Living Jackson Magazine :: Traditions Walk

Traditions Walk

Retail, Residential Go Hand in Hand As Jackson Continues Positive Growth

Take a stroll down Traditions Walk and you’re sure to understand why developers and governments take special effort to combine a variety of tenants into one commercial center.

Experienced developers know that successful growth depends on the right balance of retail, entertainment and residential. And government officials recognize the need for a long-range master plan as a vital part of the equation.

“Jackson County has a good master plan that balances industrial, residential, retail, warehouse and big box development,” says Sean Childers, president and CEO of Hometown Community Bank, headquartered in Braselton. “We’re right next to Gwinnett County, the largest-populated in the state, so that puts Jackson County in a perfect position to maintain its growth rate.”

Part of that planned growth is the increase of major neighborhoods, including Traditions by Braselton Land LLC and Heritage Point being built by Robert Harris Homes. Developer Tom Kitchin, well known for his quality developments, has built Traditions Walk within eyeball distance of both communities near the intersection of Hwy. 124 at Hwy. 332.

“Having retail, office and restaurants so close to communities is beneficial for the residents,” Kitchin says. “It just follows that residential and a high-quality center like Traditions Walk have perfect synergy.”

Quality and Diversity

Traditions Walk has already begun to take its place at a diverse center offering a broad mix of retail, office space and financial services. Hometown Community Bank opened its second location in the county in late September. For bank President and CEO Childers, the decision was easy.

“This area has seen rapid growth and we saw the need for a bank there,” he said. “We wanted to be part of the quality development that people associate with Tom Kitchin and be located in an expanding part of the county. With the number of new homes being built there, this was the place for us to be.”

The 48,000-square-foot campus offers space for a diversity of businesses. The parking lot is complete and landscaping is in at the New Orleans/Mediterranean-style center that’s built with a mix of stone accents and wrought iron and many other Mediterranean-style features. The street level is designed for retail shops and restaurants; the upper floor is suitable for studio space and professional offices.

Traditions Walk is already more than 50 percent leased with many of the tenants planning to move in by late November or early December. Hometown Community Bank and Traditions Animal Hospital are the first two tenants.

“We’re still looking for more of the right type of tenant to fit with our vision,” says Kitchin. “Truthfully, we’ve been a bit picky, because we want the cream of the crop here, with more unique and one-of-a-kind shops, businesses, restaurants and services. Our focus is on the small business and the entrepreneur, and many people who have lived in this area for a long time are coming to open their businesses with us.”

Convenience for Residents, Shoppers

With six interstate exchanges off I-85, Jackson County is very accessible. It’s attracting major retailers and people who want to live in a community that still feels like a small town with strong family values.

Kim’s Dry Cleaners, Tradition Nails & Spa, Island Blends Café and T&T Floor and Décor are in the build-out stages, according to Andrew Depue, leasing consultant with Traditions Walk. Ninragon, a restaurant that serves Japanese, Chinese and Thai cuisine, in addition to sushi, has leased 3,000 square feet. A chiropractic and spinal rehab office is planned.

“Thomas and Karen Gref, who own Platinum Salon in Braselton, have leased space from us and Anytime Fitness, a 24-hour access gym with free tanning, will be located in 4,200 square feet on the second floor.”

The center is also suitable for medical offices and professional services, such as a dentist, an insurance agent, real estate closing attorney or a financial planner. “We’re also looking for a dance studio or a karate school to be located upstairs,” Depue says. “These are the types of businesses that families appreciate having close to home.”

Plans include the possibility of a furniture or hardware store and some clothing boutiques as well.

Jeff and Tiffany Martin, DVM, co-own Traditions Animal Hospital, the second tenant to open at the center. They live within a few miles and when Tiffany decided to open her own practice, Traditions Walk was the natural choice.

“With all the growth going on along the (Hwy.) 124 corridor and the quality of Traditions Walk and the other tenants, this is where we wanted to be as we started our business,” Jeff says. “We knew it would be a good draw because of the location and the big surge of growth.”

The practice opened in early October and has already garnered a good base of clients. “We’re already staying busy, but we’re adding new patients all the time,” he says. “It’s just a great convenience for the people who are moving here to have a center with this much to offer.”

Building on Success

Kitchin, who formerly owned dry cleaning stores in metro Atlanta, has taken his retail experience and used it to create the types of centers that are good for tenants and shoppers. He made the transition into real estate development seven years ago by developing the 12,000-square-foot Hamilton Walk at Hamilton Mill in Gwinnett.

With an eye on the future, he looked toward Jackson County and the influx of residential development as a good sign that retail would flourish. His Jackson County projects include the 31,000-square-foot Mulberry Walk Shopping Center in front of the Mulberry Park subdivision on Hwy. 211 in Braselton, Traditions Walk at Hwy. 124 just outside of Traditions of Braselton and Hometown Walk, a 25,000-square-foot center just outside the town limits of Braselton adjacent to the first location of Hometown Community Bank. When he built Mulberry Walk in 2004 near Chateau Élan, the area was sparsely populated. Today it’s a hub for residential and commercial growth.

Traditions Walk is a sure-fire sign that Jackson County is evolving, and if this upscale shopping center that promotes the future and preserves the past is any indication of what is to come, Jackson County has a bright and promising future.