Zaxby's Coming Along on S. Hairston; Big Lots Closing Soon on Covington and Panola; Sweet Potato Cafe's First Anniversary Celebration

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 on S. Hairston Road near the intersection with Redan. The project's engineering firm told Patch the restaurant should open early this year.

Paisano's Pizza & Wings on Memorial Drive Closed

A Patch reader first told us the Paisano's at 6007 Memorial Drive had closed, then we drove by the location and saw the white "For Lease" sign. The eatery was part of the Exxon Food Mart plaza.

Strategically-Placed Billboard

As the opening of the L.A. Fitness at Covington and Panola looms (a company rep tells Patch it's planned for mid-February) we wonder what the impact might be of a very strategically-placed billboard by Planet Fitness -- up since at least the fall as the new 38,000 square foot rival center was going up. On Panola, across the street from the L.A. Fitness project and hovering over a tire business, the billboard reads: "Only a Dumbbell Would Pay More." Hmmm...We'll have to see if L.A. Fitness has a comeback.

Tennis Academy Hitting the Courts

If you're interested in learning tennis, the Shadisha Robinson Tennis Academy plans to take advantage of the warm temps and hit the courts today (Jan. 9), according to e-mail communication from Coach Shadisha Robinson. The tennis academy is located at the Southland Community Golf and Country Club in unincorporated Stone Mountain.

Stone Mountain Village Business News

• The village's Art Stroll and Merchants Open House is this Jan. 12, 6:30-9:30 p.m.

• Sweet Potato Cafe will celebrate its first year in business this weekend, Jan. 11-13. Click on the attached flyer for details on all the activities, including live jazz, a book signing, giveaways and Sunday brunch.

• Closed: Clayborne Fashions and Stone Mountain Framing. The Main Street Stone Mountain group tells Patch Stone Mountain Framing will still have a presence at the expanded Sassy's space at E. Mountain and Main Streets, and at Center Town Gallery.

• A new artist is coming to the village: Cynthia Frigon will join Anita Jordan at South Town Gallery, 977 Main Street. Frigon's term begins Jan. 15 through June 30, 2013.

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Businesses Opening in Stone Mountain and Lithonia in 2013

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