bridging retail to religion, so to speak—is planned a week from Sunday.

Prior to construction, the shuttered Kohl's along Roswell Road. Courtesy of Eagles Nest Church

Exterior changes and entryway at the new Eagles Nest Church. Courtesy of Eagles Nest Church

Features at the former Kohl’s now include an auditorium with seating for more than 1,000 visitors, flex areas, and spaces for kids and students across the 16-acre campus.

Tentative plans call for future phases to include retail uses with dining options, a daycare, and other family-focused purposes to mold a year-round destination, per the church, which counts a congregation of nearly 4,000.

Overall, project leaders are calling the extreme makeover a new model for “space utilization, community connection, and financial stewardship” for North Fulton County and nearby areas. It marks the second announcement this week involving a metro Atlanta church claiming a building for new purposes, a reversal of the years-long intown trend that's seen numerous congregations selling off property for redevelopment.

Glimpse at interiors of the $28-million big-box transformation off the main entry, with Pastor Lee Jenkins.Eaglesnestchurch.org

Location of the new Eagles Nest Church (in red) between Holcomb Bridge Road and Centennial High School. Google Maps

Eagles Nest Church was founded in 2012 by longtime Roswell resident Pastor Lee Jenkins, a former Wall Street wealth manager and vice president of investments at firms including Morgan Stanley and Raymond James, who left to enter ministry.

The church’s initial place of worship was a DoubleTree hotel ballroom. Subsequent temporary spaces have included a business office park, Andretti Indoor Karting and Games, a family center, and next-door Centennial High School’s auditorium and gymnasium.

“For 14 years, we learned that a church is not defined by the building it occupies,” said Jenkins in an announcement. “This redevelopment has always been central to the Eagles Nest vision. We see this campus becoming an epicenter for how we connect with, serve, and grow alongside our community.”

A modern-style sanctuary space, as seen on the church's website, where Kohl's shoppers used to browse.Eaglesnestchurch.org