If you grew up in DeKalb County or lived anywhere near the Perimeter in the 80s and 90s, Northlake Mall was the spot. It was the "fancy" mall before Perimeter Mall took the crown, a place where the fountain in the center court felt like a landmark and the smell of roasted nuts from the snack kiosks followed you from Sears to JCPenney. But walk into Northlake Mall in Tucker today, and you’ll notice something immediately. It’s quiet. Not "abandoned movie set" quiet, but "in the middle of a massive identity crisis" quiet.
The retail landscape changed, and honestly, Northlake almost didn't make it. While other malls in the Atlanta metro area were being razed for apartments or turned into literal piles of rubble, Northlake Mall sat in a weird limbo. For a few years, it felt like the only things keeping the lights on were the food court's surviving vendors and the occasional walker doing laps around the empty corridors.
Things are different now. We aren't looking at a traditional shopping mall anymore. What’s happening at the intersection of Briarcliff and LaVista Roads is a case study in how to save a massive piece of real estate when the department store model dies a slow, painful death.
The Emory Healthcare Takeover: Why Your Mall is Now a Hospital
You can't talk about Northlake Mall in Tucker without talking about Emory Healthcare. This is the single most important thing that has happened to the property in the last thirty years.
Back in 2019, Emory announced they were taking over a massive chunk of the mall—about 440,000 square feet. That’s not a small clinic; it’s a massive administrative hub. They moved in thousands of employees. Think about that for a second. Instead of teenagers looking for jeans, you have thousands of professionals with steady paychecks looking for lunch.
This move effectively "de-malled" a huge portion of the space. It shifted the center of gravity from retail to office and medical services. When you drive by today, the parking lot on the side of the former Sears is packed, but it’s not with shoppers. It’s with Emory staff. This was a brilliant move by ATRRI, the developers who bought the mall in 2016. They realized that if people won't come to the mall to shop, they'll come because they have to work there.
It saved the building. Period. Without that lease, Northlake would likely be a boarded-up eyesore by now.
What’s Still Open? (And What’s Long Gone)
It’s kinda weird to walk through the main concourse these days. You see the ghosts of the past everywhere. The old Parisian is a memory. Sears is gone. Kohl’s actually hung on for a while but eventually exited. The big anchors that defined the mall's footprint for decades have mostly vanished or been repurposed.
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But there are survivors. Macy's is still there, operating as a sort of "island" of traditional retail. It’s smaller than it used to be, but it’s functional. You also have JCPenney, which remains one of the more resilient anchors in the whole Northlake ecosystem.
Beyond the anchors, the interior is a mix:
- Foot Locker and some sneaker spots still draw a younger crowd.
- Local boutiques and specialty shops have filled the gaps where national chains like Gap or Abercrombie used to be.
- The food court—honestly the soul of any mall—is a shadow of its former self, but you can still grab a quick bite.
The vibe is surreal. You’ll see a medical coder in scrubs walking past a shop selling 1990s-style streetwear. It’s a mashup of 1971 architecture and 2026 economic reality.
The "Northlake District" Rebrand
The city of Tucker has been working hard to change the narrative. They don't want you to think of it as a failing mall; they want you to think of it as the "Northlake District."
This isn't just marketing fluff. The area surrounding the mall is actually booming. If you look at the real estate prices in the surrounding neighborhoods—Smoke Rise, Echo Lake, and the areas off Henderson Mill—you’ll see that people still want to live here. The mall is the anchor of a very wealthy, very stable community.
The developers are leaning into the "mixed-use" trend. We’ve seen this work at places like Avalon in Alpharetta or Ponce City Market, though Northlake is doing it on a much tighter budget and with a lot more retrofitting. The plan is to continue integrating more office space, potentially some residential units, and definitely more exterior-facing restaurants.
The Problem with the "Old Mall" Layout
The biggest hurdle for Northlake Mall in Tucker is the building itself. It’s a "fortress" mall. It was designed to keep people inside, away from the sun, in a controlled environment. Modern shoppers hate that. People want "walkable" and "outdoors."
