Daniel B.
Yelp
The Shops Buckhead Atlanta renamed and rebranded to Buckhead Village District (BVD) in April 2020. It's the third different name for this development since its first stores and restaurants opened in September 2014.
Before opening, the project was called "Buckhead Avenues" and "The Streets of Buckhead." At opening, the name was the confusing "Buckhead Atlanta." One year later, September 2015, the name was changed to the less-confusing-but-still-generic "The Shops Buckhead Atlanta." Today, it's "Buckhead Village District." Technically, Buckhead Village District is located in the Buckhead Village neighborhood of the Buckhead district. So, this development has managed to continue to: (1) keep Buckhead in its name and (2) maintain a name that's not completely unique. Can't someone just name it Lenox Square or Phipps Plaza and call it a day?
How about "Irby Center" or "Irby Place" or something like that? In the early 1830s, there was a man named Henry Irby who owned the land here. The story goes he placed a buck head of a buck he killed in front of his tavern, Irby's Tavern. Irby's Tavern was located in this area and that's how the name Buckhead came to be.
Jamestown LP is the current owner of Buckhead Village District and Jamestown is the company behind the last name change. Jamestown also owns Ponce City Market and Westside Provisions District -- quite the portfolio in Atlanta. Jamestown wasn't behind the names before Buckhead Village District. That was under the previous owner and developer, OliverMcMillan. Jamestown reportedly purchased The Shops Buckhead Atlanta from OliverMcMillan for between $175 million to $200 million in July 2019.
For comparison purposes, Hines purchased Atlantic Station in Midtown from North American Properties in 2015 for nearly $200 million. PGIM Real Estate purchased Avalon in Alpharetta from North American Properties in 2016 for about $500 million. The properties vary in size and offerings - for example, Atlantic Station and Avalon both have movie theaters, grocery stores, greenspace, and an ice skating rink during the winter - but those figures should give you a feel for how much these places are worth.
Buckhead is one of the wealthiest districts in the South, so it's no surprise that Buckhead Village District is upscale with high-end restaurants and retailers. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills has been used to describe what this place is and is not like, and I can see some of the former in BVD. BVD isn't nearly has high-end as Rodeo Drive, but the two do share some of the same luxury brands like Brunello Cucinelli, Dior, Hermes, Jimmy Choo, and Moncler. BVD also has more casual and affordable brands like Bonobos and Warby Parker.
In terms of restaurants and bars, I think BVD has a decent lineup. I wouldn't say it's great, but it's certainly not bad. BVD is home to Atlanta's first Shake Shack (opened September 2014). I've enjoyed my visits to Fado Irish Pub, Georgetown Cupcake, Le Bilboquet (French bistro/cafe and bar), and The Southern Gentleman (gastropub). It's too bad Doraku (sushi) and Qing Mu (noodles) closed in 2020. Those restaurant concepts, from the Aoki Group based in Miami and Honolulu, opened in 2015 and 2014, respectively.
A few other restaurants that have come and gone from BVD (then The Shops Buckhead Atlanta) over the years:
* American Food and Beverage - opened January 2015, closed January 2016
* Thirteen Pies - opened October 2014, closed May 2016
* Dolce Italian - opened September 2015, closed December 2017
Is there currently a restaurant at BVD that I'd go out of my way for? Not really, but that doesn't mean the options are terrible. I do think developments like Ponce City Market, Krog Street Market, Atlantic Station, and Avalon have equal or better food. Specifically, when compared to food halls at places like Ponce City Market and Krog Street Market, BVD's restaurants are all sit-down places with their own dedicated dining rooms. There's no food hall or food court at BVD.
I do like the overall aesthetic of Buckhead Village District and what they've tried to accomplish with this development since its opening in 2014. It's nice. I've generally had a good time during all my trips here, hence my four-star Yelp rating. However, I don't think the visions for this development have ever really come to fruition due, ultimately, to the tenant mix. Simply put, I think BVD needs to attract more tenants and better-quality tenants, whether it be from brand recognition or chef/restaurant name recognition. I hope they get there.
Parking for the first three hours at BVD is free with retailer or restaurant validation. I've entered the parking deck from two places:
1. N Fulton Dr NE between East Paces Ferry Rd NE and Buckhead Ave NE.
2. Bolling Way NE behind Le Bilboquet.
At the time of writing this review, BVD's parking rates are as follows:
0-3 hours, $3 (without validation)
3-4 hours, $5
4-5 hours, $8
5-6 hours, $10
6-24 hours, $20
Lost ticket, $20