Or you know what Decatur/Atlanta REALLY needs??? A WATERFRONT!

That’s what they should be demanding! A big body of water with a beach! That would be awesome! But of course… we wouldn’t want there to be any parking, or there would be allot more traffic as people from all over the region tried to enjoy our new amenity.

And Dawgfan’s, “… or a dying North Dekalb Mall?”

Mall GM Taylor Dozier is exactly the right person to infuse new energy into N. DeKalb Mall! We’ve exchanged a few emails over this year, and his enthusiasm for making it into an inviting neighborhood mall again says it’ll surely happen. The wonderful community garden and the events and programs he and his marketing manager are coming up with reflect their new direction. And while the tenant roster may struggle for a bit longer, they’ll soon be sharing some good news too. All of us who are rooting for N. DeKalb Mall need to add it back into our regular rotation– it’s the $$$ at the cash register that will keep the existing businesses we like there, and it’s what will ultimately attract new ones.

Speaking of existing tenants, I had a long conversation with one of the small business owners yesterday who’s absolutely livid that the construction’s being held up. Customer traffic is way down in Suburban Plaza, especially since Last Chance moved out. He’s furious that GGD keeps touting how they’re for local businesses when what they’re actually doing is causing hardship for him. He said he’s about ready to gather up the other tenants and go after GGD himself. (Which I wouldn’t mind seeing because when he gets going, WATCH OUT! :0)