Dance Stop Studios celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2023. ECN photos.
A couple of years after marking its 50th year milestone, Dance Stop Studios in East Cobb announced over the weekend that it will be permanently closing soon.
The business posted a message on its Facebook page over the weekend saying that that final recitals and classes will be winding down in May.
“While our decision is bittersweet, the time has come for us to retire and move to the next chapter of our lives,” according to the message from co-owners Lynette Strickland and Richard Grubb.
“We had hoped to find someone to move the studio forward, but unfortunately, this has not yet happened. We hope everyone will continue to pursue their love for dance.”
Strickland founded the school in a small former house in East Marietta near the Big Chicken in 1974 and moved more than a dozen years ago to space at Merchants Exchange Shopping Center on Roswell Road.
“We’ve outgrown every place we had,” she told East Cobb News at Dance Stop’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2023. “As East Cobb came out this way, we did too.”
Founder Lynette Strickland (center) with some of her staff in 2023.
Dance Stop adapted to the times and adjusted through COVID-19 closures, and added former students to her teaching and operations staff in more recent years.
Dance Stop set up a non-profit foundation to conduct auditions and hold performances for the public at larger venues, as well as at assisted living centers and for special community events.
“We have had the privilege of serving the East Cobb community in dance education for past 52 years,” Strickland and Grubb wrote. “We treasure the friendships and memories we have made.
“We will truly miss our Dance Stop family! We love all our students, present and past, and our fantastic staff.”
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Co-owner Annell Gerson (right) visits with a customer at Bookmiser’s reopening. ECN photos.
Customers rolling in Saturday for a reopening event at the Bookmiser independent bookstore saw a whole new space.
There was new flooring, rearranged bookshelves and more open space for events.
Five months after sustaining heavy damage due to a fire, Gerson and her staff welcomed back book-lovers whose shopping has been limited to online or pop-up sales since then.
“It’s beautiful!” said a customer to co-owner Annell Gerson, who has operated the store with her husband at the Village East Shopping Center on Roswell Road since 2010.
“I’m glad you made it through. I know it was a lot of work.”
Bookmiser and other tenants were forced to close after the adjacent Owl Repairs computer shop caught fire. Nearly half of Gerson’s inventory of 35,000 books was damaged or destroyed, and the interior structure sustained heavy soot and smoke damage.
“They took out everything,” Gerson said, pointing to the walls, floor and ceiling. “Down to the cinder blocks.”
All but the Owl Repairs business have reopened. Bookmiser’s full range of services, including special orders, as well as operating hours, have resumed as they were.
The front browsing area at Bookmiser.
What has transpired since that late September Sunday morning was more of an ordeal than Gerson bargained for.
While the look and feel of the store is new and inviting, the process of reopening took longer than she wanted.
“It’s been five months to the day” since the fire, Gerson noted on Saturday, shortly before holding a book event, and she was mindful that “there were opportunities to buy books” elsewhere.
A couple of weeks ago, she announced a Feb. 28 reopening, even though her insurance company hadn’t fully signed off on all the renovations to the bathroom.
“They approved the toilet, but not the sink,” she said, adding that once she said a date, she was going to reopen regardless.
Annell Gerson and her staff and volunteers packed up books in November for the temporary closure that lasted through the Christmas shopping season.
Gerson updated customers on a regular basis, and urged them to shop at Bookshop, an online competitor to Amazon that distributes 30 percent of sales to independent stores, as well as libro.fm, an audio bookseller.
“We got some benefit from that, and we saw a lot of people supporting us,” she said, adding that pop-up events located at a nearby storage facility also helped.
She also held some book club events as the Stitched fabric and quilting store at Village East.
But not being able to be open during the Christmas shopping season was the biggest drawback for Gerson, who has held her own in a book market that includes Half-Price Books and Barnes and Noble in close vicinity.
She and her husband originally opened the store at Merchants Festival Shopping Center in the late 1990s, when the Bruno’s grocery store was the anchor.
Bookmiser endured disruptive renovations there as Target came in, then Gerson relocated the store to its present location.
After the fire, the inventory features less non-fiction than it did before (she said she donated 15,000 partially damaged books to Roswell-area libraries and a children’s charity).
