New Businesses Give Momentum to Downtown Revival

Go to downtown Stone Mountain these days and you may notice a few more cars parked there than in the recent past and a lot more people on the streets. A number of new businesses have opened, giving rise to villagers' hopes that a rejuvenation is underway after years of stagnation. 

The Crab Pot opened last week on Main Street, where Mama Mia's was until December. The old Mama Mia's awning is still there, but there's lots of seafood being served to diners there these days. 

Mountain Soul Cafe opened recently at 5367 East Mountain. For now, it offers take-out, delivery and catering, but owners Joe and Mary Moore are working hard to open a 150-seat dining area by June, plus a banquet hall that will seat 300. 

The city has focused on bringing in new business with a carefully laid plan: Main Street was revamped last year, with widened sidewalks, landscaping, ornate streetlights, banners, benches and more. The second phase of the streetscape will begin soon, continuing the new look from Manor Drive down to the visitor's center. 

"We're seeing new businesses and enthusiasm and vitality we haven't seen in a while," said Kim Delaney, Downtown Development Authority Director. "We're seeing the merchants and community members are really on board and excited about what's happening."

The BodTea Shoppe recently opened on Main Street, offering all things tea for both taste buds and health. Owner Genee Dozier plans to offer etiquette courses soon.

Also now open on Main Street is ABC Consignment, with new and used furniture and home accessories.

An athletic apparel and embroidery business just leased space in the Weatherly Building, and a third art-incubation gallery, the South Town Gallery, should open very soon. It will be a culinary arts shop, with cakes, pastries and sandwiches from Belgian sugar artist Angelica Kalonji.

The city recently won an award from the Atlanta Regional Commission in economic development innovation for its art incubation project, called SMart.  SMart allows artists to operate their own studio for a full year while expanding the arts community in downtown Stone Mountain. The city subsidizes the artists' business, taking part of their sales income in return. According to Jack Sartain, co-founder of the DeKalb Council for the Arts, the SMart incubator is the first of its kind in the state.

A fourth SMart gallery is now in the works for the Weatherly Building on Main Street.