Business & Retail Briefs

The city of Atlanta has bought out the remainder of the 88-year lease on Underground Atlanta from its operating partner, Dan O’Leary, for $8.8 million. The official owner is the Downtown Development Authority, but the city doesn’t plan to hold onto the property for long. It’s already shopping for a buyer to transform the collection of shops and restaurants into a destination for Atlantans and visitors. There have been previous proposals to turn Underground into a gambling casino, a museum or an arts district.

Uber and Lyft have become major players on the Intown scene with smartphone apps designed to request private, on-demand transportation, but a new player called Hailo (hailocab.com/atlanta) has entered the Atlanta scene. The app – available for the iPhone and Android devices – works similarly to Uber and Lyft, but Hailo has partnered with licensed and insured local taxi drivers to provide service around the metro.

SunTrust has launched an Innovation Branch at its headquarters building on Peachtree Street in Downtown. The branch, which will be used to test new concepts for the bank, has automated safety deposit boxes that allows customers to access their deposit box using their debit card, pin number and hand scan. There are also teller connected video ATMs to help customers with transactions.

Beauty retailer and spa Bluemercury (bluemercury.com) will open its first Atlanta location at Buckhead Market Place, 37 West Paces Ferry this month. The full service spa will offer oxygen facials, glycolic peels, waxing and microdermabrasion. The store will also carry Bluemercury’s skincare line, M-61.

Mama Bath + Body (loveyourmama.com) has moved from its original Decatur location to a new storefront in Avondale Estates and has announced a new location at Krog Street Market in Inman Park later this summer. The Avondale store at 112 Avondale Road will have its grand opening event on June 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Residence Inn by Marriott (marriott.com/atlri) at Peachtree and 17th Street in Midtown has completed an extensive renovation and enhancement of its 160 suites and public areas. The new studio, one bedroom and two bedroom suites offer guests spacious accommodations as well as a fully equipped kitchen with full-sized refrigerator. Business travelers can take advantage of extensive workspaces and complimentary high-speed Internet access.

Gray Miller West Gallery (graymillerwest.com) has opened at 480 John Wesley Dobbs Ave. in the Old Fourth Ward. The first exhibit continues through June 5 featuring the work of Clay Hood. The trio behind the gallery are long-time Atlanta art scene players September Gray, Nic Miller and Vance West.

Starting fall 2014, Georgia State University’s J. Mack Robinson College of Business will offer courses for the Flexible (Flex) MBA program at its Buckhead Center located at Tower Place 200. The college’s part-time MBA is ranked No. 25 in the nation by Bloomberg Businessweek and No. 29 by U.S. News & World Report. For more information about the program, visit flex. robinson.gsu.edu.

Two notable buildings at 300 and 306 Ponce de Leon Ave. in Midtown have been sold to a private investor for an undisclosed amount, according to commercial real estate firm The C Group. One of the buildings is currently home to the Atlanta Eagle bar and the one next door is known as the “Kodak” building for its retro sign on the roof.

The Hotel Indigo Downtown Atlanta will open in spring 2015 and occupy eight floors of the 230 Peachtree building adjacent to the AmericasMart. The 200-room conversion will have a fitness center, business center, bar and restaurant.

The Atlanta City Council voted last month to amend the city’s comprehensive development plan for the 800 Glenwood Ave. property along the Atlanta BeltLine. Residents have been meeting with Fuqua Development to iron out a compromise for the property. The compromise includes hiding the parking area from the BeltLine path with “green screening”, senior housing, a potential nine-story office building and a five story residential building with ground floor retail. The big-box retail store is rumored to be a Walmart.

Atlanta Medical Center

Dr. Summers is a family medicine practitioner and her office sees children and adults. She has extended hours for flu shots and walk-ins (7:15-8:15 a.m. on Tuesday)

AERICA SUMMERS, MD, MPH

New Hours:

Monday & Wednesday 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Tuesday 7:15 a.m.-5 p.m.

Thursday 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

Friday 8 a.m.-12 p.m.

Flu vaccinations available.

Fourteen West, REALTORS® has assisted thousands of intown Atlanta home buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants with their real estate needs with the utmost care for more than 40 years. With our new name, Engel & Völkers Fourteen West, we remain committed to delivering Atlanta’s best real estate service. We have brought the largest, most successful, luxury real estate brand in the world to intown Atlanta. As Engel & Völkers Fourteen West, we have the international connections and support to assist the growing number of neighborhood friends relocating to and from Europe, South America, South Africa, Asia, Canada, and Australia. Contact us today to nd out how we can help you achieve your real estate goals.