“We’re not going to have as many books as we did before,” Gerson said, adding that “a finely curated inventory is our goal.”
Current fiction titles have been strong sellers at Bookmiser.
There’s more space for author events and for the seven book clubs that meet at Bookmiser, with enough room for about 60 people.
(The next author event at Bookmiser is with mystery writer Chuck Storla on March 15 from 4-5:30 p.m. His latest book is “Murder Two Doors Down,” published in October, about the killing of a homeowners association board member in a suburban Atlanta neighborhood.)
On Saturday, Gerson was greeted warmly by customers with hugs, and she later remarked that there were “so many people, so many friends” who came by.
Her community ties run deep—she’s a former English teacher at Dickerson Middle School—and the well-wishers reminded her of what she has fashioned as her legacy running a bookstore.
“They just wanted to connect, to feed their love of books,” she said.
Bookmiser (website) is located at 3822 Roswell Road and is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
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Just around a year after it opened in the former Willie Jewell’s space on Sandy Plains Road, Heavenly BBQ has closed.
The restaurant posted a message on its Facebook page saying that Sunday was its last day in business and “this decision was not made lightly. However, we are deeply thankful for the opportunity to have shared our passion for great barbecue and genuine hospitality with you.”
In response to a messagefrom East Cobb News, owner Daryl Stewart said that a “lack of patronage” was the reason for the closure. “We were getting excellent customer reviews and high scores for customer service and cleanliness.”
Stewart kept the barbecue concept at the standalone building at Sprayberry Square Shopping Center when he opened Heavenly BBQ in March 2025, but focused on smoked meats, particularly brisket, and fresh side dishes that included coleslaw.
He was a former Jersey Mike’s franchise owner in the metro Atlanta area, and said with Heavenly BBQ he was aiming to “elevate the food.”
Willie Jewell’s operated in that spot for seven years in an East Cobb/Marietta area with a number of local barbecue businesses, including Williamson Bros., Righteous ‘Que, Sam’s BBQ-1 and Smitty’s and chains including Jim-‘N-Nick’s, Sonny’s and Smokehouse Q.
“Serving this community has been an incredible honor,” Heavenly BBQ said in its closure announcement. “Since our opening, your loyalty, encouragement, and continued patronage have meant more to us than words can express.
“From family dinners and celebrations to quick lunches and catered events, you have made Heavenly BBQ more than just a restaurant — you have made it a gathering place filled with warmth, laughter, and lasting memories.”
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Almost all the signage is gone, replaced by other signs acknowledging the obvious.
The Wendy’s on Johnson Ferry Road at East Cobb Drive has closed, as part of a larger wave of closings initiated by the fast-food hamburger chain.
Around 5 percent, or roughly 300, Wendy’s stores are in the process of being closed during the first part of 2026. Wendy’s has around 6,000 restaurants across the U.S.
On an earnings call last week, Wendy’s interim CEO Ken Cook said the locations targeted for closure were “consistently underperforming.”
The East Cobb area is now left with three Wendy’s: On Powers Ferry Road, on Roswell Road near East Lake, and on Shallowford Road at Highland Plaza.
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Demolition work is getting underway for a major renovation and expansion of the Kroger store at the Parkaire Landing Shopping Center in East Cobb.
Kroger’s Atlanta Division said in a release on Tuesday that the store will grow from 59,000 square feet to 85,000 square feet and will include a fuel station in the parking lot.
Three vacant retail spaces will be converted for the Kroger project, including the former Tuesday Morning store next door, where the construction work is beginning.
Kroger said the project is expected to be completed by the spring of 2027 and that the store will remain open durin the construction period.
The key features of the expansion include an expanded produce department and an enlarged deli counter, a full-service Murray’s cheese counter and the addition of a sushi culinary kiosk.
The Parkaire location is the only Kroger in East Cobb that currently doesn’t have a fuel center, and “a portion of existing surface parking will be removed to accommodate” the 12-pump gas station, the Kroger release said.
“We’re thrilled to see Kroger expand its presence at Parkaire Landing,” Eric Hines, director and Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regional lead of asset management at Jamestown, the retail center’s management company, said in the release.
“The store’s evolution aligns with our vision of creating a dynamic, one-stop destination, and we look forward to the benefits the new space will bring to the neighborhood.”
