Cobb Place
Encyclopedia
Cobb Place is a shopping center at 840 (originally numbered 800) Barrett Parkway
in northern Cobb County, Georgia
, just southeast of Kennesaw
(a suburb of Atlanta
). It opened in 1987, the year after the main shopping
attraction at Town Center at Cobb mall, on the other side of Interstate 75
.
The original anchor store
s were (from left/south to right/north) Lechmere ("leech-meer"), Service Merchandise
, and Uptons
(all of which went out of business nationally), and entertainment
outlets Q-Zar
http://www.q-zaratlanta.com and 8-screen AMC Theatres
http://www.amctheatres.com.
Lechmere's location later became the giant Phar-Mor
drugstore
, meant to be a direct competitor to supermarket
-sized Drug Emporium
(both of which are now also defunct). The same location later became Bed Bath & Beyond
, which in 2003 moved to a newly-constructed anchor store right next to itself. That space was originally several smaller stores, torn down and reconstructed to accommodate another large retail chain. After agreeing to the space, that chain (specializing in baby clothing and furniture) merged with another more-established chain which already had an existing location across the street, and thus the new space was never finished. The former BB&B space was completely gutted, and became a Discount Shoe Warehouse (DSW).
In the summer of 2000, the AMC 8 Theatres moved to another land development
nearby (on Cobb Place Lane), where it became the huge AMC 24 Theatres. A HobbyTown USA
franchise
(which had moved in from Austell about four years before) renovated it by removing major walls, pouring new non-sloped floors, and adding sufficient lighting; and moved down from their smaller store in the center in November of that year to become HobbyTown's largest and busiest store in the country.
Like the first BB&B, the former Service Merchandise façade
was torn down and the inside gutted. This location is now American Signature Furniture
. Smaller stores to its left were demolished to become Cost Plus World Market, and the same was done to its right for a new Basset Furniture, and a Thomasville Furniture store (which moved from Town Center Oaks). To the right of that, Ashley Furniture now occupies the revamped former Uptons. Some of the smaller retail spaces lost to the new anchors were restored at the south end of the shopping center, in the side part of the former Lechmere/Phar-Mor/BB&B which faces south.
A small United States Post Office branch (sharing Kennesaw ZIP code
30144, unique 30160 for its PO boxes) is also located at Cobb Place, along with several restaurants, a vacuum cleaner
store, and others.
Other current tenants include:
Other former tenants include:
ed, with ruts and potholes, including a particularly deep and dangerous one next to the Hampton Inn
which is repeatedly left gaping for months, then is eventually filled with asphalt
and left to open-up again. The road also has almost no lines anymore, with southbound drivers often drifting into the center lane
(which is for left-turning and straight-through traffic northbound), or making turns from the wrong lane.
Cobb Place Boulevard is a half-circle
road which runs from the first intersection southwest of I-75 to the first intersection northeast of Cobb Parkway (U.S. 41), behind the former Kmart
. West of Barrett Lakes Boulevard and the end of the McCollum Field runway
, the area is an office park, though its relation to the shopping center's management
or ownership is unclear. The northeastern end is one of the most accident-prone intersections in the county.
Cobb Place Lane is a short spur leading to the AMC theatres, almost opposite Cobb Place Parkway, however it is unknown why developers left them offset
and failed to make the two roads meet at the traffic light
.
, Shoe Carnival
, Ulta
, a closed (likely moved) Payless Shoes, and a former Media Play
which has been renovated and split into two anchors, reopening as a Total Wine & More store and REI
. A Chick-fil-A
and Chuck E. Cheese continue toward the south but are separate, as is a Chili's
and a Golden Corral
in front of it.
Continuing east, across Cobb Place Boulevard, is another shopping center which abuts I-75. From west to east, there is a Michaels
(formerly a Linens 'n Things
) and The Furniture Mall (recently a Ben's Furniture and before it a Broyhill Furniture) and originally Rhodes Furniture
used to be. From north to south, it then has a Best Buy
, OfficeMax
, Petsmart
, and Sports Authority
. There is also a separate T.G.I. Friday's
and a Chevron gas station south of the parking lot.
