This article is part of our ongoing 2026 Development Update series examining how public projects and private investment are reshaping North Atlanta.
Executive Summary
Johns Creek’s business story in 2025 and 2026 really comes down to one big idea: building a real Town Center.
The strategy has three moving parts.
First, Medley — the large private mixed-use development bringing retail, restaurants, offices, homes, and a hotel to the corner of McGinnis Ferry Road and Johns Creek Parkway.
Second, The Boardwalk at Town Center — a major new public park designed to anchor activity near City Hall.
Third, the infrastructure that connects everything together — pedestrian access, streetscape upgrades, and mobility improvements funded through local sales tax programs and long-term city planning.
Together, these pieces are designed to transform what was once a 192-acre business park into something that feels more like a walkable downtown.
Two anchors are already reshaping how people talk about Johns Creek.
The first is Town Center itself — a redevelopment effort that aims to turn office-heavy land into a mixed-use hub where people gather, not just commute.
The second is Boston Scientific’s Johns Creek facility, which opened in 2025 and represents one of the city’s largest recent corporate investments. That project reinforces Johns Creek’s growing identity as a life sciences and medical technology location.
From a coverage standpoint, the most headline-friendly moment will likely be summer 2026. That’s when the City expects both The Boardwalk and the pedestrian tunnel under Medlock Bridge Road to be completed. Medley’s grand opening is scheduled for October 29, 2026, with multiple new restaurants and retail brands expected to open at the same time.
New Commercial & Retail Developments
What’s happening in Johns Creek isn’t just “a new development.” It’s a sequencing strategy.
The City first created a special zoning framework for Town Center, allowing a different kind of density and design than traditional office park development. Then it prioritized public investments — parks, walkways, and connections — before expecting private projects to fill in around them.
That order matters.
Instead of building retail first and hoping people show up, the City is building gathering space first and expecting business to follow.
The Boardwalk at Town Center: A Park Designed to Drive Activity
The Boardwalk at Town Center is a 20-acre public park under construction next to City Hall, along Medlock Bridge Road.
Construction began in 2024, and completion is targeted for summer 2026.
But this isn’t just a passive green space.
Plans call for a wide walking trail looping around a pond and constructed wetland, terraced seating areas, event lawns, overlooks, plazas, and an amphitheater with seating that extends over the water.
In practical terms, it’s being designed for festivals, concerts, and community events — not just casual strolling.
There’s also an infrastructure story behind it. The Boardwalk doubles as a regional stormwater facility, meaning it helps manage water runoff for future Town Center development. The constructed wetlands aren’t just environmental features — they’re part of the foundation that allows higher-density redevelopment nearby.
For residents, the takeaway is simple: this park isn’t an afterthought. It’s economic infrastructure.
If it succeeds in attracting steady foot traffic, it becomes the front yard for Medley, future restaurants, and surrounding retail.
And when paired with the pedestrian tunnel and Lakefield Drive improvements, it could finally give Johns Creek something it has never had before — a defined place to gather.
Medley: Johns Creek’s New Center of Gravity
Medley is the private mixed-use development rising at the corner of McGinnis Ferry Road and Johns Creek Parkway. Ground broke in January 2025, and the project is designed to become the commercial heart of Johns Creek.
The scale is significant.
When fully built, Medley is expected to include:
- Around 150,000 square feet of retail, restaurants, and entertainment
- A boutique hotel
- Roughly 110,000 square feet of office space
- Hundreds of apartments
- Over 100 townhomes
- A large central plaza designed for events and gathering
In simple terms, this isn’t just another shopping center. It’s meant to function as a walkable district — a place where people can live, work, eat, shop, and gather without getting back in the car.
City approvals for Medley were finalized several years ago, with conditions limiting building heights and the number of residential units. Since then, some adjustments have been requested — including approval for a taller boutique hotel within the district. These kinds of changes are common in large projects as final designs evolve.
More importantly for residents, the City and the developer are coordinating on roads, sidewalks, and infrastructure so Medley doesn’t feel isolated from the rest of Town Center. Some of that infrastructure work is funded jointly by the developer and public transportation sales tax dollars.
The Pedestrian Tunnel: Fixing the SR 141 Divide
If you live in Johns Creek, you know that Medlock Bridge Road (SR 141) is more than just a busy highway — it’s a barrier.
The City is trying to change that.
A pedestrian tunnel is currently under construction beneath SR 141. It’s designed to connect Creekside Park and the eastern side of Town Center directly to the retail and restaurant areas on the west side.
Construction began in late 2024, and completion is targeted for summer 2026.
This may end up being one of the most important Town Center projects.
Without safe pedestrian access, Town Center remains fragmented. With the tunnel, residents could walk from parks to restaurants without crossing multiple lanes of traffic. That changes how often people choose to stay, linger, and spend time in the area.
The City has allocated millions of dollars toward the project through transportation funding. It’s a major investment — but one that could redefine how the district functions.
Lakefield Drive: Johns Creek’s “Main Street” Vision
Beyond Medley itself, the City is also reshaping the surrounding streets to feel less like office park corridors and more like a downtown.
Lakefield Drive is central to that vision.
Plans call for transforming the road into something closer to a traditional “Main Street” experience — potentially including improved sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, trails, and on-street parking.
The goal is not just aesthetics. It’s about slowing traffic, encouraging walking, and making storefronts feel connected rather than separated by wide suburban roadways.
Engineering work for these improvements is already budgeted.
Why This All Matters
Individually, these projects might seem technical — zoning adjustments, infrastructure budgets, engineering task orders.
Together, they represent something larger.
Johns Creek is trying to build a true Town Center from scratch.