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Breaking down those walls is expensive. ATRRI has been slowly working on opening up the facade. You can see it in how the new office spaces are designed—they have windows. Actual light! For a mall built in the era of dark wood and orange carpets, this is a revolutionary concept.
Is Northlake Safe? Addressing the Rumors
Let’s be real. Every time a mall starts to lose its national tenants, the "is it safe?" conversations start on Nextdoor and Facebook. It’s a common trope for aging suburban malls.
Northlake has had its moments, sure. But compared to some other regional malls that have struggled with high crime rates, Northlake has stayed relatively stable. The presence of thousands of Emory employees and the Tucker Police Department's focus on the area has helped. It doesn't feel "sketchy" so much as it feels "empty" in certain wings.
The safety of the mall is tied directly to its occupancy. As more of the space is converted to medical and professional use, the foot traffic becomes more predictable and corporate. It’s changing the demographic of the daily visitor, which in turn changes the security profile of the entire property.
The Impact of the City of Tucker Incorporation
The mall used to be in "unincorporated DeKalb." Now, it’s the crown jewel (or the biggest headache) of the City of Tucker, which incorporated in 2016.
This changed everything for the mall’s future. The city has a vested interest in making sure Northlake doesn't become a blight. They’ve been aggressive with zoning and support for the redevelopment. Having a local city hall just down the road means the developers can't just sit on a decaying property without hearing about it from the mayor.
Tucker’s leadership has been vocal about wanting Northlake to be a "regional destination" again, though maybe not for shopping. They want it to be a place for jobs. If you can't be the place where people spend money, be the place where people earn it.
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Why You Should (Or Shouldn’t) Visit
If you’re looking for a high-end shopping experience where you can browse Gucci and Louis Vuitton, stay on I-285 and head to Phipps Plaza. Northlake is not that.
However, if you need a JCPenney or Macy’s without the nightmare of Perimeter Mall traffic, Northlake is great. It’s easy to get in and out. The parking is plentiful.
It’s also a fascinating place for a walk if you’re into "dead mall" culture or urban planning. Seeing the transition from 70s retail glory to a modern healthcare hub is actually pretty cool. You can see the layers of history in the flooring and the lighting fixtures.
What’s Next: The Future of Northlake Mall in Tucker
Don't expect a grand reopening with 100 new stores. That's not happening. The future of Northlake is boring, and that’s a good thing.
The future is:
- More Medical: Expect more specialized clinics and perhaps even patient-facing services to join the administrative offices.
- Food for Workers: Look for the food court to eventually evolve into something that serves the 9-to-5 crowd better—think higher-quality fast-casual rather than Sbarro.
- Residential Integration: There have been long-standing talks about adding apartments to the massive sea of asphalt that surrounds the mall. This is the "final boss" of mall redevelopment.
- Exterior Growth: More businesses will likely move to the outparcels—the buildings in the parking lot—rather than inside the mall itself.
Northlake Mall is a survivor. It didn't die; it just got a job in healthcare. It’s a weird, hybrid space that represents exactly where suburban America is headed in 2026.
Actionable Insights for Locals and Visitors
If you're planning to head over or you're curious about the area, keep these things in mind:
- Park near the Main Entrance: If you're going for retail, the central entrances are still your best bet. If you're there for an appointment, follow the specific Emory signage, as they have their own designated entry points to avoid the main mall traffic.
- Support the Remaining Food Vendors: The local business owners in the food court are the ones most affected by the transition. If you’re in the area, grab lunch there. The variety is actually surprisingly good for a "dying" mall.
- Check the Tucker City Calendar: The parking lots at Northlake are frequently used for community events, car shows, and seasonal festivals. Often, the most "happening" part of the mall is actually outside in the back lot.
- Don't Expect All Entrances to Be Open: Because of the Emory construction and various renovations, some of the older wing entrances are frequently locked. Stick to the anchor store entrances or the primary food court doors.
- Watch the Real Estate: If you’re looking to buy in Tucker, keep an eye on the mall’s progress. Every time a new phase of the "Northlake District" is completed, property values in the immediate vicinity tend to get a little bump.