North of this, also against I-75 and facing west to Cobb Place Lane is a Golfsmith
, JoAnn Etc., and a large home décor consignment
shop. Further north is the AMC theatres, while across from it is HomeGoods
, hhgregg
, and Ambush board shop (which was formerly at Cobb Place). Next to Ambush and moving back west on Cobb Place Boulevard is a Rafferty's, Joe's Crab Shack
, and The School Box. The former Goody's Family Clothing
building is now a Hobby Lobby
. Back across the road and immediately north of Cobb Place is a Hilton Garden Inn
, and to its west a lot currently is now a Homewood Suites.
Barrett Parkway
Ernest W. Barrett Parkway is a major thoroughfare in northwest metro Atlanta between western and northern Cobb County, Georgia. It runs from southwest of Marietta, to the north and then northeast near Kennesaw, and continues on in both directions under other names. The portion of Barrett Parkway...
in northern Cobb County, Georgia
Cobb County, Georgia
Cobb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Its county seat and largest city is Marietta, which is located in the center of the county. The county was named for Thomas Willis Cobb, who in the early 19th century was a United States representative and senator from Georgia...
, just southeast of Kennesaw
Kennesaw, Georgia
Kennesaw is a city in Cobb County, Georgia, United States. It had a population of 29,783 according to the 2010 census. It is part of the Atlanta metropolitan area. Founded in 1887, Kennesaw has a past surrounded with railroad history...
(a suburb of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
). It opened in 1987, the year after the main shopping
Shopping
Shopping is the examining of goods or services from retailers with the intent to purchase at that time. Shopping is an activity of selection and/or purchase. In some contexts it is considered a leisure activity as well as an economic one....
attraction at Town Center at Cobb mall, on the other side of Interstate 75
Interstate 75
Interstate 75 is a major north–south Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes and Southeastern regions of the United States. It travels from State Road 826 and State Road 924 in Hialeah, Florida to Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, at the Ontario, Canada, border...
.
The original anchor store
Anchor store
In retail, an anchor store, draw tenant, anchor tenant, or key tenant is one of the larger stores in a shopping mall, usually a department store or a major retail chain....
s were (from left/south to right/north) Lechmere ("leech-meer"), Service Merchandise
Service Merchandise
Service Merchandise is an online retailer and former retailer chain of catalog showroom stores carrying fine jewelry, toys, sporting goods, and electronics that existed for 68 years...
, and Uptons
Uptons
Uptons was a department store based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. The chain operated primarily in the Southeastern United States, with locations in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. The chain was closed in 1999.-History:Thirty-seven locations...
(all of which went out of business nationally), and entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
outlets Q-Zar
Q-Zar
Q-ZAR is a type of laser tag that was developed by Geoff Haselhurst and Omnitronics in Perth, Western Australia...
http://www.q-zaratlanta.com and 8-screen AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres
AMC Theatres , officially known as AMC Entertainment, Inc., is the second largest movie theater chain in North America with 5,325 screens, second only to Regal Entertainment Group, and one of the United States's four national cinema chains AMC Theatres (American Multi-Cinema), officially known as...
http://www.amctheatres.com.
Lechmere's location later became the giant Phar-Mor
Phar-Mor
Phar-Mor was a United States chain of discount drug stores, based in Youngstown, Ohio, and founded by Michael "Mickey" Monus and David S. Shapira in 1982. Some of its stores used the names Pharmhouse and Rx Place...
drugstore
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
, meant to be a direct competitor to supermarket
Supermarket
A supermarket, a form of grocery store, is a self-service store offering a wide variety of food and household merchandise, organized into departments...
-sized Drug Emporium
Drug Emporium
Drug Emporium is the name of a discount drug store corporation, founded in 1977 in Columbus, Ohio, that was sold to several different buyers during 2000 to 2001. Although several store locations continue to use the Drug Emporium name, these locations are no longer affiliated with the now-defunct...
(both of which are now also defunct). The same location later became Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond
Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. was formed in 1971 and today operates a chain of domestic merchandise retail stores across United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. They feature mostly medium-ranged, but also a limited selection of high quality, domestic merchandise: items for the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen,...
