Much of Northlake Mall being redeveloped as a healthcare center 

In the 1970s and ‘80s as Americans migrated to the suburbs, shopping malls became the new downtowns with not only large department stores and smaller retail shops, but restaurants, movie theaters and other attractions.

As Americans’ lifestyle choices shift again, many of the major department stores are leaving the malls they once anchored. For some once-thriving malls the change has been a death sentence. Businessinsider.com cited a report done by Credit Suisse in 2017 that estimated 20 percent to 25 percent of malls would shutter between 2017 and 2022, largely because of store closures.

Other malls have repurposed the spaces once occupied by multi-level department stores. Among the malls to take this route in 2021 is Northlake Mall in Tucker, which opened in 1971. In spaces once occupied by Sears and Kohls department stores, construction has begun on the interior portion of Emory Healthcare’s new 224,000-square-foot office space at the mall. Emory Healthcare offices already are open and operating in part of the building and in a nearby building that once housed an automotive care center.

“We are excited to take this next step with our partners at Emory Healthcare,” said Tony Ruggeri, partner with Texas-based ATR Corinth Partners, the project developer. “We’re currently making improvements to the space before Emory Healthcare completes the build out for their needs.” ATR Corinth Partners purchased Northlake Mall in January 2016.

Ruggeri said the project is similiar to one his company competed in Nashville, Tennessee, where space in the city’s old 100 Oaks Mall was remodeled for use by Vanderbilt Health. “There are many advantages to locating facilities such this in a mall. There is lots of open space, high ceilings, and access to food services and retail shops,” he commented, adding that the roominess is an especially advantageous feature as the nation continues to guard against the coronavirus.

Northlake is an ideal location for the project, according to Ruggeri, who said it would fill a gap in north Atlanta healthcare facilities. “It’s right at Interstate-285 and there’s lots of parking,” he added. Emory will likely occupy the space still being renovated in late 2021 or early 2022 and the facility upon completion is expected to have more than 1,600 employees, he continued. 

Malls built in the 1960s and ‘70s have cycled through their life expectancy, Ruggeri said. “They’re all at great locations, however. This is well positioned real estate.” He described the project as “bringing new life to an established and well-known but underused area of metro Atlanta.” He also pointed out that Northlake is within easy travel distance of Emory Healthcare’s other campuses. 

 Construction teams are currently 
focused on the inside of the new office space, Ruggeri said, adding that in the coming months visitors to the area will start to see visible work on the exterior of the mall as well.  

 In a statement announcing the project, Frank Mihalopoulos, partner with ATR Corinth Partners, called 2020 “a difficult year for businesses and communities across the world,” noting that “Many projects, jobs, life decisions, and social gatherings have all been put on hold due to the pandemic. But, our work continues, and we are focused full steam ahead on creating an environment at Northlake that provides safe, fun opportunities for people to gather again in the future.” 

   The project is being financed through ACORE Capital, a commercial real estate finance company. In a statement included in the announcement, Kyle Jeffers, senior managing director at ACORE Capital, said, “We’re excited to be able to assist with the repositioning of a suburban mall into an innovative office campus for Emory Healthcare, one of Atlanta’s major employers. ATR Corinth Partners’ reputation and track record executing similar business plans gives us full confidence that this project will be a great success.”