Kroger has been located at Parkaire Landing (4880 Lower Roswell Road at Johnson Ferry Road) since the 1970s.
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The Belgian-style concept Press Waffle Co. has closed at Avenue East Cobb, a little more than two years after opening in one of the retail center’s “jewel box” spaces.
Owners Keith and Niki Ginel announced the news on the restaurant’s Instagram page last week, saying that the the last day of service was Sunday.
No reason was given for the closure. The restaurant’s website is still functional and includes a menu and store hours.
“We are thankful to those of you who were a part of our Press Waffle community,” the Instagram message states. “It was an honor to receive so many prayer requests from our customers. We hope that our little restaurant served as a light and brought joy to East Cobb.”
East Cobb News has left a message with the Ginels seeking more information.
Press Waffle Co., which began as a food truck venture in St. Louis in 2016 and vaulted into fame via the television show “Shark Tank” had seven locations in Missouri, Arkansas, Texas and Colorado when the East Cobb venue opened.
Menu features included “customizable” handmade gourmet waffles and coffee and espresso items. With the East Cobb closure, there are only three Press Waffle locations remaining: in Oviedo, Fla., Houston and the original site in St. Louis.
Press Waffle is the third restaurant to close recently at Avenue East Cobb, following Tin Lizzy’s and Tin Pin Game Bar, which were part of a company reduction.
In November, Luga Italian Eatery opened in the former Drift space, and is being run in conjunction with the adjacent Giulia Italian Bakery.
The other jewel box occupant at Avenue is set to open soon. Tenku Sushi Elevation is hiring staff and has indicated on social media it will be opening soon, but has announced a date.
Like the original, in Woodstock, Tenku’s restaurant at Avenue features a variety of Japanese dishes that include nigiri and sashimi, signature rolls, robata grills, omakase, and flame-seared marinated octopus.
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After being closed since late September due to a fire, the longstanding East Cobb independent bookstore Bookmiser is close to reopening.
That was the message this week from owner Annell Gerson in a message to store customers.
She said in an e-mail newsletter that the store at 3822 Roswell Road will reopen its doors “sometime during the week of February 21” but a specific date hasn’t been announced.
Gerson said that to celebrate the reopening, Bookmiser will have a book author session with Dick Harpootlian, a noted South Carolina attorney and political figure whose recently published book, “Dig Me A Grave,” recounts the life of a serial killer known as “The Redneck Charles Manson.”
The Bookmiser event with Harpootlian will be led by Adam Beam, an editor for the Politically Georgia newsletter published by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It will take place on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 4-5:30 p.m. at Bookmiser, and is free to the public, but registration is requested.
In November, Bookmiser and other tenants at the Village East strip center had to vacate the premises for remediation after the fire broke out at Owl Repair, a computer repair store, adjacent to the bookstore.
Cobb Fire investigators said the bookstore sustained extensive soot and smoke damage, and Gerson held special sales before the closure and referred customers to online ordering options.
Most of the other businesses have reopened, including the Chopsticks China Bistro restaurant.
In her message this week, Gerson said that “nothing says ‘welcome back’ better than the story of a serial killer who seduced the South. Join us for some refreshments, an intriguing story, and an opportunity to see the new space.”
“Dig Me A Grave” examines the life, crimes, trial and execution of “Pee Wee” Gaskins, a serial rapist and killer who claimed to have murdered more than 100 people.
The book is being dubbed as “the definitive true ‘Southern Gothic’ account” of a charismatic lifelong criminal and “written by the prosecutor who brought him to justice.”
Gaskins was on South Carolina’s death row when he went on trial for killing another inmate. Harpootlian was the prosecutor in a case in which Gaskins received a second death sentence, resulting in his execution in 1991.
Harpootlian served as a state senator in South Carolina and also was the state Democratic Party chairman. As a defense attorney, he has represented Alex Murdaugh, a South Carolina lawyer convicted in 2021 of killing his wife and son. That conviction is being appealed.
Bookmiser is also partnering with the Cobb Library Foundation for a book author event with novelist Patti Callahan Henry at the North Cobb Regional Library on March 2 from 5-7:30 p.m.