, which in 2003 moved to a newly-constructed anchor store right next to itself. That space was originally several smaller stores, torn down and reconstructed to accommodate another large retail chain. After agreeing to the space, that chain (specializing in baby clothing and furniture) merged with another more-established chain which already had an existing location across the street, and thus the new space was never finished. The former BB&B space was completely gutted, and became a Discount Shoe Warehouse (DSW).
In the summer of 2000, the AMC 8 Theatres moved to another land development
Land development
Land development refers to altering the landscape in any number of ways such as:* changing landforms from a natural or semi-natural state for a purpose such as agriculture or housing...
nearby (on Cobb Place Lane), where it became the huge AMC 24 Theatres. A HobbyTown USA
HobbyTown USA
♦HobbyTown USA or HobbyTown is a franchised retail hobby and toy store, most stores offer a full line of radio control hobbies, models, games, toys, educational items, paints, tools and model railroad items. The franchise stores also carry seasonal items such as rockets, pinewood derby, educational...
franchise
Franchising
Franchising is the practice of using another firm's successful business model. The word 'franchise' is of anglo-French derivation - from franc- meaning free, and is used both as a noun and as a verb....
(which had moved in from Austell about four years before) renovated it by removing major walls, pouring new non-sloped floors, and adding sufficient lighting; and moved down from their smaller store in the center in November of that year to become HobbyTown's largest and busiest store in the country.
Like the first BB&B, the former Service Merchandise façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
was torn down and the inside gutted. This location is now American Signature Furniture
American Signature
American Signature, Inc. is a privately owned furniture company based in Columbus, Ohio. It is the parent company of the retail brands Value City Furniture and American Signature Furniture, and the manufacturer brand American Signature.-History:...
. Smaller stores to its left were demolished to become Cost Plus World Market, and the same was done to its right for a new Basset Furniture, and a Thomasville Furniture store (which moved from Town Center Oaks). To the right of that, Ashley Furniture now occupies the revamped former Uptons. Some of the smaller retail spaces lost to the new anchors were restored at the south end of the shopping center, in the side part of the former Lechmere/Phar-Mor/BB&B which faces south.
A small United States Post Office branch (sharing Kennesaw ZIP code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
30144, unique 30160 for its PO boxes) is also located at Cobb Place, along with several restaurants, a vacuum cleaner
Vacuum cleaner
A vacuum cleaner, commonly referred to as a "vacuum," is a device that uses an air pump to create a partial vacuum to suck up dust and dirt, usually from floors, and optionally from other surfaces as well. The dirt is collected by either a dustbag or a cyclone for later disposal...
store, and others.
Other current tenants include:
- Weight WatchersWeight WatchersWeight Watchers is an international company that offers various dieting products and services to assist weight loss and maintenance. Founded in 1963 by Brooklyn homemaker Jean Nidetch, it operates in about 30 countries around the world, generally under names that are local translations of “Weight...
- Cornerstone Kitchens and Bath
Other former tenants include:
- Delta Air LinesDelta Air LinesDelta Air Lines, Inc. is a major airline based in the United States and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The airline operates an extensive domestic and international network serving all continents except Antarctica. Delta and its subsidiaries operate over 4,000 flights every day...
, at the far east end - ...
Roads
The center also owns a short road, Cobb Place Parkway, which runs essentially due north/south from Cobb Place Boulevard on the north to Barrett Parkway on the south, where is become county-owned Home Center Boulevard. Because of its private ownership, it has blue-background street signs instead of green, a recent occurrence within unincorporated Cobb County. It is also poorly-maintainMaintenance, Repair and Operations
Maintenance, repair, and operations or maintenance, repair, and overhaul involves fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it become out of order or broken...
ed, with ruts and potholes, including a particularly deep and dangerous one next to the Hampton Inn
Hampton Inn
'Hampton Hotels, Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Hampton by Hilton are the names of a brand of hotels trademarked by Hilton Worldwide. Most Hampton hotels are independently owned and operated by franchisees, though a few are owned and/or managed by the Hilton Hotels Corporation...
which is repeatedly left gaping for months, then is eventually filled with asphalt
Asphalt
Asphalt or , also known as bitumen, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid that is present in most crude petroleums and in some natural deposits, it is a substance classed as a pitch...
and left to open-up again. The road also has almost no lines anymore, with southbound drivers often drifting into the center lane
Lane
A lane is a part of the roadway within a road marked out for use by a single line of vehicles in such a way as to control and guide drivers for the purpose of reducing traffic conflicts. Most public roads have at least two lanes, one for traffic in each direction, separated by Lane markings...
