EDENS Signs L.L.Bean as Retail Anchor at Lulah Hills Mixed-Use Project in Decatur, Marking Brand's Georgia Debut

EDENS has signed L.L.Bean to a 15,000-square-foot lease at Lulah Hills, the developer's large-scale mixed-use redevelopment of the former North DeKalb Mall site in Decatur, Georgia, the company announced July 15, 2026. The store will be L.L.Bean's first location in Georgia, occupying a new building at the corner of Lulah Avenue and Oak Tree Road within the 78-acre project.

Georgia's First L.L.Bean Store Anchors Growing Lulah Hills Tenant Lineup

L.L.Bean, the outdoor apparel and footwear brand, joins a tenant roster that EDENS has been assembling throughout 2026. Earlier this year, the developer announced leases with Publix, Anthropologie, Design Within Reach, Herman Miller, [solidcore], Les Mains Nail Bar, Firepit Pizza Tavern and Honeysuckle Gelato at the same project.

"We're always focused on bringing together brands that complement one another and create places where people genuinely want to spend their time. All new deals start with a conversation about what will make a community even stronger," said Natalie Abt, Senior Director of Leasing, EDENS. "We're grateful for the trust L.L.Bean has placed in us, and we're excited to welcome retailers who share our commitment to creating vibrant, engaging destinations."

Lulah Hills: Scale and Scope of the Redevelopment

EDENS acquired the former North DeKalb Mall property in 2021 and has since completed demolition, advancing the site toward a planned 2.5 million-square-foot mixed-use destination. At full build-out, Lulah Hills is expected to include 320,000 square feet of retail, approximately 1,700 multifamily residences, 92 townhomes and more than two acres of public green space across the 78-acre site.

On the residential side, construction is underway on Crescent Communities' Novel Lulah Hills, which will feature 303 apartment homes, and Empire Communities' 92 townhomes — both expected to deliver later in 2027. The project's Phase I retail component is also scheduled for completion in 2027, when the first wave of retail tenants is expected to begin opening.

Additional activity is already underway on-site. Local coffee operator Refuge Coffee is preparing to open in a former fuel station at North Druid Hills Road and Mistletoe Road. Interior improvements at Marshalls have been completed, and renovations at AMC Theatres are nearing completion, with both businesses remaining open throughout construction. Once finished, the AMC location will feature 11 auditoriums with AMC Signature Recliners, along with a new lobby, box office, hallways, restrooms and MacGuffins Bar area. Adjacent to those businesses, EDENS plans Lemon Park, described as the project's largest community green and intended as a venue for year-round programming and events.

EDENS' Atlanta Footprint

EDENS owns and operates 1.1 million square feet of retail in the Atlanta MSA, a portfolio that includes Lulah Hills, Toco Hills, Merchant's Walk, Andrews Square, Buckhead Market Place and Park Place.

Established in 1966, EDENS owns, develops and operates a portfolio of more than 100 open-air retail and mixed-use properties in high-growth markets nationwide. The company says its portfolio reaches an estimated 15 million people daily.

Sources: EDENS Press Release, July 15, 2026