Her most recent book is “The Story She Left Behind.” Attendees who purchase the ticket and book option will receive a signed/personalized copy of the book, a photo taken with the author, and preferential seating.
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The Cobb Convention Center Atlanta, formerly Cobb Galleria Centre, has reopened with a new logo after a four-month closure.
Atlanta’s premier mid-size venue for conventions, trade shows, meetings and special events, Cobb Convention Center has rebranded in the midst of a transformational, $190 million renovation and expansion project.
The renovation and expansion is happening in phases. Cobb Convention Center closed in September 2025 for an extensive renovation in the exhibit halls, ballroom and common areas. The convention center reopened this month and will remain open throughout 2026 to host trade shows, expos, meetings, conventions and social events in the exhibit halls and ballroom. The expansion project will continue through early 2027.
The new logo is a dynamic, radial “C” that conveys energy, movement, and connection—reflecting the Cobb Convention Center’s role as a vibrant hub for events in Cobb County and metro Atlanta. Its layered geometry suggests multiple “C”s within, creating a sense of rhythm and architectural precision.
The completed renovation of the Cobb Convention Center includes the following:
Exhibit Halls – New tunable LED lights with three color temperatures and color-changing capabilities; a new Grab N’ Go market in Hall A and renovated fixed food outlets in the additional three halls; renovated restrooms
Ballroom and prefunction– new carpet, wall coverings, chandeliers, wood finishes, restrooms, lighting systems and speakers
Rotunda – new terrazzo flooring, glass railings, wood finishes (complete) and signature sculptural chandelier (April 2026)
New fixed and digital signage throughout
Renovated, state-of-the-art kitchen with all-new equipment, pastry kitchen and expanded pantry
The final stages of the demolition of the Galleria Specialty Shops are happening now, which will make way for an expansion to include:
An exciting new, two-story grand entryway
A new, 7,200-square-foot junior ballroom
11 new meeting rooms and an executive boardroom, totaling 24,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting room space with enhanced graphics and technology
A unique, 11,000-square-foot outdoor event courtyard and a separate garden, both allowing natural lighting to penetrate interior conference room spaces
New, connected parking with covered, all-weather access into the expanded facility
Overall addition of 13,000 square feet of indoor event space
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The Smalls Sliders Marietta location (2355 Windy Hill Road) marks the latest currently under development in Georgia, further expanding the brand’s presence in the state. With one Can currently open in Stockbridge, Smalls Sliders continues to bring its signature cheeseburger sliders and innovative modular restaurant concept to new communities.
The Marietta community will soon experience the hype of Smalls Sliders. The fast-growing, QSR industry-disrupting cheeseburger slider brand, which serves cheeseburger sliders, seasoned waffle fries, and milkshakes out of a 750-square-foot Smorange-colored shipping container, known as a “Can,” is making its way across Georgia, and Marietta marks Smalls Sliders’ latest drop in the state.
The Marietta Can will be owned and operated by multi-unit operator Rocky Moore. He is eager to connect with the community and has selected local nonprofit organization PORCH Marietta as his Smalls Town Hero, a coveted honor within the Smalls Sliders brand to be recognized for an individual’s remarkable contributions to the community. PORCH Marietta will be honored at the Can Drop as the location’s hero and play a part in its opening as well.
PORCH Marietta is a local charitable organization dedicated to supporting families and strengthening the Marietta community through year-round giving initiatives, volunteer-driven programs, and essential resources. By partnering with schools, local leaders, and community members, PORCH Marietta works to ensure that neighbors facing hardship have access to food, household essentials, and compassionate support when they need it most.
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The owner of Craig Automotive on Lower Roswell Road announced over the weekend that the business has closed, after 26 years.
A social media message written on behalf of owner Tom Craig said that he is retiring, and that a sale will be held this weekend for all of the garage equipment.
The shop specialized in repairs and maintenance for Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
“It is with a heavy heart we are closing the doors to Craig Automotive. With that being said we also say cheers and hello retirement!,” the message stated.
“What started as a small shop grew into much more than a business—it became a place built on trust, hard work, and relationships that I will always be grateful for. I’ve had the privilege of working on your first cars, your family vehicles, and sometimes even your kids’ cars years later. That kind of loyalty and connection is something I never took for granted.”
