ATLANTA, Sept. 4, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Four days of events and fanfare in late October will mark the grand opening of Avalon, North American Properties' (NAP) $600 million mixed-use development in Alpharetta, Georgia. Events will include music, family entertainment, chef demonstrations, a surprise headliner and more to introduce a carefully curated collection of shops and restaurants. The surprise headliner will be announced on Avalon's Facebook page soon.
The four-day celebration will be the culmination of a journey that began in 2012 when NAP purchased the property and began working with the community to design a mixed-use project that would be unlike anything else in the region. There have been many milestones from the Alpharetta City Council's unanimous approval to a standing ovation at City Hall, to the topping-out party when NAP announced the retail component was 97 percent leased. Other highlights have included unprecedented demand for single-family residences and luxury rental homes; announcements that celebrity chefs will open restaurants at Avalon; the installation of "gigabit" technology; and the incredible support from the community on social channels.
"There have been so many reasons to cheer during this journey, but the grand opening will be the ultimate celebration," said Mark Toro, managing partner at NAP. "We invite the community to help us celebrate, whether with yoga, trick-or-treating, fireworks or an indie concert. There is something for everyone at the grand opening and at Avalon."
The grand opening schedule:
Thursday, Oct. 30:
- 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Opening Ceremonies
- 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Avalon Open House featuring special events within retailers and restaurants
- Noon to 6 p.m. Singer-songwriter entertainment from Home by Dark, featuring songwriters based in Alpharetta
- 1 to 4 p.m. Chef demonstrations featuring Avalon's renowned local chefs
- 8 to 10 p.m. Singer-songwriter entertainment with James Casto, Chas Sandford and Billy Montana
Friday, Oct. 31:
- 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Avalon Open House featuring special events within retailers and restaurants
- 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mommies and Strollers store-to-store trick-or-treat
- 1 to 4 p.m. Fall Fashion Previews, fashion shows at the top of each hour
- 1 to 4 p.m. Chef demonstrations featuring Avalon's renowned local chefs
- 2 to 4 p.m. Rock show presented by Guitar Center
- 5 to 7 p.m. Trick-or-Drink
- 8 to 9:30 p.m. Entertainment with Von Grey, an Atlanta-based indie-alt-folk group
- 9:30 p.m. Fireworks
Saturday, Nov. 1:
- 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Avalon Open House featuring special events within retailers and restaurants
- 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Matilda's Music Under the Pines featuring Mike "Swami" Schulman, Tommy Dean, Mike Ewbank and J.R. Hawkins
- Noon to 4 p.m. Avalon's first Fall Festival, an afternoon of culinary delights, DIY crafts for kids and adults, demonstrations by local artists and a large array of innovative activities
- 1 to 4 p.m. Chef demonstrations featuring Avalon's renowned local chefs
- 3:30 to 7 p.m. Georgia/Florida football game viewing party
- 8 to 10 p.m. Surprise headliner entertainment
Sunday, Nov. 2:
- 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Children's play area opening ceremonies
- 11 a.m. to noon Exhale Core Fusion Yoga in the Plaza
- Noon to 6 p.m. Sunday Funday lawn games in the Plaza
- Noon to 6 p.m. Avalon Open House featuring special events within retailers and restaurants
- Noon to 6 p.m. Jazz entertainment provided by The Velvet Note featuring Atlanta's best jazz musicians
- 1 to 4 p.m. Chef demonstrations featuring Avalon's renowned local chefs
- 6 to 7:30 p.m. Evening entertainment in the Plaza with Joe Gransdens' 16-Piece Big Band
For more information about the grand opening, please visit http://experienceavalon.com/grand-opening/. Follow the grand opening festivities on social media with #AvalonGO.
About Avalon
Avalon is a new experience in the timeless art of living well. In the heart of Alpharetta, this sustainably designed, 86-acre development with more than 500,000 square feet of retail, a 12-screen all premium theater, planned conference center and full-service hotel, Class A office, single-family residences and luxury rental homes infuses resort-level hospitality throughout a walkable, seamlessly connected community of shopping, dining, entertainment, living and working. It's more than just another place to go, it's a place to be — a hub of local art and activity that delivers the luxury of the modern South. At 2.4 million square feet and more than $600 million, Avalon is one of the largest projects currently underway in the United States. You can find more updates on Avalon at its website, Facebook page, Instagram or Twitter profile.
About North American Properties
Founded in 1954, North American Properties is a privately held, multi-regional real estate operating company that has acquired, developed and managed more than $4.5 billion of retail, multifamily, mixed-use and office properties across the United States. Headquartered in Cincinnati, with offices in Atlanta, Dallas and Fort Myers, Fla., the company has developed 19 million square feet of retail and 13,000 apartment units in 13 states. Currently, North American Properties has $850 million of development underway in five states. In metro Atlanta, North American Properties owns Atlantic Station, Avalon and BOHO4W. For more information, please visit naproperties.com.