By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Stonebridge Village shopping center fills up
0902stonebridge2 RW
Sam Samaniego, with his wife, Rosa, loads buckets of paint Monday at the new Home Depot at Stonebridge Village in Flowery Branch. Home Depot is one of several national chain stores in the rapidly expanding shopping area. - photo by Tom Reed
FLOWERY BRANCH — Jim and Sharon Daniel used to travel from Westminster, S.C., to the Mall of Georgia in Buford for their shopping needs.

That is, until Monday.

Upon seeing Stonebridge Village shopping center off Spout Springs at Interstate 985, they decided to make the side trip.

"It’s very nice and well laid-out," Jim Daniel said, adding that the other benefit for them is that it’s closer than the Mall of Georgia.

The 524,000-square-foot Stonebridge Village is starting to bloom as a major retail destination in Hall County.

Many major anchors — including Target, Kohl’s and Home Depot — have been open for some time.

But other businesses are either well under construction or getting ready to open.

Chick-fil-A is about to open a restaurant on an open lot facing Spout Springs and sitting opposite of the Publix-anchored shopping center.

It also sits opposite of Chili’s Grill & Bar at the Spout Springs entrance to the shopping center.

Also getting ready to open are Shane’s Rib Shack, which recently was approved for a beer and wine license by the Flowery Branch City Council; Shogun Japanese restaurant; Fini’s Pizzeria; 1st Franklin Finance; and GameStop.

Wachovia and SunTrust banks have signs posted advertising future branches on sites at the center’s Hog Mountain Road entrance.

Other touches added to the development are two plaza areas featuring fountains, with one of those operating near Shane’s Rib Shack.

Teresa Walker, who lives in Royal Lakes Golf and Country Club off Sloan Mill Road, moved to the area recently from Dunwoody.

"I find it very convenient," she said of Stonebridge. "... It’s a good spot for us to come and get things accomplished."

Sam and Rosa Samaniego, loading paint cans in their van at Home Depot, also like the convenience. They said they are frequent shoppers.

Another bonus for them is that "there’s not a lot of heavy traffic," Rosa Samaniego said.

The area around Stonebridge also is starting to develop.

A Hampton Inn & Suites hotel is being built on Holland Dam Road near Spout Springs Road. The 84-unit, five-story hotel sits on two acres.

Also, a three-story Habersham Bank branch is nearly complete, and a Walgreens pharmacy and other retail shops are planned east of Hog Mountain Road off Spout Springs.