Business

Peachtree Corners Businesses Reopen with Health and Safety Precautions

Published

4 years ago

June 8, 2020

Lea Harwell, owner of Beautiful Lea, practices safety measures while washing Kaitlyn Rabitsch's hair. Kaitlyn’s mom, Brigette Rabitsch, was one of Lea's first clients at the salon.

Though the current pandemic situation has hit us all hard in innumerable ways, perhaps some of us the most affected them are local Peachtree Corner business owners. But when the going gets tough, the tough get going! Here’s how our favorite local places have made the most of unprecedented times, squeezing life’s lemons for all the juice they’re worth.

Beautiful Lea and My Salon Suite Peachtree Corners — Hairstylist, Beauty Salon Suites

If you’ve seen a loved one give themselves a quarantine haircut gone wrong, then you have a newfound appreciation for your hairstylist. Lea Harwell of Beautiful Lea reopened her salon suite for business on March 24, along with several other beauty professionals that rent space in My Salon Suite Peachtree Corners.

Twenty-one beauty professionals work in the building, though not all reopened right away. Appointment times are scattered for safety; visitors also answer a health questionnaire and usually submit to a temperature check.

The State Board of Cosmetology already has high sanitation standards, but in addition, extra time is allotted between appointments to clean and properly disinfect surfaces. Harwell rearranged her limited space to reduce close contact, but even so she has to work twice as hard to see about half the normal daily clientele. Despite these challenges, she serves with a radiant smile behind that surgical mask.

“I’m not sure about the phrase ‘new normal’ but I consider this time a transition back to a more normal life and business environment. Getting back in the salon and helping my clients feel cared for is the part that makes me feel more normal,” Harwell said.

One huge help to Harwell and other small business owners that share My Salon Suite Peachtree Corners was the honorable decision of owners Tim and Marty Commons to waive all rent fees. The waiver includes the four weeks of the stay at home order, as well as the first two weeks that suite renters were permitted to reopen. This grace period comes out the goodness of the Commons’ hearts and their own pockets. Acts of kindness like this are commendable and show the strength of character on display in Peachtree Corners.

Innovative Smiles at the Forum

It may not seem like we have a lot to smile about right now, but our local dentists are making sure we keep our smiles healthy anyway. As an essential business, Innovative Smiles at the Forum has been open for emergency patients and essential doctor treatment. They remained emergency only through the month of May, but are open for routine dental practice starting the first week of June.

To stay afloat, support team employees had to be furloughed in March until recent weeks. It took a while for Innovative Smiles to receive federal assistance from the Paycheck Protection Program, but once the application went through on May 20, it allowed team members to come back to work.

All dentistry professionals must wear disposable gowns, a minimum Level 3 mask, and face shields while assisting patients. “With dentistry, we have always dealt with infections, bacterial or viral infections. So we have always had to use PPE, but we just have to take it to another level now,” Dr. Phillip Talley said.

To avoid patient backup, patients must call in to inform of their arrival and await confirmation by call or text before they can enter their designated suite. All patients must complete a health questionnaire prior to their appointment and submit to a touchless thermometer reading before entry. Non-contact payment is available online as well.

To keep the community safe, the patient volume will naturally have to decrease. So, patients, please be patient as you book your next cleaning.

Spalding Animal Hospital

Veterinary medicine falls under the category of essential service, so Spalding Animal Hospital has remained open throughout this tumultuous time. Yet the manner our furry friends receive vital care has gone through some major changes.

Ideally, it works best to have families in the exam room for the comfort of owner and patient, but prolonged exposure to others in an enclosed space isn’t wise. To accommodate this issue, curbside carpool service allows veterinary assistants to meet owners outside and then escort pets into the building.

Spalding Animal Hospital has a very adaptable approach, doing whatever they can safely do to make all their customers (human and animal) comfortable. For an anxious pet, a special visit in the outdoor play yards with their families may be necessary. If families insist on seeing the examination, the service can be performed in full view through the floor-to-ceiling windows. And to make pet care even easier, Spalding Animal Hospital offers free home deliveries of patient medications and prescription diets to all Peachtree Corners families.

