T.J.Maxx is relocating to North Logan Commons in Loganville from Stone Mountain Square, Loganville Patch reports. This isn't the first big presence to leave a space empty at the shopping center on Stone Mountain Highway. The Big Lots there is a former Staples. Bally's Total Fitness closed, but a brand new LA Fitness was built nearby on E. Park Place. The grand opening for the T.J. Maxx store in Loganville is scheduled for May 9.

Rep. Hank Johnson, whose district includes Stone Mountain and Lithonia, introduced "The Help Entrepreneurs Create American Jobs Act" and "The Fairness and Transparency in Contracting Act" Thursday. A press release from Johnson's office states: The Entrepreneurs Act, a bipartisan bill, would permanently double the tax cut for start-up businesses. The Fairness in Contracting Act would ensure that federal small business contracts go to genuine small businesses instead of subsidiaries of large companies.  See the attached video of Johnson introducing the bills. Under the entrepreneur act, the …

Please don't take the shopping carts The SuperSave Foods grocery store on Rockbridge Road and N. Indian Creek has a sign up near its parking lot stating not to take the shopping carts off the premises. Apparently this can be a big and expensive big problem for retailers -- and shoppers, too. According to an article on Shoppingcarts.org, about the issue, "money lost in shopping cart theft is ultimately covered by the consumer." It's no wonder retailers want them to stay put. During one of Walmart's meetings with community members in 2011 regarding its new store near N. Hairston, a …

This edition of Stone Mountain and Lithonia-area business news is all about celebrations: Martha Celebrations at JCPenney Just in time for May graduations and June weddings, a Martha Stewart shop has opened at JCPenney at the Mall at Stonecrest: Martha Celebrations (or one word, "MarthaCelebrations" as it appears on its sign). Check out the very colorful photo on the mall's Facebook page. Martha Celebrations sells a variety of vivid (and color-coordinated) decorations and such for throwing parties. Second SnoBall Location Celebration Here's a reminder that a celebration and official …

  Here's what's going on in Stone Mountain and Lithonia business: Oakhurst Medical Center Work Progressing Speaking of construction on Memorial Drive, Patch spotted a crew doing some work in last week's drizzle on the land where the new Oakhurst Medical Center's new facility is going up, not far from the Chick fil-a. In front of Oakhurst's current office building is a for sale/lease sign with contact information (see photo). New Family Dollar Open The new Family Dollar at 2627 Panola Rd. in Lithonia opened April 4. Anyone interested in jobs at Family Dollar should check out its website. …

  Here's a roundup of some local business and economic development news: Salon in Lithonia for Lease Looking for a salon to lease? Patch on Thursday came across a big sign about that kind of opportunity hanging over 6651-B Covington Highway, next to Jamaican Kitchen, across the street from the Covington Highway Kroger in Lithonia (see attached photo). The sign states that the salon -- we're not sure if its for hair or nails -- is fully furnished. For information, call 404-630-4761. Local CEO Discusses Reports of More Small Business Loans Larry Callahan, CEO of Pattillo Industrial Real Estate…

  Take a look at what's happening in local business: 300 Want Taqueria in Town Stone Mountain city councilwoman Nan Nash tells Patch that she has gathered at least 300 signatures on a petition she started to try getting a Mexican restaurant to the city. Nash said she had no idea that there would be so many people interested in seeing Taqueria Los Hermanos  in Stone Mountain Village. She said she's still accepting signatures (come by Stone Mountain Old Post Office Emporium, at 5379 E. Mountain St. to sign) before she contacts the owner about all the local folks eager for their restaurant to …

  Take a look at some of the latest business news in Stone Mountain and Lithonia: Business for Sale Automotive Business Brokers published a Youtube video March 18 featuring a Stone Mountain auto body business for sale, Mike's Auto Body. The video is attached to this article. Listing price: $50,000. Features: 5 bays, more than 20 parking spaces, around 2,500 square feet. Click on the video to learn more. A little more on the Stonecrest Kia Dealership Last week we wrote about work being done at the former car dealership at 7849 Mall Parkway in Lithonia, where a "Stonecrest Kia Coming Soon" sign…

  Here's some recent business news in Stone Mountain: Stone Mountain CID Looking After its Businesses The Stone Mountain Community Improvement District increased its patrols in the area around Vulcan Shoes on Hammermill Road in Tucker after the company alerted the CID to incidents of someone shattering the glass to get into the showroom and a person entering its parking lot, according to the CID's spring newsletter. Later, when a suspicious person was spotted in the employee parking lot, this time an officer was there to register the tag number and tell the person to keep it moving, the …

  Here are some recent happenings in the local world of business: RAGS on Main Have you noticed the beautiful new display window on Main Street in Stone Mountain Village? That's "RAGS" -- which stands for Resale Accessories Garments & Shoes. The store is a subsidiary of the not-for-profit Prevention Partners Inc., whose president and CEO, Rose Robins Troupe, has "a passion for prevention," she recently told Patch. Troupe owns the store along with Shirley Caldwell, director of project development Proceeds from RAGS will help with with Prevention Partners' many efforts, including health …

