Former CNN Center Will Become a Food Hall and Shopping Center

The former CNN Center Headquarters in downtown Atlanta, now named The Center, will turn into a food court/hall and shopping destination, much like Ponce City Market and The Battery, according to CP Group. The Florida-based firm co-owns the building along with Rialto Capital Management and has been working on the remodel for several years.

In a promotional video, renderings of the 1.2-million-square-foot space reveal a walkable food court with stalls, a long bar in the atrium, wine and apparel shops, and an ATL sign at the entrance where the red CNN letters used to be. CP Group also announced an undisclosed 10,000-square-foot “high-end” restaurant will open in the massive space.

With the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, State Farm Arena, and Centennial Olympic Park next door, this section of Downtown is bound to become a game day hotbed with ample dining options to choose from. Retail and office leasing is now available and is managed by Healey Weatherholtz Properties. Pop-ups can also lease spaces in the former Cartoon Network store.

A collaboration with Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and local art advocates Neda Abghari (founder of the Creatives Project) and Bem Joiner (founder of Atlanta Influences Everything) was also announced to bring murals and art installations into the space.

This building has lived a few lives. Before CNN took on the space in 1986, it was home to an obscure amusement park in the ‘70s, called The World of Sid and Marty Krofft. All but the huge escalator (which holds the record for the longest free-standing escalator in the world) remained in the remodel. CNN’s operations have moved to its Techwood campus in Midtown, where the iconic red letter sculpture is located now.