The equipment sale will take place Friday from 10-3 and Saturday from 9-2 at Craig Automotive (4750 Lower Roswell Road). The items include balancers, a hydraulic press, frion machine, a brake lathe, office equipment and more, and interested buyers are asked to bring cash.
“Thank you for trusting me with your vehicles, for your conversations in the shop, for your referrals, and for allowing me to do what I love right here in East Cobb for over two decades,” Tom Craig’s message continued.
“This community supported me through good times, tough times, and everything in between, and I am deeply thankful for every customer who walked through my doors. While I may be closing this chapter, the memories, friendships, and pride in the work we did here will stay with me forever.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you, East Cobb. It’s been an honor to serve you.”
There also will be a retirement party at the Craig Automotive location Friday, Jan. 16 from 4-7 p.m.
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Tropicups, a vegan bakery that features scratch items made with no egg, dairy or animal products, will be holding its grand opening on Saturday.
It’s located at 2525 Shallowford Road, Suite 100 (at Steinhauer Road), and the event is from 1-5 p.m. The festivities include free samples, prizes and gift cards and other activities.
The store also offers products without soy, nuts and glutens.
Tropicups is owned by Renee de Gannes Penn, who grew up in the Caribbean and with her family began a vegan lifestyle.
The shop features gourmet cakes and other desserts, including cupcakes, brownies, lemon blueberry bars and muffins.
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Cobb County is launching a limited-time amnesty period to help businesses operating in unincorporated Cobb come into compliance with county licensing requirements. Through Jan. 30, individuals and businesses engaged in commerce within unincorporated Cobb County can obtain a 2026 Occupation Tax Certificate — commonly known as a business license — without incurring back taxes, penalties, or interest.
The Board of Commissioners approved the amnesty period to support local businesses and ensure that all entities doing business in the county are properly registered. This requirement applies to independent businesses and county vendors providing goods or services under county contracts.
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A few days after its sister, Giulia Italian Bakery, opened at Avenue East Cobb, Luga Italian Eatery has opened its doors.
It’s in the former Drift space (4,400 square feet) and is serving dinner only this week, from 5-10 p.m. Starting Monday, Luga will be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.
Operated by brothers Ben and Seth Gjuka, Luga features a one-page seasonal menu of antipasti, salads, Roma-style pizzas, and house-made pastas.
Giulia opened on Friday and is the second such-named bakery opened by the Gjuka brothers, following the original Peachtree Corners location. Specialty coffees and teas, Italian bakery items, sandwiches, pizzas and foccacias are on the menu.
Giulia is open at Avenue East Cobb daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Gjurkas began in the restaurant industry as teenagers in Europe, primarily in Italy. After settling in the Atlanta area, they began their own food ventures in outlying Peachtree City and Newnan, where they have been living.
They started Positano Pizza Napoletana in both of those suburban areas, and there is a third location in Mableton.
There’s not an opening date set yet for another forthcoming restaurant at Avenue. Tenku Sushi Elevation will be opening in one of the new “jewel box” buildings that was part of Avenue East Cobb’s recent redevelopment.
Tenku’s first restaurant, in Woodstock, offers a variety of Japanese dishes that include nigiri and sashimi, signature rolls, robata grills, omakase, and flame-seared marinated octopus.
The Avenue East Cobb location will have a rooftop bar.
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Another Cobb County location for Whataburger will open in East Cobb next Monday.
The Texas-based hamburger chain announced that the restaurant will open on Monday, Dec. 1, at 9 a.m. at 3550 Sandy Plains Road.
That’s in the former O’Charley’s space, and Whataburger will be open 24/7, 364 days a year, serving breakfast items from 11 p.m. to 11 a.m. daily.
The only day of the year it’s closed? Christmas Day.
The first 100 customers on opening day will get free Whataburger swag bags and either a free Honey Butter Chicken Biscuit or Breakfast Taquito (both available till 11 a.m.)
It’s been a little more than a year since Cobb commissioners approved a site plan change for Whataburger, which also has a location on Cobb Parkway in Akers Mill Square that opened in July.
Whataburger also has two locations near Town Center and KSU and just over the Cobb line in Woodstock and in Roswell.
Whataburger has been converting the former O’Charley’s building into a 7,000-square-foot fast-food restaurant with double drive-through service.
