By JOHN MUNFORD
jmunford@TheCitizenNews.com

The epicenter of Peachtree City’s burgeoning retail growth is near the intersection of Ga. highways 54 and 74.

That’s where The Avenue, a project comprised of specialty retail stores, is being constructed. Some stores there will open by the end of this year, though the grand opening isn’t set until March 29, 2001, said Lisa Simmons of Cousins Properties.

The Avenue’s largest stores will be Gap/Gap Kids and Harry’s In A Hurry, which is an upscale grocery store that will specialize in prepared foods, Simmons said. Other stores signed on include Banana Republic, Victoria’s Secret, Bath and Body Works, Atlanta Bread Company, Ritz Camera, Claire’s Boutique, Yankee Candle and Children’s Place, a children’s clothing store.

Two other major retail stores also will have impact on shopping trends in Peachtree City even though they’re not under construction yet. A Publix grocery store is planned for the Wilshire Pavilion retail center, which will be on Hwy. 74 south at the intersection with Holly Grove Road. And Home Depot plans to locate on Hwy. 54 near the entrance to Planterra Ridge subdivision in a retail center being proposed by RAM Development. Wal-Mart also wants to locate in that center, but the city has yet to approve it.

Also scheduled for the area of the 54/74 intersection is a Macaroni Grill restaurant in the Market Place retail center. It will be between the Chili’s and Longhorn restaurants.

Other restaurants on the way include Wendy’s at the Kedron Village retail center and Susiyoshi, a Japanese restaurant that will be in the Barrow Retail Center, near the intersection of Hwy. 74 and Wisdom Road.

Barrow Retail Center also will have Break of Day Bakery, Oxford Cleaners and Carlo’s Salon.

It’s too early to tell what Lexington Circle will have at its location at Hwy. 54 near Walt Banks Road. The developer, Bob Adams Homes, has only begun to court potential stores, though there have been plenty of calls, a spokesman said.

Lexington Circle will be the first large scale mixed-use development that puts residential units and retail stores in the same area.

Another retail center coming to Peachtree City is the Peachtree City Promenade, which will be at the intersection of Hwy. 54 and Shakerag Hill. The developer declined to provide the names of businesses that have leased space there.