East Cobb retail update: J. Crew store coming to Merchants Walk

J. Crew store Merchants Walk

There hasn’t been an official announcement other than what’s covering up the windows as renovations continue:

A J. Crew Factory store is coming to Merchants Walk (1311 Johnson Ferry Road).

It’s taking the former Calico Homes space, between the relocated Verizon Wireless spot and the Old Navy store.

Edens, the retail center owner, doesn’t comment on when its tenants are opening, and we’ve reached out to J. Crew for more information.

J. Crew Factory has metro Atlanta locations in Woodstock, Locust Grove, Lenox Square and Perimeter Mall. There’s also a J. Crew men’s store at Ponce City Market. Merchants Walk Marshalls sign

Set to open this month at Merchants Walk is a Perspire Sauna Studio, in the former Bar Method space. It’s a national chain with existing locations in Sandy Springs, Buckhead and Virginia-Highland, with another opening soon in Alpharetta.

Perspire is is providing updates about the East Cobb location on its Instagram page.

Remodeling is continuing for the Marshalls store where Stein Mart used to be, and while there is a Marshalls sign at the Johnson Ferry Road entrance to Merchants Walk, there still hasn’t been an official announcement.

Taking up a portion of the old Stein Mart store is a new Sleep Galleria store, and Cobb records indicate it’s received a business license.

There’s still no signage up over both of those forthcoming retailers.

First Watch update

Just down the road a bit, a former Wells Fargo Bank has been leveled at the Shops at Woodlawn (1062 Johnson Ferry Road) and will be the site for a freestanding First Watch restaurant.

A reader asked about this last week, and we can add that Cobb County has granted the breakfast and lunch restaurant a beer and wine pouring license.

First Watch hasn’t announced an opening date, as the construction of the new building is just getting underway.

Parkaire Landing update

We noted recently the closure of the Earthwise Pet Supply store at Parkaire Landing (4880 Lower Roswell Road), but that’s the only current vacancy there.

Pure Barre, a gym and fitness center, will be opening soon in the space formerly occupied by the Draisen-Edwards Music Center, near McCray’s Tavern.

Pure Barre also is a franchise and its opening will make four fitness-oriented businesses at Parkaire, along with Anytime Fitness, Pro Martial Arts and CycleBar.

Pure Barre is updating its pre-opening events on its Facebook page, including a private class and shopping event on Aug. 21 at the Athleta store at Merchants Walk.

There also two “pop up” Pure Barre events Aug. 13 and Aug. 27 at 9 a.m. in front of the new studio.

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