Stipulations approved for the O’Charley’s rezoning in 1999 included restrictions against those uses.
“Since that time, the world has become a different place,” said Kevin Moore, an attorney for Whataburger, explaining back in August 2024 about a built-up corridor with several commercial and retail complexes.
O’Charley’s closed in 2023 on former Gordy Family land that is subject to an architectural control committee, which approved landscaping before county commissioners formally signed off on the Whataburger property conversion.
“Instead of a dark O’Charley’s, we have a brand new Whataburger.”
Whataburger also had plans to open in Vinings but withdrew a rezoning request this fall after community opposition arose.
That wasn’t the case with the East Cobb location, situated on a busy outparcel at Sandy Plains and Shallowford Road.
“We’re so proud to be the team introducing Whataburger’s bold, fresh flavors to the people of Marietta,” Whataburger Operating Partner Jeffrey Bollman said in a company release.
“No more trekking to Buford or Alpharetta. You can get your Honey Butter Chicken Biscuits, Bacon & Cheese Whataburgers and Dr Pepper shakes, right here at 3550 Sandy Plains Road NE. We made this Whataburger restaurant for you, just like we make every order exactly the way you like it.”
The East Cobb Whataburger will have 85 local employees the company calls “family members.”
In addition to drive-through and dining room service there also will be curbside pickup and delivery via the Whataburger Appand Whataburger.com.
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Michael Paris, his wife Kim (in black blazer) and their family at Indian Hills Country Club. Photo courtesy of Cobb Chamber.
Submitted information and photo:
The Cobb Chamber’s East Cobb Area Council has selected Michael Paris, President and CEO of the Council for Quality Growth,as its 2025 Citizen of the Year. The Citizen of the Year Awards are given to honor an individual whose impact through the years will be recognized and regarded with pride throughout the area as a role model. These outstanding citizens are chosen for their definable, exceptional deeds, with which he or she has made their community a better place to live. Awards are given based on local area nominations. The 2025 East Cobb Citizen of the Year award was presented at the East Cobb Area Council breakfast at Indian Hills Country Club.
2025 East Cobb Citizen of the Year
Michael Paris, President & CEO, Council for Quality Growth
Michael Paris, a Cobb County native, took the helm at the Council for Quality Growth in late 2003 and has worked to expand the Council and to spread its mission of promoting balanced and responsible growth throughout the metro region and the state. Paris’ steady leadership, quiet influence, and deep commitment have shaped nearly every part of the East Cobb community.
Paris is involved in numerous community and professional activities. His affiliations include the Board of Directors for the Cobb Chamber of Commerce, the Gwinnett Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, as well as volunteering for the YMCA of Metro Atlanta, the Cobb County Planning Commission, and The Extension. He is a member of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties, the Urban Land Institute, an Association Member of the Board of the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors, and a graduate of both Leadership Cobb and Regional Leadership Institute.
For more than three decades, Paris has been a driving force behind the growth and impact of the YMCA in Cobb County, helping establish new branches, strengthen vital programs, and ensure thousands of families have access to opportunities that enrich their lives. Recently, Paris served on The Extension’s Capital Campaign Committee, raising funds for the 2023 addition of their 56-bed men’s dormitory. Tyler Driver, Executive Director of The Extension, said “He helped the organization raise $7,000,000 in record time so we can serve more people. In the process, the trajectory of the families he has touched is forever changed. They have opportunities they never felt possible because he believed they deserved their best future too.” Throughout his years in Cobb, Paris has consistently put service above self in all he does, dedicating himself to helping improve the quality of life in East Cobb.
For more information about Area Councils, contact Katie Guice at kguice@cobbchamber.org or 770-859-2334. Thank you to Series Presenting Sponsor, Kaiser Permanente, Program Sponsor, Cobb Community Foundation, and Citizen of the Year Award Sponsor, Capital City Bank.
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We’ve had a message in for a couple weeks about this, and just got confirmation today about two long-awaited twin Italian-themed restaurants/eateries at Avenue East Cobb:
“This Friday, Giulia, an authentic Italian bakery and patisserie, opens at East Cobb’s favorite gathering spot, building on the success of its first location at The Forum Peachtree Corners. Known for its commitment to natural, high-quality ingredients, Giulia serves signature pastries such as delicate croissants and savory sandwiches alongside expertly crafted coffee drinks from bold espressos and smooth macchiatos to frothy cappuccinos. The 900-square-foot space is nestled between Barre3 and Luga, the owners’ forthcoming Italian restaurant.
