Is Crabapple Getting Fresh at The Silos?
categories: Crabapple, Milton Real Estate
The Silos Shopping Center in Crabapple used to house an Ingles grocery store that no one ever patronized. I don’t even remember when Ingles finally closed their doors, but redevelopment of The Silos has been many years and many rumors in the making.
For a while, it looked like redevelopment would never begin, but now that it looks like it is almost complete, residents are curious to know which new businesses are going to be in The Silos.
I placed a call to the developer only to be politely told that they could not divulge the names of the potential tenants because they were still in negotiations.
Then my wife and I decided to have lunch. Lost ya, didn’t I.
See, we decided to have lunch at Happy Wok. Happy Wok, along with the nail salon, have been the only two businesses to weather the redevelopment storm and hang on admist the vacancies, construction and uncertainty. I’m glad, too, because Happy Wok has been my faithful Chinese take out companion for many years, reliable late at night. To have lost them would have been to loose a dependable friend in my alimentary assortment.
Happy Wok has a loyal following of locals and when having the lunch buffet the other day, which, don’t get me wrong, is not the best Chinese food in Alpharetta, merely the quickest, cheapest and most adequate, the local clientele shared with me that they had heard the new anchor of The Silos was going to be Fresh Market.
Interesting choice. The west side of GA-400 does not have a Fresh Market. The only other one in the area is at Old Alabama and Haynes Bridge Road, on the east side. But does Crabapple need a THIRD grocery store?
I can only assume that if this rumor is right, that Fresh Market has done its market research and believes that they can survive, if not flourish in this location. But Crabapple already has a Kroger, which is who drove Ingles out of business, a new Publix (that is not doing gang busters), and Harry’s (owned by Whole Foods) and Trader Joe’s just around the corner. What does Fresh Market think it can offer the market that the existing grocers are not? This is not meant to be a rhetorical question…I would really like to understand their value proposition and market analysis. If you know, please comment on this post.
I was always wishing for a non-grocery anchor in The Silos. For a while the rumor was that there would be a fitness center. My secret vision - we all have these grandiose business plans playing out in the backs of our head, don’t we - was to have a shopping area dedicated to kids and families; to have a theme for the center.
The anchor could be an entertainment venue for kids, or maybe even an indoor paint ball facility or roller rink / skate park or sports complex. The supporting stores could be children’s clothes, pediatric dentistry, birthday party center, art store … you get the idea.
In another development in Crabapple, I learned recently that the property where the old Korean Church (eye sore?) is on the north side of Crabapple Road has a contingent contract on it. The buyers, Sunrise Development, want to build a Senior Housing Facility of some sort there but need to get approval from the City of Milton to proceed. The property is five acres and the proposed contract price is $1.35M; the property has been listed at $1.7M.
What do you think? Is senior housing a good use of that property? It certainly might lend itself to people getting outside and walking and "living in the neighborhood." Plus, we certainly need more options for senior housing in this market. There just aren’t enough stepless ranch homes to go around.
All this is to say that Crabapple continues to evolve. In fact, tonight is the second in the three-meeting series to review the Crabapple Comprehensive Plan. The vision has always been to create a "village" atmosphere in Crabapple, but does it have the density and economic viability to exist as a "village"?
I just noticed that the home decor store Eddy West is closing its retail store in Historic Crabapple. (My wife hears they are consolidating into their North Georgia warehouse.) The old antique store across the street is still empty with no signs of future economic life.
If someone who actually lives in Milton or Crabapple would comment and tell me the last time they stopped and actually shopped or purchased something in Crabapple, I’d be interested to know. Because for now, Crabapple, at least the historic part, is simply a nice intersection to look at but still one that you just want to get through on your way to some other place. That is why traffic at that intersection is such an issue. If Crabapple were the destination and not the pass-thru, then we would know that Crabapple has an economic future.
I’ll be curious to see what comes from the planning meeting tonight and how we can really affect the future of Crabapple. Hope to see you there.
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I’m 74 years old. Have a daughter in Alpharetta and a son in Woodstock. I heard there are plans to build a senior (independent) living complex close to Crabapple corners. If that’s true, I would be very interested. I plan to sell my house and moved into that area within the next 4-5 years.
Yes, Mary Ann: there is a senior living center in the plans for Crabapple. I don’t know how far along they are, though, or what type of living options they will be offering. Zoning approval has to be granted by the City of Milton, which now has a moratorium in place on all Crabapple development until the finalization of the city of Milton Comprehensive Plan, sometime this summer.
The senior center would be located on a 5 acre parcel on the north side of Crabapple Road directly across from the entrance to Crabapple Chase neighborhood, where the old Korean church was.
The developer of the senior center is named something like Sunset Properties or Sunset Development, if memory serves.
Hi Kevin,
I emailed you at the end of December regarding that Silos property. I still don’t know what’s going there either. I plan on stopping by there the next time I go to the grocery store and I see construction workers- I usually forget. I totally agree with you on your idea of what SHOULD be done with it though. I would love a “Monkey Joe’s”-type (indoor bounce house) place. There is one in Roswell, and Cumming, but not around here. It would also be nice to see a kids clothing store (reaad: thrift store) around here. I’ve been in some of the Downtown Crabaple shops, but only because we’re new around here (only been here 2 years). I can’t afford most of the stuff. We’ve been to Foster’s Grille (which is very yummy and well priced) a couple of times, but no where else. We live only a couple of miles away, but usually just pass through on the way to Publix. I’ll let you know if I can get some info myself. Take care.
Lisa
I really hope that rumor is true - I would love to see Fresh Market come to the Silos. I think it is just what the area needs - along with more restaurants!
Sadly, The Silos Restaurant will not be reopening in this remodeled shopping center. The landlord refused to give them a lease- only month to month rental. Many regular diners at Silos are very disappointed. But luckily, the owners have opened another restaurant just up the road called Cantina del Mar. It’s awesome! Sushi ad Mexican - two of my favorites - all under one roof. And, they’re such nice people too. I hope they are incredibly successful and make up for the loss of Silos. Maybe one day, they’ll open another one of those too.
-Patti Silva
I think a Barnes and Noble or Books a Million would be terrific in this location.
I think Fresh Market would be a great idea, but it I think it would be the death of Publix. Kroger is a staple and has a very loyal following, so they will be ok. I would love to see a book store and maybe an Indy style movie house, but that one is probably a stretch…who knows, but the not knowing is killing me!
Hell all!
My name is Michael Howatt, and I am an employee with Crabapple Kroger. Origionally, Whole Foods was planned to open in that shopping center, however the developers refused to tear down a significant portion of that property in order to build the size store that Whole Foods wanted, so Whole Foods pulled out. The Fresh Market I have also heard, has pulled the plugs on the shopping center. This is good news for us here at Kroger.
In addition to all this news, it is my pleasure to announce, that Crabapple Kroger will be undergoing an intensive six month multi-million dollar renovation project that is slated to begin between November 2008 and January 2009. Plans include a complete remodel of the current layout and design. Once complete, this store will resemble the “Grasslands Kroger” located in Cumming GA. We are eager to begin the much needed renovation project and look forward to see you continue shopping with us. All we ask, is that you please pardon our dust once the construction begins!
Thanks!
For the anchor store, a bookstore - Borders or Books a Millon.
Side store - a dessert & wine bar, something for the ‘last stop’ home.
I think all the stores mentioned would be lovely! I know we all would like to have stores/shops of some kind in that lonely shopping center to create jobs for our area and the sooner the better!