I gotta check my Twitter account more frequently!  Tenn sent in this pic from Finders Keepers in Avondale yesterday.

Which led Jason to point out “Not even a year after the wing place next door had the same thing happen…”

Patch wrote this story about the incident.

Billy sends along this pic of a sign in the door of one of the spaces in the Renaissance Building for a new boutique where the fair trade, environmentally friendly shop used to be.

Looks like the Mac Magee’s wait staff was right about the partial renovation of the old Trust Building on Decatur Square.  Tomorrow’s News Today reports…

Froyolo will soon open on the Decatur Square. Similar to Swirlin’ Twirlin’ which opened last year on West Ponce, Froyo is attempting to come ITP after launching OTP. I’ve only been to their Sugarloaf location which I think was their first but Froyolo also has locations in Dacula and Hamilton Mill. Swirlin’ Swirlin’ is based in Flowery Branch.

Check out this most excellent article on Saporta Report by Decatur-based freelance writer Michelle Hiskey about how Intown Ace Hardware plans to adapt to a commercial landscape with a Walmart just around the corner at Suburban Plaza.  Here’s a snippet…

Across the road from the planned development, Tony Powers keeps the keen eye and taste that has made his family business – Intown Ace Hardware – survive and succeed. As the world gets more homogeneous, his answer is a more diverse identity.

“I never thought I would have a hardware store with two lines of perfume and seven lines of organic candles,” he said. “Costume jewelry is also hot. I never thought this would be who we are.”

Photo courtesy of Intown Ace Hardware’s website

Leigh writes in…

…you may already know about this, but a new shop just opened today in the other half of the former Fabu space in the 335 building. It’s called Ariel-La Boutique and they just moved their shop to Decatur from Tampa. Lots of cute dresses and accessories, excellent prices. maybe you could give them a note on the site? Really hope this business sticks around!

http://www.ariel-la-boutique.com/

Creative Loafing’s Thomas Wheatly writes on CL’s Omnivore blog…

Several weeks ago, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Blazer, the New England native who founded YDFM in the late 1970s, and his wife Barbara, who also co-owns the market, in their offices overlooking the store. Among a wide variety of issues, our conversation covered the market’s future. Robert, an engineer by training, hoped to one day expand the store to give customers more room and accommodate the various activities — baking, cooking, fruit ripening, warehousing, and much more — that go on behind the scenes. (“Customers only see half the place,” he told me.)

Oakhurst Realty’s Fisher Paty reports in via Twitter…

Houndstooth Road, a bicycle retailer offering hand-built European bicycles such as Pashley & Bella Ciao, is opening at 316 Church St

That’s THIS Building if you’re interested.  Thus far their website is pretty minimal, but there’s lots of bike selection info and sneak peeks on Houndstooth’s Facebook page.

Bike photo courtesy of Houndstooth Road’s Facebook page

There’s a new-ish sign out in front of the recently renovated Courtyard by Marriott on Clairemont Ave, announcing that they’re looking for a new tenant in the restaurant space.  It seems like a locally-owned restaurant in this space would be another great addition to this strip of Clairemont and it would certainly have the additional benefit of being an easy option for visitors to the city.  It’ll be interesting to see who sets up shop here!

Michael alerted me to this yesterday.  According to a Development of Regional Impact filing that DeKalb County made to the State of Georgia, Your DeKalb Farmer’s Market wants to add 518,000 square feet of retail space to its existing 140,000 square foot building on East Ponce de Leon Ave, east of Decatur.  That means it would grow to four times its current size!

According to the filing…

The proposed expansions of the existing DeKalb Farmers Market include 718,367 SF of new warehouse area and 517,949 SF of new retail area. The proposed project will require 2 new driveways; 1 signalized and 1 unsignalized. The proposed project will provide 2,637 new parking spaces, while 763 existing parking spaces will remain.

The project is estimated to commence in October 2012 and will take 10 years to complete.  10 years?

h/t: Michael via Skyline Views

Christie sends in this pic of a cardboard sign in the window of the old Big H Center in Oakhurst that says “Echelberger Construction, 630 East Lake Dr, Family Dollar” next to a City of Decatur permit.  She also reported construction activity at the site today.