“Following Giulia’s debut, the Gjuka brothers will introduce their newest concept, Luga, opening to the public on November 24. Spanning 4,400 square feet, the Italian restaurant pairs casual elegance with layered textures, natural materials, and lush botanicals to create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. Its seasonal menu showcases fresh antipasti, crisp salads, Roma-style pizzas, and house-made pastas – each crafted with the same dedication to quality that defines the brothers’ culinary approach.”
That message came from Jamestown, Avenue’s property manager. It’s been a little more than a year since the Gjuka brothers announced they would be occupying the former Drift space with accompanying concepts.
Giulia’s hours are daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., similar to the Peachtree Corners location.
There’s not an opening date set yet for another forthcoming restaurant at Avenue. Tenku Sushi Elevation will be opening in one of the new “jewel box” buildings that was part of Avenue East Cobb’s recent redevelopment.
Tenku’s first restaurant, in Woodstock, offers a variety of Japanese dishes that include nigiri and sashimi, signature rolls, robata grills, omakase, and flame-seared marinated octopus.
The Avenue East Cobb location will have a rooftop bar.
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Following up a story from late September about a firethat swept through a small East Cobb retail center, and as the clean-up process continues:
The Bookmiser bookstore is in the process of moving books, shelves and other items from the store at Village East center (3822 Roswell Road) for a temporary relocation.
That’s needed so fire remediation can take place, and owner Anell Gerson, her staff and others have been packing up.
A special 50 percent off sale for used and new books continues from 12-5 Sunday, and all sales are final. Bookmiser also is not doing any trades or taking any book donations for the time being.
Here’s what Gerson shared last weekend about what will happen after that:
“At some point, we will have to vacate the premises (as does every tenant in the center), and your volunteer help will get us closer to shopping center remediation and ultimately our return to full business.
“Empty boxes are waiting to be filled up. There will be a limited number of shifts per day, and they will fill up quickly. So if you miss out on this opportunity, we promise there will be more help needed either before our final departure, or upon our return and unpacking.”
The fire broke out at the Owl computer repair shop next door, and Bookmiser sustained extensive smoke and soot damage.
The other businesses facing Roswell Road also have had to close, and have had differing and sporadic operating hours.
They include the 348 Studio fitness center, a Chopstix Chinese restaurant, an upholstery store, a wax studio and nail salon.
There is one business at Village East that has remained open, and that’s the Stitched store around back, and down the hill. It’s a fabric and gift store that opened earlier this year, and the fire did some minor smoke damage.
But it is open during regular hours, and has been holding some Bookmiser events since the fire.
In the meantime, Gerson is asking Bookmiser customers to continue supporting the store in other ways:
Need a book? Email us at realbookmiser2@gmail.comor call 770-509-5611. We’ll check if we have it, if it’s in sellable condition, or if we can order it for you.
Shop online: Through our Bookshop.org storefront, you can order new books delivered straight to your doorstep. Prefer audiobooks? Visit our Libro.fm store for digital listening.
Gerson opened Bookmiser in 1998 in space on Sandy Plains Road near Woodstock Road, then opened at second location in East Cobb at the present location on Roswell Road. The original location closed in 2018.
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Town Center Community held its fourth annual State of the District at the Governors Gun Club in Town Center, Ga. on Oct. 28. The event, hosted by Town Center’s Community Improvement District (CID) and its non-profit placemaking partner, the Alliance, brought together industry leaders, community members and key stakeholders to discuss the district’s 2026 vision and celebrate the winners of the 2025 Townie Awards.
This year’s program explored how the strategic reinvention of retail and commercial properties can strengthen neighborhoods, drive innovation and foster more resilient, inclusive communities. Key topics included the role of partnership and collaboration in redevelopment, how underutilized large-scale properties can become transformational assets, and national and regional trends in placemaking, mixed-use, and adaptive reuse.
