From the $95 million acquisition of Northlake to new downtown businesses, trails, parking and infrastructure investments, Tucker has packed significant of progress into one summer.
Momentum is building across Tucker. Since June, major private investments have been announced, new businesses have opened, and long-planned transportation and trail projects have reached important milestones across the Tucker-Northlake CID.
Taken together, the individual announcements listed below tell a larger story: Tucker continues to attract business while supporting public spaces and infrastructure that connect the community.
A $95 Million Investment Changes the Future of Northlake
The biggest announcement of the summer came in July, when the Centurion Foundation announced its $95 million acquisition of Northlake Mall as part of plans to expand the Emory Healthcare Northlake Campus, a transaction covered by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Atlanta Business Chronicle.
Just as important as the sale is what comes next. Emory announced that it will significantly expand its presence at Northlake, more than doubling the space it occupies over time. Emory has leased approximately 274,000 square feet at the property since 2019, supporting more than 1,000 employees.
A physical connection between Northlake and downtown Tucker also reached an important milestone this summer. On July 13, the Tucker City Council approved the agreement with the Georgia Department of Transportation to begin right-of-way acquisition for the Tucker-Northlake Trail.
This phase of the project represents approximately $9 million in investment, including more than $7 million in federal funding secured through the Atlanta Regional Commission and approximately $1.8 million in local funding. The roughly 2.8-mile shared-use trail will ultimately connect Northlake with Tucker’s existing downtown alley network.
Downtown Continues to Take Shape
Downtown Tucker has had its own string of good news. In July, StillFire Brewing announced that its third Georgia brewery will open in downtown Tucker in the former brewery space at 2316 Main Street beside the Tucker Town Green. StillFire cited Tucker’s growth, green space, family atmosphere and investment in downtown among the reasons for choosing the location. They plan to open this fall.
In the same building on Main Street, Infinite Horizons Arcade is now open, adding another locally owned entertainment destination downtown. Rough Draft Atlanta previewed Infinite Horizons earlier this year, describing plans for more than 25 classic arcade games, modern gaming systems and an ice cream bar. The owners envisioned the business as more than an arcade; it is a gathering place and another reason for people, particularly younger residents, to spend time downtown.
Another major downtown residential project also moved forward this summer. In July, the Tucker City Council approved the additional building height needed for The Views from Browning, allowing JW Collection’s planned 58-townhome community at 4985 Lavista Road to move forward. The gated development will add new housing within walking distance of Main Street and the Tucker Town Green, bringing more residents into the heart of downtown and supporting nearby restaurants, shops and businesses.
Another longtime downtown tradition received some fresh attention this month when Decaturish featured the August 8 Tucker Cruise-In, highlighting the people and classic cars that continue to fill Main Street. Decaturish’s Tucker coverage can be found here, while information on upcoming events is available from the Tucker Cruise-In.
The activity builds on a busy summer downtown, including Tucker’s July 3 Celebration of Independence, which again brought thousands of people to the area for music, community and fireworks.
Business Investment Continues Across Tucker
Business investment is also continuing in the summer heat across Tucker. The City Council approved a special land use permit in June for a new Whataburger on the site of the former Wendy’s at 4355 Hugh Howell Road. The approval was part of a Council meeting that included several development and infrastructure actions and was covered by Rough Draft Atlanta.
The new Pelicans SnoBalls opened at 4059 Lawrenceville Hwy, next to Bell Street Burritos, bringing Pelican’s bringing NOLA-style SnoBalls, and treats to Tucker.
Tucker’s banking sector also reached an important milestone this summer. On June 1, Tucker-based Tandem Bank completed its merger with Georgia Banking Company, helping create one of metro Atlanta’s largest community banks, with approximately $3 billion in assets and $2.6 billion in deposits. The merger maintains a full-service banking location in Tucker while giving the institution greater scale across metro Atlanta.
Fifth Third Bank also opened a new branch on Lavista Road, adding another financial institution to Tucker’s commercial base.
Infrastructure for Continued Growth
The City is making infrastructure investments to support increasing downtown activity. The approved FY2027 Budget and Capital Improvement Plan includes $300,000 for additional parking on Fourth Street.
This commitment comes as the Tucker Town Green, new businesses, restaurants and community events continue to increase the number of people spending time in Downtown Tucker. Additional parking can help support both existing businesses and customers.
When Council adopted the budget in June, it made the South Fork Peachtree Creek Greenway a major capital priority. More than $1 million in FY2027 funding was moved toward the project during the budget process, and Council directed another $500,000 in future funding toward completing the first phase. Rough Draft called out the greenway investment in its coverage of the new City budget.
Together, these public and private investments point to continued momentum across the Tucker-Northlake Community Improvement District, from Northlake to Downtown Tucker and beyond.