OPEN FOR BUSINESS
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Tap into Decatur’s thriving retail environment and reap the benefits of city support, powerful customer reach, and an undeniable buzz. visitdecaturga.com
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GET IN ON THIS owntown Decatur stands out as the largest, most fully realized and wellestablished walkable district in metro Atlanta’s resurgent Eastside. The city’s four square miles are jam-packed with 200+ storefront shops, galleries, salons, services, cafés, and restaurants making it a regional destination for dining and nightlife as well as a browse-worthy draw for boutique shopping. Decatur’s dynamic and diverse retail landscape perfectly captures the community’s distinctive blend of hip, artsy, and progressive.
BUSINESS MIX As a well-established trendy “indie” hub, downtown Decatur has a vibrant retail scene made up mostly by independents and metro-wide “chain-lets.” It offers foodie restaurants, hip watering holes, and a critical mass of charming boutiques. Sales figures currently reach $350 per square foot. Decatur also houses a wide range of creative offices, professional and medical services, and county government.
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OPEN SPACES You’ll find storefront spaces, standalone retail, professional offices, converted residential space, and more along Decatur’s main thoroughfares and side streets. visitdecaturga.com
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YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY Revolution Doughnuts
Victory Sandwich Bar
The Cook’s Warehouse
Join Decatur’s restaurant and retail rock stars including Mary Moore of Cook’s Warehouse, and James Beard semi-finalists (Billy Allin / Cakes & Ale, Ford Fry / No. 246, Kevin Gillespie / Revival, and Taqueria del Sol and Kimball House). The Indigo Girls, Sugarland, and John Mayer got their starts at Eddie’s Attic. Other notable establishments:
• Boogaloos • Brick Store Pub • The Cook’s Warehouse • Dancing Goats Coffee • Highland Bakery • The Iberian Pig • Little Shop of Stories
Squash Blossom
Eddie’s Attic
• Revolution Doughnuts Little Shop of Stories
• Souper Jenny • Sq/Ft • Squash Blossom • Victory Sandwich Bar
We knew Decatur’s thriving arts scene created the right atmosphere for a successful local artists’ market. Since opening HomeGrown five years ago, we have enjoyed tremendous support from local residents and enjoyed ever-increasing foot traffic thanks to Decatur’s reputation as a dining, drinking, and shopping destination for metro Atlanta residents and visitors.”
- Lori Ronca, owner of HomeGrown Decatur
West Atlanta
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Just six miles east of downtown Atlanta, Decatur is a distinct neighboring city nestled within a lively metro area. Getting here is easy – by car or public transit, with three in-town MARTA stations, offering direct access to Hartsfield Jackson International Airport.
Buckhead HOWELL MILL RD.
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Inman Park
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Midway Woods
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The downtown square contains two business hotels – a 175-room Courtyard By Marriott and a 145-room Hampton Inn & Suites opening soon, which attract both conference attendees and tourists.
Grant Park
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City of Decatur
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Metro Atlanta Neighborhoods Within Decatur’s Trade Area – see “By the Numbers,” opposite
Decatur Cemetery
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CHURCH ST.
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Business Lots
Retail Districts
visitdecaturga.com
SYCAMORE ST.
City Hall
Library Rec Center Scott Park
E. T RINIT Y PL .
CANDLER ST.
City Landmarks
COMMERCE DR.
Public Parking
W. TRINITY PL.
N. MCDONOUGH ST.
DeKalb Courthouse
ELECTRIC AVE.
Ebster Park
Old Courthouse on the Square
SWANTON WAY
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COMMERCE DR.
PONCE DE LEON PL.
FAIRVIEW AVE.
Lots of lots, decks, and on-street parking are easily accessible for customers. Downtown Decatur contains 2,500 parking stalls – 300 metered and 2,200 off-street – in addition to spaces provided by individual merchants. New mobile parking payment systems encourage foot traffic throughout town.
NORTHERN AVE.
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BY THE NUMBERS
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Downtown Decatur Trade Area
Metro Atlanta
POPULATION (2015)
191,638
5,629,693
AGED 25 TO 34
17.9%
13.6%
COLLEGE-EDUCATED
49.2%
34.9%
PROFESSIONAL / GRADUATE DEGREE
23.8%
12.3%
53.9%
39.1%
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
$73,679
$59,000
MEDIAN HOME VALUE
$339,100
$183,124
HOMES VALUED AT $500K+
16.1%
8.2%
“CREATIVE CLASS” WORKERS
DECATUR NATIVES Decatur is one of the most desirable residential areas in metro Atlanta with home values well above the MSA average, a top-ranked school system, low crime rates, and walkable neighborhoods. The city of Decatur holds a higher population density than the city of Atlanta. Made up largely of single-family houses, Decatur has recently welcomed a round of condominium complexes to the downtown area totaling 600 units with 750 apartment units currently under construction.
KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS
in-town living When we decided to open a children’s bookstore, the issue of where to locate was a no-brainer. Decatur is a community of readers who value education. The downtown area is walkable and studded with quality restaurants and retailers that bring in customers from all over metro Atlanta. The City of Decatur is helpful and responsive to the business community. Running a retail business on the square for the past ten years has been wonderful.”
Dave Shallenberger, co-owner of Little Shop of Stories
The typical resident in Decatur’s trade area, encompassing the affluent communities of Druid Hills and Avondale Estates, is highly educated, creatively inclined, and socially progressive. Downtown Decatur is a short walk from roughly 1,000 students at Agnes Scott College and a six-minute drive (or free shuttle ride) from 14,000+ students at Emory University. It is also the DeKalb County seat, drawing government professionals everyday. Downtown Decatur attains a daytime population of roughly 30,000. Decatur and its surrounding area supplies major employers of its own from the high-growth “meds-and-eds” sector: - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters: 15,000 staff - Emory University: 13,000 faculty /staff - Emory Healthcare: 15,000 staff
a l l squared away
Lyn Menne
Assistant City Manager, Community and Economic Developemnt
PASSION – AND A PLAN The City of Decatur has been committed with clarity and purpose to an innovative town center plan for more than 30 years. This vision has spurred the stunning – and steady – transformation of the downtown square, and surrounding business districts, into the sparkling jewel that it is today. Business owners, neighbors, and municipal visionaries have long been champions for the cause of a creative, connected community and a thriving local economy. And our commercial community members reap the benefits.
We opened our first business, Brick Store Pub, almost 20 years ago because the city had a vision that gave us hope. We opened Leon’s Full Service six years ago because Decatur has shaped up to be the home we always wanted it to be. We opened Kimball House less than two years ago because if you’re serious about becoming a part of a great community – and making a livelihood at the same time – Decatur is the place to be.”
Mike Gallagher, owner of Brick Store Pub, Leon’s, and Kimball House
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The economic development department along with Decatur’s Downtown Development Authority acts as a small business concierge, providing resources, insight, and support in starting and sustaining a successful business within the community.
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ee Williams, facility manager for Decatur Active Living, was presented the Thomas O. Davis Award at the June Decatur Business Association meeting. Lee has worked for the city since 2000 and always goes above and beyond to serve the community. He has taught om a.c rG many children how to ride bikes safely, catu
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managed sports camps and adult programming, and has been an active participant in the Safe Routes to School program. Lee also serves as a great mentor to teens and young men in the community. Decatur’s Thomas O. Davis Award honors a public employee who has helped strengthen the bond between
15 DBA NEWs
government and the community, served as a role model for others in public service, contributed to the wellbeing of the community, inspired others to get involved in public service, and served the public with respect. The award is named for Decatur’s long-time city attorney.
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• Keep it Indiecatur an inclusiv e go-local campaign encour aging consumer s to “Spend your mon ey where your he art lives” • Terrific Thursd ays shop-local ev ents in November and D ecember, widely promoted • Small Business Saturday and Su nday national holiday shopping campa ign / event • Retail and Re staurant Group meets quarterly, offers networking and business-buildin g opportunities, and access to customer mai ling lists • Decatur Restau rant Tour online / mobilefriendly tour feat uring hand-picke d, highly acclaimed restau rants around tow n • Concerts, fest ivals, and year-r ound events Decatur’s calend ar of events attra ct tens of thousands of pe ople to the downt own square and other business districts each year
OPEN YOUR DOORS
i
n Decatur. Opportunities abound all around town. Take advantage of what the city of Decatur has to offer and grow your business within our creative commercial landscape. Access educated consumers, energetic foot traffic, a dense and diverse streetscape, metro Atlanta allure, and focused city support. Become a fixture in a community that will love you back.
we are here – join us !
NEXT STEPS Reach out to our Economic Development Department for a tailored look at your best business opportunities in Decatur. Learn more at decaturga.com/business.
Catherine Lee
Economic Development Coordinator 404-371-8386
 catherine.lee@decaturga.com
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