Greenbriar

This area is famous for being the home of Greenbriar Mall, one of the first inside malls in America. Back in the day it was the happening place. It is right off I-285 and near the Atlanta airport and other industrial areas.

But the glory days are over for Greenbriar. Now it is a community struggling to revive itself and return to some of it’s former glory. The area is primarily African-American residents. The homes are older, most built in the 60s and 70s. Today the home value has diminished and many families face foreclosure.

There are a few neighborhoods in the area that is currently experiencing a revival so hopefully that will help this neighborhood. For shopping you can find a few stores at Greenbriar Mall but most people drive a few exits to the south to shop at the newer Camp Creek Pkwy shopping center.

There aren’t any parks or other recreation centers to speak of so you would have to visit a neighborhood in the vicinity. For nightlife, dining, and amusement head north into the city.

When I think of the Greenbriar area of south Atlanta, I think, “Old area, with greatly unrealized potential.” Flanked by Highway 166, a major east-west thoroughfare towards downtown and east Atlanta and Interstate I-285 to its west, Greenbriar is in an ideal location for growth.

I have been told that its namesake The Greenbriar Mall, which was built over some 25 or 30 years ago, was one of the first indoor malls ever built in America. Indeed, that was cutting-edge stuff for this largely African-American community back in the earlier days. With the exception of some spotty commercial development & re-development, isolated new home development, and an unending cycle of business openings – followed by business closings, I can confidently say in the year 2010 there is not much news to report about the Greenbriar area.

Greenbriar does have some positive features worth highlighting, including a decent, but unexciting mall and outparcel shopping centers. In brutal honesty, if you are looking for a place to buy beauty and hair products, new shoes, and fast food, Greenbriar has it. If you are looking for an older neighborhood with shaded streets, Greenbriar has that, too. For higher end shopping and restaurants though, I suggest you look elsewhere - at least for now.

Frankly, one of the most remarkable local ‘events’ here can be seen only in the early morning hours, just before area traffic cranks into high-gear. I call it the “Crossing of the Ducks.”

What is that you ask?

Well, at about 7 A.M. every morning, you can see a mommy (or daddy) duck usher 4 of her baby ducklings across a busy Headland Drive - presumably headed for a nearby creek bed and some vittles. Amazingly, traffic grinds to a halt to respectfully allow them safe passage to their destination. Strange and charming stuff! This scene alone is one reason to visit the area.

Another reason might be to invest in the area, so that it can maximize it true potential! Any takers?