Hey friends!
Six homes. Under contract. In one week.
That is the kind of market we are living in right now, and SB Realty is right in the middle of it. While our team was busy making that happen, we were also doing what we love most: keeping our ear to the ground on everything happening in these communities we love. New restaurants, massive entertainment projects, a potential NHL arena (yes, really), a 155,000 square foot indoor fun park, and a coffee drive-thru everyone is already buzzing about. North Atlanta is having a serious moment, and we have all the details. Grab your coffee and keep reading.
Cumming & Forsyth County
The Cheesecake Factory is coming to Exit 13 at The Collection at Forsyth. One of the chain's smaller, newer format locations, this will be the first new metro Atlanta Cheesecake Factory in over a decade. It is landing right here in Forsyth County, and we are not surprised one bit.
The Collection itself has been on a streak. The Picklr just opened with eight indoor pickleball courts and is already packed. Build-A-Bear, Rocket Fizz, Bahama Buck's, Le Macaron, BODYROK Pilates are all open and settling in. Still coming: Kilwins, Warby Parker, Pandora. This center is quietly becoming one of the best shopping destinations in the entire metro area.
Over on Browns Bridge Road, barre3 North Forsyth celebrated its grand opening in February. Strength, cardio, mindfulness, all in one 60 minute class. If it has been on your list, now is the time!
On Ronald Reagan Blvd, a brand new development anchored by a Whole Foods Market is already under construction. It is also bringing Portillo's, the beloved Chicago institution, a second Forsyth Whataburger, Chipotle, and Panda Express. This corridor is transforming faster than most people realize.
In Westshore, YAVA Kitchen and Brewhouse opened in February on Marketplace Blvd and has already become the neighborhood spot. Wood-fired kitchen, small-batch brewery, seating for over 300. The kind of place you show up for dinner and stay for the whole night.
7 Brew Coffee is also confirmed for Forsyth County. Drive-thru, bold drinks, and the kind of staff that genuinely seems happy to be there. Location details coming soon.
Frankie's Fun Park is coming to the Hwy 9 and Bethelview corridor near Exit 13. One hundred and fifty-five thousand square feet of indoor family entertainment. Go karts, laser tag, bowling, mini golf, and arcade games all under one enormous roof. Forsyth County's very own big-box fun park, right off 400. No official opening date yet, plans and approvals are moving forward. This one is going to be a game changer for families in the area.
Johns Creek
That is the grand opening of Medley Johns Creek, a $560 million, 43-acre lifestyle district at the intersection of Johns Creek Parkway and McGinnis Ferry Road. This is not a shopping center. This is a destination.
Confirmed tenants so far: Trader Joe's, Shake Shack, CRU Food and Wine Bar, STIR (an oyster bar making its Georgia debut, with a satellite cocktail bar called Tonic House), Fado Irish Pub's first ever suburban location, Rena's Italian Fishery, 26 Thai Kitchen, Minnie Olivia wood-fired pizza, Lily Sushi Bar, Five Daughters Bakery, Summit Coffee, Playa Bowls, Sephora, Drybar, High Country Outfitters, BODYROK, BODY20, Pause Studio, and the list keeps growing. The project is over 75% leased with more names still to be announced. October 29 cannot come fast enough!
Alpharetta
Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurant on North Point Parkway opened in early 2025 and is absolutely worth your time if you have not been. Full Napa-style tasting room, scratch kitchen, serious wine club energy.
Pink Lotus, a multi-regional Thai restaurant, is opening on North Main Street in downtown Alpharetta later this year.
The Shoppes at The Gathering, a Napa-inspired 43,700 square foot retail village near Haynes Bridge Road, is expected to open Q4 2026, less than a mile from Avalon. Good things keep coming to this city.
Canton
The adaptive reuse project at 225 Reformation Parkway is one of the most exciting developments in all of Cherokee County. A 250,000 square foot destination inside a restored historic mill, already home to Reformation Brewery's tasting room and beer garden, plus Nava, a modern Latin kitchen worth the drive.
Coming to the complex this year: Barrel Downs Tavern (a nostalgic sports bar with elevated comfort food, expected summer 2026) and Blue Jean Barbecue (fast casual, expected fall 2026). An outdoor events green with a stage and screen makes this a true year-round gathering place.
Find Out What's Coming to Your Neighborhood
"I live in [Cumming / Johns Creek / Alpharetta / Canton, pick one]. Act as a local real estate and community research expert. Give me a detailed list of new restaurants, retail stores, fitness studios, entertainment venues, and mixed-use developments that have been announced or are currently under construction in my area. Include the name of each business, what type of business it is, where it is located, and when it is expected to open. Focus only on confirmed or strongly rumored openings within the next 12 to 24 months. Organize your answer by category."
Your AI Corner:
We put together prompts each week that tie directly into everything we covered above. Whether you're brand new to AI tools or already using them regularly, just copy any of these prompts, paste them into ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Claude, or any AI assistant, fill in your personal details, and hit send. The more specific you are, the better your results will be.
Find Out What New Growth Means For Your Home Value
"I own a home in [your city, example: Cumming, Georgia]. A large mixed-use development with retail, restaurants, and an entertainment district is being built within a few miles of my neighborhood. Act as a real estate market analyst. Explain in plain language how this type of development typically affects nearby home values over a 3 to 5 year period. What specific factors should I watch? What has happened in comparable markets when similar projects opened nearby? Give me three things a homeowner should do right now to take advantage of this growth."
As always, we are here for all of your real estate needs!
With Gratitude,
The SB Realty Team