A Store of food prepared fresh and taste of home. with a little grocery.

Of course! How could I forget about a local grocery store? Thanks, Ruthy!

I would love to have more retail! A cute clothing boutique would be great since we don't have anything like that now.

A nice yarn shop, similar to one I've seen in Peachtree City. Not a big-box national chain, but knitting/crochet supplies and yarns. PLEEEEASE? :-)

A Chinese restaurant would be a good, non-competitive addition to our eclectic mix already in town.
The clothing boutique is a good idea as well, but rent is extremely high in that building and surrounding buildings which has run past retailers out of business or forced to sell/close. Clothing boutique in one back section of Antique Traditions would be great way to start this and see if it takes off.

Here's my suggestion since I've been here for 14 years and have seen the businesses come and go and I mean come and go... Lets count the number of business that we already have, professional services, retail and restaurants. You will be surprised at the balance...there is none. A thriving cute little Downtown needs careful planning and lets move forward with more American Made Businesses.

Today most of us buy the era through the Internet, you can not rely on the past. Should refer to the future of serving the population and be connected to its needs. And should be a little more serious has to do market research. I do not pretend to know or predict the future because I'm not going to be an actual business. Any business can succeed with a positive attitude of all beneficiaries.
And sorry but the attitude that all made ​​in America does not serve the business owner. (I miss America's cotton products at reasonable prices).
Ask yourself if you buy by price or product? And it could provide additional cover.

@ Ruthy: The more we think about American Made anything, the more we will get back to the future > > >

Neva, it is good to see you add commentary here. You HAVE seen quite a bit of change downtown, and over the past 15 years it has been unbelievable. Everyone does need to understand that rent is extremely high downtown, comparable to the same price per square foot as The Forum. Not all business downtown are making a profit. What does seem to work (ask Mojito's) is a non-conforming, high quality restaurant. That means no pizza, no Italian, no Chinese, no Thai, no hamburgers. Now that the Corner Deli is opening in front of Dick's Sporting Goods, we don't need any more deli's. An ice cream shop would stuggle to pay rent as would any specialty shop. Ask Keith over at 45 South if you want some good perspective on what works and what doesn't. Personally, I think a blend of contemporary American fare might be successful if the restaurant also could serve alcohol (steak, seafood, BBQ). Mix in some music on weekends to help retain diners after they have finished their meal. That is what seems to draw people downtown, the relaxed environment and quality food. Ken may not like this idea across the street, but if not a restaurant, than perhaps a clothing consignment shop or boutique as others have suggested.

How about a new/used Book Store?

I think we have enough restaurants already(9). Why don't we be adventurous and do something American, different that we don't already have, like:
1. consignment shop where people can re-sell their home furnishings, books,music, etc....
2. why not break the big box into smaller spaces and have mini-shops so people can afford the rent because retail has trouble paying rent in large spaces and these are large. Gainesville has a nice building thats divided into seperate rooms and rents it as retail. Lets get women shoppers down here with purses, they spend the money. There's also a place called 'Queen of Hearts' in Alpharetta that is a great model for a box store.
3. here's the problem with building it as a restaurant: once its built out, its hard to change it back to a box for retail without the grease trap,etc.... and that cost tons of money to change, so, more than likely, it will always be a restaurant.
4. and, lets be careful about having so much 'free' fun and make sure there's a balance because its really about people spending money to keep this place in tact or, you'll have revolving, empty store fronts.
5. one more thing about the restaurants and I'm not running around asking them this personal question but, just because they 'look' busy does not mean that they are making money...its like that in any business, even mine.
CHEERS:-}

I want Al Karnitz, Terry Bowie, and Alex to start a model/antique train shop, with lots of branded Norcross stuff (sweatshirts, hats, etc.). Just my two cents, love spending other people's money.

I think we need a Starbucks.

I loved reading all the comments because I think all too often landlords jump too quickly at the first offer because in an economy like this we all see building after building sitting empty as a landlord myself it's agonizing losing money due to an empty space. With that being said I agree about the build-out of another restaurant in light of their special requirements. Once a restaurant location always a restaurant location. Too expensive to change. I love the idea of consignment/retail where multiple creative people could all join forces - something like Queen of Hearts, Buford and Alpharetta. They are extremely successful and it would work here as well. I'm ready to sign on the dotted line and make it happen.

Does anyone know if there will be rear access to this space? It doesn't look like it from what I can tell. That would be extremely difficult for a restaurant.

I like the idea of multi-tenant to share the financial burden as mentioned by Neva. It doesn't matter to me whether it's art, food, used stuff, or collectibles - just has to be interesting and not done by the big chains on 141.

@ Lynn White, You said,
'Once a restaurant location always a restaurant location. Too expensive to change. I love the idea of consignment/retail where multiple creative people could all join forces - something like Queen of Hearts, Buford and Alpharetta. They are extremely successful and it would work here as well. I'm ready to sign on the dotted line and make it happen.'

I agree. A big box store needs to be broken into spaces 8X8, 10X10, 12X12 so they can share the rent, since its way too big for one retail space. The City of Norcross Downtown area, really needs more retail to balance itself. Retail stores need shoppers and even more retail business to generate money, in order, to be successful.

And also, now, we have 9 restaurants, and this building is located next door to an already established restaurant. Our restaurant-pie is getting cut into small pieces. So, who can make any money, with that being their main service?