Medley provides the private investment and storefront energy.
The pedestrian tunnel removes a long-standing barrier.
Lakefield Drive redesign creates the street experience.
By late 2026, when Medley opens and the tunnel is complete, residents will be able to judge whether the pieces come together into something cohesive — or remain separate projects.
Either way, Johns Creek is clearly moving from “suburban corridor” toward “structured district.”
And that shift will define the city’s next decade.
Small Business Openings & Closures
If you’re trying to get a feel for what’s happening on the ground in Johns Creek, there are two places to watch right now.
First: the familiar Medlock Bridge Road and State Bridge Road retail corridors, where most near-term restaurant and storefront movement is happening.
Second: Medley, the new mixed-use development opening in 2026. Even though many of its tenants haven’t opened yet, the announcements alone are already shaping conversations — and expectations.
Recent Openings
Dutch Bros. Coffee opened a new Johns Creek location on July 25, 2025, at 9630 Medlock Bridge Road. The drive-through coffee chain continues expanding across North Fulton, and this location quickly became a busy stop for commuters and students.
Bubbakoo’s Burritos opened in December 2025 at 10710 State Bridge Road. The fast-casual burrito concept adds another quick lunch option to the area’s already competitive dining strip.
These are the kinds of openings that quietly change traffic patterns — more cars at lunch, more evening foot traffic, and more competition among neighboring restaurants.
Recent Closures
Not every concept sticks.
Maverick’s Cantina closed in December 2025. The restaurant had been part of the Medlock Bridge dining scene, and its closure reflects the broader tightening many restaurants experienced late last year.
Another Broken Egg Cafe, located at 9700 Medlock Bridge Road, has also permanently closed. For weekend brunch regulars, that leaves a noticeable gap in the breakfast category.
While openings still outnumber closures overall, there is clear churn in the restaurant sector — especially in high-rent retail corridors.
Coming Soon: Why Medley Announcements Matter Now
Even before Medley officially opens in October 2026, its tenant announcements are already shaping Johns Creek’s retail future.
STIR — a cocktail bar and scratch kitchen concept — plans to open a 6,000-square-foot restaurant at Medley on opening day. The concept also includes a companion bar facing the central plaza. For residents who’ve driven to Avalon or Halcyon for that type of dining experience, this signals a shift closer to home.
High Country Outfitters is also expected to open at Medley in late October 2026, bringing a regional outdoor retailer into the Town Center mix.
These announcements matter because they allow residents to imagine what “Day One” at Medley will look like — and whether Johns Creek can compete with nearby mixed-use magnets in Alpharetta and Forsyth County.
Expect more countdown-style coverage as opening day approaches.
Major Employers: Relocations & Expansions
Beyond restaurants and retail, the bigger economic story in Johns Creek is about life sciences, healthcare, and headquarters relocations.
Boston Scientific: Now Open
Boston Scientific’s major Johns Creek facility is now open. The project brought hundreds of jobs to the city and represents one of the largest corporate investments in Johns Creek in recent years.
The company built a large research and development facility along Johns Creek Parkway, transforming part of a former office campus into a life sciences hub. The scale of the investment — and the number of high-skilled jobs tied to it — reinforces Johns Creek’s growing identity as a healthcare and medical technology center.
For residents, that translates into weekday population growth, increased lunch demand, and long-term economic stability.
Boehringer Ingelheim: Headquarters Move to Medley
Boehringer Ingelheim is relocating its U.S. Animal Health headquarters to Medley, bringing roughly 500 employees from Duluth.
This move is significant for one reason: built-in daytime activity.
Office workers support coffee shops, lunch spots, dry cleaners, gyms, and after-work gathering places. If Medley wants to feel lively beyond evenings and weekends, employer anchors like this are essential.
Medley’s office component is designed to support exactly that kind of lifestyle-office environment.
Emory Johns Creek Hospital: Expansion and Long-Term Growth
Emory Johns Creek Hospital has already completed a vertical expansion, adding additional beds and a new parking deck in recent years.
But the longer story is even bigger.
The hospital has approval for a multi-phase, long-term campus expansion that could reshape the medical footprint of the area over the next two decades. That includes more hospital space and additional medical offices.
For business readers, the takeaway is clear: healthcare is not just a service here — it’s an economic driver. Ongoing medical expansion helps explain why life sciences and healthcare companies continue targeting Johns Creek.
Other Notable Projects
Medley’s Boutique Hotel
Plans for a boutique hotel at Medley are moving forward, though final room counts have varied in early reports. What matters most is the impact: a hotel brings visitors, conferences, and overnight guests — which in turn supports restaurants, retail, and events.
A walkable district functions very differently once it has its own hotel.
Performing Arts Center: A Pause
In 2025, voters declined to approve funding for a proposed performing arts center in Town Center.
For residents, this isn’t primarily a political story — it’s a foot-traffic story. A large indoor venue would have added significant evening and weekend activity to the district.
Without it, Town Center’s growth will rely more heavily on Medley, the Boardwalk, and employer-driven daytime demand.
Town Center Recognition
Johns Creek has also received regional recognition for its Town Center efforts, particularly for pedestrian improvements and the Boardwalk project, which is expected to open in summer 2026.
While awards don’t generate foot traffic on their own, they help position the city competitively in metro Atlanta’s development landscape.
The Big Picture
Johns Creek is entering a transition phase.
Restaurants are turning over. National chains are still expanding. Medley is building anticipation. Major employers are coming to town. Healthcare continues to expand.
The city isn’t chasing explosive growth — it’s building a more structured Town Center economy.
And by late 2026, when Medley officially opens, the next chapter of Johns Creek’s commercial identity will become much clearer.
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