Shumacher Group's Harold Shumacher (far right, along with Peter Kruskamp and Kathy Thirolf) says much of the retail expansion is franchisee growth like Dallas-based Wingstop, which is looking to grow its current portfolio of eight Atlanta locations. (With 700 stores nationally, Harold says there's definitely demand). Chicken eatery Bojangles' is also looking to add more space here, he says.

Lincoln Property's Kirk Williams tells us the change in activity in Atlanta's retail market is remarkable. “Before 18 months ago, it was nothing,” he says. Today, Kirk just brokered outdoor clothing retailer Mountain High Outfitters for its second Atlanta location. 

Kirk also is helping Dr Martens enter the market with a 2,500 SF Midtown or West Midtown location for its first Atlanta store. Affectionately called “Doc Martens” by aficionados, the shoemaker has a string of stores across the globe. But, it generally only puts one or two per market (such as this one in NYC's SoHo neighborhood).