A 34,000-square-foot mix of restaurants, shops, and a live music venue is coming to the heart of downtown Alpharetta after developers broke ground on June 30.

McKibbon Places and Market District Development launched construction on Alpharetta District Places, a mixed-use project on Roswell Street between Marietta Street and Old Milton Parkway. Alpharetta city officials and staff attended the ceremony, according to Connected Alpharetta.

Erik Rowen, president of McKibbon Places, said in a May interview that the project aims to draw visitors from across metro Atlanta rather than compete with existing downtown businesses. "We want to grow the pie for businesses in downtown Alpharetta," Rowen said. "We are trying to bring in retailers and restaurateurs that have followings outside of Alpharetta proper, so we're going to be bringing more people to Alpharetta to shop and eat."

What's planned

Phase 1 includes full-service restaurants, boutique retail, and a proposed 300- to 350-seat live music venue with a restaurant on the ground floor. A separate building is planned as a business incubator with 400- to 500-square-foot storefronts aimed at giving emerging small businesses an affordable entry into the downtown market.

Brent Beecham of Market District Development said construction should wrap by summer 2027, with tenant buildouts to follow. He expects open businesses by late fall 2027.

The site plan includes a city passive park with mature trees and trails. The developers said they hope to activate the park with live music and community events.

Alpha Loop connection

A new segment of the Alpha Loop runs directly across Roswell Street from the development. The multi-use trail network links downtown Alpharetta, Avalon, the North Point Eco District, and Northwinds. To date, 6.7 miles have been completed with another 4.7 miles in various stages of development, according to Appen Media.

Beecham said the trail's proximity could attract dog-friendly retail, given the foot traffic from residents walking the path.

What comes next

The developers said Phase 2 would add 195 multi-family residential units to the site. They said Phase 2 will not displace existing businesses, which hold legally binding leases.

No specific tenants have been announced. The developers said they have letters of intent but are waiting to finalize construction details before signing leases.