(which is for left-turning and straight-through traffic northbound), or making turns from the wrong lane.
Cobb Place Boulevard is a half-circle
Circle
A circle is a simple shape of Euclidean geometry consisting of those points in a plane that are a given distance from a given point, the centre. The distance between any of the points and the centre is called the radius....
road which runs from the first intersection southwest of I-75 to the first intersection northeast of Cobb Parkway (U.S. 41), behind the former Kmart
Kmart
Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...
. West of Barrett Lakes Boulevard and the end of the McCollum Field runway
Runway
According to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
, the area is an office park, though its relation to the shopping center's management
Management
Management in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
or ownership is unclear. The northeastern end is one of the most accident-prone intersections in the county.
Cobb Place Lane is a short spur leading to the AMC theatres, almost opposite Cobb Place Parkway, however it is unknown why developers left them offset
Offset
The term offset may refer to:* Carbon offset, a financial instrument aimed at a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions* Offset agreement, trade practice in Aerospace and Defense Industry...
and failed to make the two roads meet at the traffic light
Traffic light
Traffic lights, which may also be known as stoplights, traffic lamps, traffic signals, signal lights, robots or semaphore, are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control competing flows of traffic...
.
Other centers
Immediately to the east of Cobb Place is Barrett Pavilion, which opened in the mid-1990s and contains only anchor stores. From north to south, these are Target (renovated in 2006), Old NavyOld Navy
Old Navy is an American clothing brand as well as a chain of stores owned by Gap, Inc., with corporate operations in San Francisco and San Bruno, California. It is one of the first major corporations to house headquarters in the new Mission Bay district of San Francisco.Gap, Inc. was run by...
, Shoe Carnival
Shoe Carnival
Shoe Carnival is a retailer of family footwear in the United States. The company operates over 400 stores throughout the midwest, south, and southeast regions. It was founded by David Russell in 1978 and is headquartered in Evansville, Indiana....
, Ulta
Ulta
Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc is a chain of beauty superstores in the United States. Each store is outfitted with a full-service salon as well. Ulta carries a variety of cosmetics and skincare brands, men's and women's fragrances, and professionally licensed haircare products...
, a closed (likely moved) Payless Shoes, and a former Media Play
Media Play
Media Play was a chain of retail stores founded in 1992 by Musicland that sold movies on video, DVDs, music, Electronics, video games, books, and games in the United States. Each store essentially contained a book store, a movie store, a music store, and a video game store under one roof. At...
which has been renovated and split into two anchors, reopening as a Total Wine & More store and REI
Rei
-People:*Rei, the Biblical term for those who retained their allegiance to King David when Adonijah rebelled, as mentioned in 1 Kings 1:8*Rei Hiroe*Rei Igarashi*Rei Kawakubo*Rei Kikukawa*Rei Mikamoto*Rei Munakata*Rei Okamoto*Rei Omishi...
. A Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A |"fillet"]]) is a quick service restaurant chain headquartered in College Park, Georgia, United States, specializing in chicken entrées and is known for promoting the company founder's claims of Christian values. Long associated with the southern United States, where it has been a...
and Chuck E. Cheese continue toward the south but are separate, as is a Chili's
Chili's
Chili's Grill & Bar is a restaurant chain founded by Larry Lavine. The chain has more than 1400 casual dining restaurants, mostly located in the United States and Canada...
and a Golden Corral
Golden Corral
Golden Corral is an American family-style restaurant chain that features a large buffet and grill offering numerous hot and cold items, a carving station and their Brass Bell Bakery...
in front of it.
Continuing east, across Cobb Place Boulevard, is another shopping center which abuts I-75. From west to east, there is a Michaels
Michaels
Michaels is an arts and crafts retail chain. It currently operates more than 1040 Michaels Arts and Crafts Stores located in 49 U.S. states and in Canada. The company owns and operates the Aaron Brothers retail chain which consists of more than 140 stores...