  New Orleans SnoBall Cafe in Decatur is opening a location in the city of Stone Mountain. It will be its second cafe. On its Facebook page, under a photo with "In Stone Mountain Village" written across the top, the company wrote: We are less than a week away from celebrating our SECOND LOCATION! You are ALL invited to our April 21st, Sunday celebration with Kayla Taylor live Jazz on the patio ... Announcing our 2nd location!!! Be there for all the Fun & Details.... Main Street Stone Mountain executive director Susan Ryles said it will be located near the Suntrust building in the city of …

  Here are some recent business news and happenings in Stone Mountain and Lithonia: Opening date for New Zaxby's The Zaxby's on S. Hairston near the corner of Redan Road in Stone Mountain is set to open April 1. Learn more about applying for jobs at the restaurant. N. Hairston Kroger Soon Returning to 24 Hours The Kroger on N. Hairston Road near Memorial Dr., which is undergoing a $1 million remodel, will return to its open-24-hours schedule on March 28. Until then, the store is open from 6 a.m. to midnight. Gas Stations Get Gussied Up with Plantings Several gas stations within the Stone …

  Here are some business and economy-related items in the Stone Mountain and Lithonia areas: A medical facility will occupy the new building just about complete on Hillandale Park Ct. in Lithonia, behind the Waffle House that's at 2842 Panola Road, sources tell Patch. The business will be right at home, as the location is next to the Emory Heart and Vascular Center at Hillandale; across from Premier Women's Healthcare; a stone's throw from Kaiser Permanente at Hillandale; and just down the street from DeKalb Medical Center at Hillandale, just to name a few of the many medical/health care …

  Anna's Linens at 7300 Stonecrest Concourse in Lithonia near the mall is expanding into a neighboring suite. The wall separating the two spaces is down and work crews are preparing the new area. Look out for a grand opening sometime in April, a manager told Patch. Anna's Linens opened a store last April in Stone Mountain Square shopping center, on the Gwinnett county side of Stone Mountain. Anna's Linens, based in Costa Mesa, California, also has a store at 5211 Memorial Drive.

Here are a few business-related items in Stone Mountain and Lithonia: On the auction block The former KFC at 2960 Stonecrest Pass in Lithonia is going up for auction later this month. The bank-owned property will be put on the auction block at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Roswell on March 26, 11 a.m. DeKalb county property tax records show Ameris Bank as the owner. The records also show the land value to be $241,500 and the building value, $80,000. UPDATED: L.A. Fitness Panola Posts Interior Shots Updated 3/6 at 2:08 p.m.: The exterior of the new L.A. Fitness going up on Panola and Covington …

  New Restaurant Setting Up in the Village Ajs Bistro plans to move into the former Mama Mia's, the former Crab Pot and the former Fat Headz Diner in Stone Mountain Village. The sign on the window says the restaurant will have a southern and international "twist of great food." The Crab Pot closed in the beginning of 2012. Fat Headz opened up in March 2012, but closed about four months later. Check back with Patch for more information on the new restaurant. Restaurant Hosting Vampire Diaries Watch Party Sweet Potato Cafe is hosting a "Vampire Diaries" watch party on March 28. That's when the …

  Stone Mountain Bakery is taking over the former Kalonji Cafe and Bakery space in Stone Mountain Village. Owner Rosalyn Young told Patch she hopes the move will be complete over the next week or so. With the new digs will come other changes, Young said. For one, the restaurant will serve dinner in addition to breakfast and lunch. Also, the business will add "RR" and "cafe" to its name. The two "R"s stand for Rosalyn and her husband, Roland. They had been looking for a bigger space when the Kalonji Bakery at 933 Main Street became available. The Kalonjis closed the eatery at the end of …

  Here's a roundup of business news happening around the Stone Mountain and Lithonia area: Improving Mountain Industrial Boulevard at Highway 78 The Stone Mountain Community Improvement District (CID) has plans to spruce up the Mountain Industrial Boulevard and Highway 78 interchange - and make it a lot safer, too. Design and planning is underway to install street lights at the busy traffic point, which has no night-time lighting, the CID said in a release about the effort. The work will be possible through a grant from Georgia's State Road and Tollway Authority. “The absence of adequate …

  Here's a roundup of business news from Stone Mountain and Lithonia: New Food Depot Open The new Food Depot on Panola Road in Lithonia is now open. The store took Save Rite's old spot, filling a grocery vacancy in the plaza after more than 7 years. You may also be interested in reading: New Food Depot Received Nearly 500 Job Applications When It First Advertised Marlin & Ray's Closed near Stonecrest The seafood restaurant Marlin & Ray's restaurant in the Stonecrest area is closed. In news release Jan. 9 about Ruby Tuesday Inc.'s second quarter fiscal 2013 results, the company said: Based on …

Here's a roundup of business news in Stone Mountain and Lithonia: Big Sale at Soon-to-Close Big Lots on Covington Highway Big Lots on Covington Highway and Panola Road in Lithonia looks more like "Little Lots" these days. That's because there's not nearly as much merchandise in the store as it prepares to close soon. The location has a 50 percent off sale in progress. Check back for information on a closing date. Walmart wants to raze the existing building and put a Neighborhood Market in its place. S. Hairston Zaxby's Coming Along The steel framing is up at the new Zaxby's under construction…