Demolition will begin at the former North DeKalb Mall site on June 26 to pave the way for a new mixed-use development called Lulah Hills.
“Saying goodbye is never easy,” said a press release from developer EDENS. “North DeKalb Mall has been an integral part of this community for nearly 60 years. Now the time has come for a new chapter in this story. Please join us as we officially make way for Lulah Hills.”
Demolition of the mall, located at 2042 Lawrenceville Hwy., is set to start at 10 a.m. according to the release.
EDENS, which acquired the property in 2019, announced in 2023 that it would transform the site into Lulah Hills, a 73-acre mixed-use redevelopment.
“At its full buildout, the project will include 2.5 million square feet, including 320,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space, 1,700 multifamily units, 100 townhomes, a 150-key hotel, and a PATH Foundation trail connection to Emory University,” the announcement said.
The name Lulah Hills is a play on an original naming concept by the renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted for the Druid Hills community, according to the EDENS announcement.
Located near downtown Decatur and Emory University, North DeKalb Mall was Atlanta’s first fully enclosed mall when it opened for business in 1965. Over the years, it contained such tenants as Rich’s, Woolworth, Rhodes Furniture, Mervyn’s, Uptons and Stein Mart.
In 2020, the mall closed its doors, citing poor sales and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first phase, which will contain retail stores, is expected to open in 2025, according to EDENS.
Renderings of Lulah Hills. (Courtesy of EDENS)