(formerly a Linens 'n Things
Linens 'n Things
Linens 'n Things is an online retailer of home textiles, housewares and decorative home accessories. Until 2008, the company also did business as a big box retailer under the name Linens 'n Things, Inc., headquartered in Clifton, New Jersey, United States, and did business across the United States...
) and The Furniture Mall (recently a Ben's Furniture and before it a Broyhill Furniture) and originally Rhodes Furniture
Rhodes Furniture
The Rhodes Furniture Company was a retail furniture company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Beginning with a single store in downtown Atlanta the company expanded throughout the United States.-History:...
used to be. From north to south, it then has a Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, OfficeMax
OfficeMax
OfficeMax , is an American office supplies retailer that was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Naperville, Illinois.-History:On April 1, 1988, OfficeMax was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, by Bob Hurwitz and Michael Feuer. Hurwitz served as executive chairman and chief executive officer and Feuer...
, Petsmart
PetSmart
PetSmart, Inc. is a retail chain doing business in the United States and Canada engaged in the sale of specialty pet supplies and services such as grooming and dog training, PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities and Doggie Day Care.- History :...
, and Sports Authority
Sports Authority
The Sports Authority, Inc. is one of the largest sporting goods retailers in the United States. It is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, and operates more than 460 stores in 45 U.S...
. There is also a separate T.G.I. Friday's
T.G.I. Friday's
T.G.I. Friday's is an American restaurant chain focusing on casual dining. The company is a unit of the Carlson Companies. Its name is taken from the expression TGIF...
and a Chevron gas station south of the parking lot.
North of this, also against I-75 and facing west to Cobb Place Lane is a Golfsmith
Golfsmith
Golfsmith International Holdings Inc. is a golf and tennis specialty retailer based in Austin, Texas. The retailer distributes golf and tennis equipment, as well as other related services. CEO Marty Hanaka has stated, “Our purpose is to inspire golfers to play better and love life more.”Founded by...
, JoAnn Etc., and a large home décor consignment
Consignment
Consignment the act of consigning, which is placing any material in the hand of another, but retaining ownership until the goods are sold or person is transferred. This may be done for shipping, transfer of prisoners, to auction, or for sale in a store Consignment the act of consigning, which is...
shop. Further north is the AMC theatres, while across from it is HomeGoods
HomeGoods
HomeGoods is a chain of home furnishing stores operated by TJX Companies and has 270 stores across the US as of February 2007.HomeGoods operates the home furnishings sections of T.J. Maxx 'n More and Marshalls Mega Store stores....
, hhgregg
Hhgregg
hhgregg Inc. or Gregg Appliances Inc. is a publicly owned and operated appliance and electronics retailer in the Midwest, Northeast, and Southeast United States with over 3,100 employees operating stores in 16 states including Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky,...
, and Ambush board shop (which was formerly at Cobb Place). Next to Ambush and moving back west on Cobb Place Boulevard is a Rafferty's, Joe's Crab Shack
Joe's Crab Shack
Joe's Crab Shack is an American chain of beach-themed seafood casual dining restaurants owned by Ignite Restaurant Group. Founded in Houston, Texas, the restaurant now operates locations all across the country. It serves seafood and American cuisine. The restaurants also have a gift shop that sells...
, and The School Box. The former Goody's Family Clothing
Goody's Family Clothing
Goody's is a brand used for some clothing stores operated by Stage Stores, Inc., of Houston, Texas. It is a successor to Goody's Family Clothing, a chain of clothing retailers based in Knoxville, Tennessee...
building is now a Hobby Lobby
Hobby Lobby
Hobby Lobby is a privately held retail chain of arts and crafts stores based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and is formally called Hobby Lobby Creative Centers.Founded by David Green on August 3, 1972, the chain has more than 456 stores in 39 states...
. Back across the road and immediately north of Cobb Place is a Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn is a chain of hotels trademarked by the Hilton Worldwide. Hilton Garden Inns are considered to be upscale mid-priced hotels that are designed for both business and leisure travelers. The hotel brand is similar to that of the Courtyard by Marriott brand, a key competitor...
, and to its west a lot currently is now a Homewood Suites.