2025 Townie Award Honorees
This year’s awards program honored leaders who have been a part of Town Center Community’s rich history and have made significant contributions to Town Center’s success, including:
Townie Award Honorees
Town Center Champion – Cobb County Precinct Commander Major W.A. Mitchell and his team of officers at Precinct 1
Commercial Champion – Ecologie Vintage
“Our event this year underscores the importance of redevelopment for the long-term success of our community,” said Tracy Styf, executive director of the Town Center Community Improvement District. “As we look to the year ahead, we’re eager to position the district as a regional destination for mixed-use development and look forward to working with all partners to make our vision a reality.”
Highlights of this year’s program included a fireside chat featuring Ellen Dunham-Jones, professor and director of the Urban Design Program at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Sarah Nurmela, Mayor Pro Tem from the City of Westminster, Colorado, and director of planning and development for the Town of Erie, Colorado, along with a community update from Tracy Styf.“Town Center proves what’s possible when collaboration meets commitment.
As we move into 2026, updating our Master Plan will be a key step in shaping how we grow and thrive over the next decade, ensuring Town Center continues to evolve as a place where people want to live, work and connect,” noted Britt Fleck, vice chair of the CID board of directors.
During the event, Town Center Community announced more than $130,000 has been raised for the Lanie Ship Hoover Fund, which supports future trail, park, and greenspace projects in the Town Center area.
This year’s Presenting Sponsor was:
Kennesaw State University
This year’s Gold Sponsors included:
Capital City Public Affairs
Council for Quality Growth
Croy Engineering
Kimley Horn
Son & Son’s
This year’s Silver Sponsors included:
Brightview Landscapes
Cobb Chamber
Cooper Carry
Croft & Associates
Dentons
Denyse
LGE Credit Union
Pond & Company
Rainey & Vaughan LLC
Vulcan Materials Company
About the Town Center Community
Town Center Community is comprised of the Town Center Community Improvement District (CID) and its nonprofit partner, the Town Center Community Alliance.
The Town Center CID, established in 1997, is focused on safety, beautification, economic growth, and infrastructure improvements within the district. For larger infrastructure projects, the CID leverages its funding to complete the critical first steps like planning, studies, and initial concept design that make projects more competitive for federal, state, and local funding.
Established in 2015, the Town Center Community Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on bringing quality-of-life improvements and programs to the Town Center Community. The Alliance is run by a board of directors and relies on donations from the public, community partners, corporate sponsors, and the Town Center CID to fully fund and develop projects and programs. From public art and aesthetic fixtures to small parks and bikeshare, the Alliance helps attract businesses and residents to the area, boost economic development and shape a sense of community.
Together, the Town Center CID and the Alliance work to make Town Center Community one of the most accessible, prosperous and exciting areas in Metro Atlanta.
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The Cobb-Marietta Coliseum & Exhibit Hall Authority has announced a new name for Georgia’s premier mid-size convention venue for tradeshows, meetings and special events: Cobb Convention Center-Atlanta.
Formerly Cobb Galleria Centre, the venue is rebranding in the midst of a transformational, $190 million renovation and expansion project. The expansion is scheduled to be completed in early 2027.
‘While the Galleria name served us well for more than 30 years, we feel this new name better reflects our location and purpose,” said Jerry Nix, Chairman of the Authority, owner and operator of the convention center. “As we modernize to better serve our customers and guests, our name has been updated as well.”
By incorporating both Cobb and Atlanta into the new name, the Center will clarify its geographic identity as a prominent landmark in Cobb but also a premier venue for visitors who identify with the Atlanta location. This clarity in market positioning also extends to adding the word convention into the name, which clearly identifies the venue’s primary function of hosting conventions, trade shows and large-scale events.
The renovation and expansion will happen in phases. While the convention center is currently closed, it will reopen for business in January 2026 in the exhibit halls and ballroom.
Cobb Convention Center will be open throughout 2026 and will continue to host trade shows, expos, meetings, conventions and social events in the exhibit halls and ballroom. The expansion project will continue until early 2027.
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Interested in becoming a vendor with Cobb County? If so, you don’t want to miss the upcoming free seminar, How to do Business with Cobb County Government and Cobb County Schools, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Cobb Civic Center, 548 South Marietta Parkway SE, Marietta. Registration is required as seats are limited.
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
