www.gwinnettdailypost.com

By: Curt Yeomans

Published: Agust 15, 2018

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As many as 70 restaurants and retail shops could be part of the Revel development at the Gas South District, according to an official at the firm that is developing the project.

North American Properties, which also created Avalon in Alpharetta and is behind the redevelopment of Colony Square in Atlanta, is looking at breaking ground next spring or summer with construction expected to take about 18 months to complete.

North American partner and Senior Vice-President Commercial Development John Kelley offered a tease of what can be expected during a panel discussion hosted by Bisnow on Wednesday. Afterward, he laid out a bit more of the plans for the mixed-use project, including what residents can expect from it once it opens.

“The energy on the street will be very similar to what we created at Avalon,” Kelley said. “It will certainly be a different mix of merchandise and restaurants, but with the Gas South District bringing in over a million people a year, we’re just really excited about being able to build off of that and give people something to do before and after shows.”

Revel is one of several projects in various stages of progress at the Gas South District, along with an expansion of the enter for which county officials recently agreed to issue bonds. Construction is already underway on a parking deck that will replace some of the parking which will be taken out to make room for Revel.

A long-planned Marriott hotel that Concord Hotels has been working on is going to be built in concert with Revel, Kelley said.

There is no firm date for when some Revel tenant names could be released, but Kelley didn’t rule out the possibility of an announcement happening in October, shortly before the International Council of Shopping Centers convention in Atlanta.

But while names are not yet available, there are some clues about the types of businesses that could be included in Revel. The development will include a food hall, but Kelley said there could be an additional 15 to 20 restaurants in the development as well.

Among the expected tenants are a mix of restaurants that include some chain names, but they are also planning to include several restaurants where the menus are crafted by chefs with at least some local ties.

Uncle Jack’s Meat House owner Willie Degel previously said he’d been approached about including one of his other restaurant concepts, possibly a Jack Shack, in the development. Kelley didn’t rule out the possibility that Degel could be involved.

“We want definitely local chef-driven restaurants,” Kelley said. “That’s the most important piece of it, but we’ll certainly have some local and national chains mixed in, just like we have at Avalon.”

Another aspect of Revel will be the events that North American Properties schedules to give people a reason to visit. Kelley said Gwinnett residents can expect some of the same types of events that the developer does at Avalon will be done at Revel as well.

The difference is that Revel will be built around the existing Gas South District, which already draws people in for graduations, conventions, theatrical performances and concerts featuring big-name artists such as Paul McCartney and Justin Timberlake.

Kelley said North American officials see a chance for the vibe in Revel to serve as a complement to what happens at the center.

“We wouldn’t influence (what the center does) other than giving people something to do before and after but it’ll help sell tickets,” he said. “I mean Paul McCartney doesn’t need help selling tickets, but not everything there is a sellout.

“Even if you look at Major League Lacrosse, (the impact could be) helping boost ticket sales for that, or the high school graduations and having places to walk out to for a bite to eat instead of having to hop in the car.”