“Many families are enjoying more time at home with pets as they juggle working from home and supervising school activities for their children. Having enjoyed months at home with their entire family, pets should slowly become acclimated to spending some time without their family members,” Dr. Paola Steyling, DVM said.

Stay tuned to Spalding Animal Hospital’s Facebook and Instagram Pages for advice on how to prepare your pets for the transition to a more regular schedule.

Anderby Brewing —Craft Spirits

The lively, vivacious social scene that is Anderby Brewing is still on tap, but it has had to slow to a trickle in recent months. The taproom and patio seating had been closed to guests since March 17, but reopened on May 22.

In the interim, the brewery has kept up the to-go sales of crowlers (32-oz. cans filled on demand with Anderby’s propriety draft lines) and refilling growlers (32-oz. or 64-oz. containers made of glass, steel or ceramic), as well as a small bottling operation. About 7,500 bottles of beer flowed to keep Anderby Brewing afloat in the past six weeks, and now it’s time to get back to what they do best: serving delicious craft beer.

“Visiting a brewery is a very social experience. Patrons want to interact with each other, as well with our team, during their visit, so making the decision to reopen was not taken lightly,” Preston Smelt, President of Anderby Brewing, said.

Though the facility has always had high sanitation standards, extra precautions have been taken to protect employees and visitors.

“Staff will wear masks during their shift and gloves when filling crowlers. We have added hand sanitizers and have started laminating menus for easy cleaning. We reduced the seating capacity of both the taproom and patio to allow for proper social distancing,” Smelt said.

Noble Fin — Fine Dining

In front of Noble Fin are a dozen picnic tables for outdoor eating.

For a night out to remember, you can’t go wrong with Noble Fin. Noble Fin reopened on May 22 with a limited all-day menu consisting of delectable small plates and salads, as well as gourmet seafood and steak entrees.

Outdoor picnic and patio tables make up the bulk of the seating. A walk-up ordering system is in place, approaching the server to order instead of traditional service. Limited indoor seating is
also an option.

For those that prefer to take their food with them, To-Go and curbside ordering remain an option. Please allow 45 minutes after calling for your food to be ready, and call in to inform the hosts of your arrival. The number for to-go ordering is 770-599-7979

Taqueria Del Mar — Mexican Cuisine

This fast, casual Mexican restaurant has been super creative about how to serve their loyal customers during these crazy times. For to-go options, Take and Bakes have been a staple of the new menu, featuring family-size delights like the Philly Cheesesteak Casserole and Cheesy Sloppy Beefaroni.

The dining room reopened to limited dine-in service on May 22, with traditional tableside ordering as well as contactless ordering in their free app. Tips to download the app on Apple or Android phones are listed on front page of their website.

As an added way to help struggling families, Taqueria Del Mar created the “Pay What You Can” program. Owner Andrew Hoppen wanted to make sure that anyone who needed a full meal could come in and get one by “paying what they can.” According to a posting on their Facebook page, over 300 people have been fed through this program since the first week of March. Patrons who can afford to “Pay it Forward” to offset these costs are encouraged to do so through Taqueria Del Mar’s mobile app menu. Thanks, Taqueria Del Mar, for showing us that kindness is cool! ■

Links to Businesses Mentioned in the story:
Beautiful Lea facebook.com/LeaYourHairSalon
My Salon Suite mysalonsuite.com/peachtree-corners
Innovative Smiles gwinnettdentist.com/wp3/
Spalding Animal Hospital spaldinganimalhospital.com
Anderby Brewing anderbybrewing.com
Noble Fin noblefinrestaurant.com
Taqueria Del Mar taqueriadelmar.com

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Kelsey Asher

Kelsey Asher is a proud graduate of the University of West Georgia with a Bachelor’s in Communications. She has held a variety of marketing leadership roles for several small, startup companies in a variety of industries including publishing, construction and technology.

Business

VyStar Credit Union Continues Growth in Georgia with the Opening of a Peachtree Corners Branch

Published

1 week ago

May 9, 2024

Peachtree Corners Magazine staff

A grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled for May 29, 2024

VyStar Credit Union has to announced that its Peachtree Corners location is now open at 5125 Peachtree Parkway in Peachtree Corners. This is VyStar’s fifth full-service branch in Metro Atlanta and joins branches in Stockbridge, Suwanee, Smyrna and Marietta.

