Ansley Mall to Undergo Major Renovation with Beltline-Facing Retail and Lewis Barbecue Expansion

Plans are starting to take shape for how a popular 1960s intown mall will adapt to its new proximity to the Atlanta Beltline, following the trend of other nearby properties.

New site plans and visuals, recently filed with the City of Atlanta Office of Zoning and Development, outline the transformation of the backside of Ansley Mall, which will now face the Beltline’s Northeast Trail. This includes the addition of the third location for the renowned restaurant, Lewis Barbecue, along with other retail spaces and a new pedestrian bridge.

With the recent ribbon-cutting of all Northeast Trail segments between southern Buckhead and Monroe Drive, the area around Ansley Mall will now have better off-street access for numerous nearby neighborhoods.

Renovation plans for the mall, designed by Terminus Design Group, are set to be reviewed by NPU-F next week and the city’s Zoning Review Board on December 5. According to the Special Use Permit application, the smokehouse will be a two-story building alongside retail spaces. All Beltline-facing spaces will span 11,000 square feet, according to Bridger Properties, the retail leasing agents.

This outpost of Lewis Barbecue will be the concept’s third location, after Charleston and Greenville, and is expected to attract 3,000 patrons weekly, many arriving via the Beltline. Additionally, 100 to 150 vehicles per day are expected at the mall, according to the SUP application.

Ansley Mall’s owner, Selig Enterprises, completed the 105-foot pedestrian bridge project in 2023. While it remains closed to the public, the bridge is designed to provide easy access to the Beltline for nearby neighborhoods, such as Piedmont Heights. Selig has owned the 16-acre mall since 1972 and still considers it a key asset in their 4-million-square-foot retail portfolio across the Southeast.

The mall’s current tenants include The Cook’s Warehouse, Ansley Wine Merchants, Phidippides, Brooklyn Bagel, and Intaglia Home Collection.

The trend of repositioning properties along the Beltline has been ongoing for years. Notable examples include Ladybird Grove & Mess Hall and the former Murder Kroger, which both added Beltline connections. Recent projects like Midtown Promenade and Painted Park in Inman Park also demonstrate how backdoors are being transformed into welcoming gateways for Beltline visitors.

For more details and a closer look at the planned changes, visit the gallery.

Photo credit: Terminus Design Group

Story credit: Urbanize Atlanta