In support of its purpose to “Do Good,” VyStar partners with non-profit organizations across the communities it serves. VyStar will make a $5,000 donation to the Rainbow Village to celebrate the grand opening of the Peachtree Corners branch at the ribbon cutting event in late May.

“VyStar’s first branch in Gwinnett will provide residents and business owners with better banking options, including free checking, access to early direct deposit, great rates, financial wellness education through VyStar’s Financial Fitness initiative, and unbelievable member-centric service that only a credit union can provide,” said VyStar EVP/Chief Operations Officer Chad Meadows.

The Peachtree Corners branch features VyStar’s digital-forward design, which enhances how employees connect with members. This includes interactive touchscreen kiosks that provide financial tools and allow members to quickly explore the latest products, services and rates.

Lobby and drive-thru hours for the Peachtree Corners branch are Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

VyStar continues to work with local organizations to build up the communities it serves. In Metro Atlanta, that includes supporting the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Junior Achievement of Georgia, Frontline Housing Inc., H.E.R.O. For Children and many others.

“Each time VyStar opens a new branch, it is another opportunity for us to support our purpose to Do Good. With eight full-service branches now in Georgia and our first Contact Center in Metro Atlanta, VyStar is able to provide residents and area businesses with exceptional financial products along with personalized service,” said VyStar SVP/Georgia Market President Janean Armstrong.

VyStar has seven additional locations in Georgia: Marietta, Smyrna, Suwanee, Stockbridge, Brunswick, Savannah and Thomasville, with plans to open branches in Pooler, Kingsland and Peachtree City over the next year.

The credit union is also expanding its services in Florida with a third branch in Tallahassee scheduled to open in May followed by a branch opening in the Lake Nona area in August.

To celebrate the grand opening, the community is invited to a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 29, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. Learn more about the Peachtree Corners branch.

Business

Kendra Scott Opens New Store At The Forum

Published

3 weeks ago

April 26, 2024

Peachtree Corners Magazine staff

Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott is celebrating the opening of its newest store in Peachtree Corners the weekend of May 10 at The Forum.

Upon opening, the 2,263 square foot store will display Kendra Scott’s current collections. The store will also showcase the brand’s unique Color Bar, offering shoppers an interactive experience to create customized jewelry in minutes and leave with it in hand.

Worn by celebrities including Hailey Bieber, Camila Cabello, Mindy Kaling, Zendaya and Kelly Clarkson, Kendra Scott’s collections are known for their custom-created stone shapes, genuine materials and design details.

This will be Kendra Scott’s first store in Gwinnett County, which joins five other retail locations in Georgia.

The brand will continue to show its support for the community through partnerships with non-profits and local businesses. For the grand opening weekend, Kendra Scott Peachtree Corners will host various non-profits for Kendra Gives Back events, donating a percentage of proceeds directly back to the causes.

Kendra Scott hosts more than 10,000 Kendra Gives Back events in retail stores annually and looks forward to establishing relationships and connecting with the Gwinnett County community.

“We’re excited to continue introducing the community to new brands, bites and events at The Forum as part of our vision to create downtown Peachtree Corners. Kendra Scott will be a welcome addition, providing our guests a top-notch experience to shop its unique offerings in person,” said Charlotte Hinton, The Forum marketing manager.

Doors will open on Friday, May 10, at 10 a.m. with celebrations throughout the weekend, including giveback events, gifts with purchase and giveaways. RSVP for more details here.

Upcoming events:

Friday, May 10 from 10-12 p.m. – Kendra Scott Peachtree Corners is partnering with The Forum for a VIP event. Supporters who spend $100 will receive a special jewelry gift with purchase.* Guests will also enjoy refreshments from Giulia, The Italian Bakery.
Friday, May 10 from 5-7 p.m. – Kendra Scott Peachtree Corners is partnering with the Norcross High School Cheer Team and donating 20% of proceeds. Supporters who spend $100 will receive a special gift with purchase* Guests can also receive a custom embroidered bow from Quiet Hours Embroidery with purchase.
Saturday, May 11 from 4-6 p.m. – Kendra Scott Peachtree Corners is partnering with Spectrum Autism Support Group and donating 20% of proceeds. Supporters who spend $100 will receive a special gift with purchase.* Guests will also enjoy complimentary cotton candy from Wonder Soirée with every purchase.
Sunday, May 12 from 12-2 p.m. – Kendra Scott Peachtree Corners is celebrating the Community of Motherhood. Supporters who spend $100 will receive a special gift with purchase.* Guests will also receive a complimentary Mother’s Day bouquet of flowers from Nancy’s Flower Truck.

*One per person while supplies last.

Kendra Scott Peachtree Corners is located at 5155 Peachtree Parkway, Suite 710 in Peachtree Corners at The Forum. For companywide updates and product details, follow @kendrascott on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Business

BRACK: Peachtree Corners to lose Peterbrooke Chocolatier

Published

4 weeks ago

April 19, 2024

Courtesy of Elliott Brack's Gwinnett Forum

Scottt Gottuso and Geoffrey Wilson. Photo provided.

Peachtree Corners will soon lose one of its most iconic, popular and tasty businesses.

Peterbrooke Chocolatier, run by Geoffrey Wilson and Scott Gottuso, has been told by Peachtree Forum landlords, North American Properties and Nuveen Real Estate, that its lease will not be renewed. The last day of business will be July 25.

Meanwhile, Peachtree Forum is getting several new stores. They include Kendra Scott, Sucre, and The NOW Massage. Previously announced were Alloy Personal Training, Cookie Fix, Gallery Anderson Smith, Giulia, Lovesac, Nando’s Peri-Peri and Stretchlab. Wilson adds: “We are not in their big picture.”

Wilson has operated Peterbrooke at the Peachtree Forum for 14 years and Gottuso has been there nine years. They have made the chocolatier profitable and doubled sales. Wilson says: “We turned it around through community involvement and made relationships. We worked with the schools, gave donations, did a lot in the community, and made a difference. We produce most everything we sell in the shop, so it’s labor intensive. We make European-style chocolate treats from scratch from the very best ingredients, package it, make gift baskets, and also sell a lot of gelato.”

Key items include truffles, hand-made caramels, cherry cordials, chocolate-covered cookies and pretzels and strawberries hand-dipped in their own blend of chocolates. (They are all good!) One of Wilson’s and Gottuso’s most iconic products is chocolate popcorn. Once you try it, regular popcorn is tasteless. “We sell a lot of it.” Wilson adds: “Gelato sales have carried us in the summertime, since there are not many chocolate holidays in the summer.”

Peterbrooke now has five employees, and would like to have 10, but it is difficult to hire people with the skills in chocolatiering. A key part of its business is corporate companies, such as Delta Air Lines and Capital Insight. The Peachtree Corners’ Peterbrooke has corporate customers as far away as Cleveland, Ohio.

The operators were surprised when the Forum owners did not renew its five year lease. “The big decisions were made in Charlotte or Cincinnati, not locally,” Wilson feels. “We were no longer in their big picture. They want new and glitzy, shiny, fancy and trendy.”

The operators plan to start their own chocolate company, to be called “Scoffrey,” and initially sell online, plus have pop-up locations during holidays, and possibly have a booth in other merchants’ stores on occasions.

“Whatever we do would look different. We might rent a space somewhere close by so that people can still have the good chocolate experience with us, but we won’t have a regular audience walking by.”

Another element: the price of chocolate futures has spiked this year, with a bad crop production year. Wilson says: “That is key to our business and a huge cost increase. That doesn’t help.”

Wilson adds that the forced closing of the Peterbrooke location “is something like the death of a friend. But you go to the funeral and to the wake, and in six months or a year, It won’t be so bad.”

Have a comment? Send to: elliott@elliottbrack

Written by Elliott Brack

This material is presented with permission from Elliott Brack’s GwinnettForum, an online site published Tuesdays and Fridays. To become better informed about Gwinnett, subscribe (at no cost) at GwinnettForum