Axios Atlanta

July 02, 2026
It's Thursday and it's going to be another scorcher.
- Make sure that neck fan is charged up!
๐ค๏ธ Today's weather: Mostly sunny. The high will reach 98, but it will feel like 104. Lows near 78.
Situational awareness: We're off tomorrow for Independence Day. We hope everyone has a great July 4 weekend! See y'all on Monday.
๐ Happy birthday to our Axios Atlanta member Cathy Wooten!
Today's newsletter is 945 words โ a 3.5-minute read.
1 big thing: Barnes & Noble returns to Edgewood
Four years after closing its store in Edgewood, Barnes & Noble will re-establish its presence in the east-side neighborhood with a new store.
Why it matters: The reopening is part of Barnes & Noble's plan to open dozens of stores this year across the country.
The latest: Barnes & Noble will open at 10am Wednesday, July 8, in more than 15,000 square feet in the Edgewood Retail District at 1205 Caroline St.
- Atlanta author Tayari Jones will cut the ribbon at the grand opening and sign copies of her latest novel, "Kin."
Zoom in: According to a Barnes & Noble press release, the store will also offer games, magazines and a cafรฉ.
- It's one of three stores planned for the Atlanta area. Over the next several months, Barnes & Noble intends to open a shop in Peachtree Corners and the Toco Hills area in DeKalb County.
Catch up quick: Barnes & Noble closed its Edgewood store in April 2022.
- That was followed by the 2024 closure of its Morrow location and the announcement last month that its location near Cumberland Mill in Cobb County will close after 30 years.
- The Cumberland store's last day is Aug. 19.
- Barnes & Noble has one other store in Atlanta: the Buckhead location in The Peach shopping center that it anchors with Publix.
What they're saying: "With three new stores opening in and around Atlanta over the next several months, it is a very busy time for our booksellers," Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt said in a statement.
- Daunt added that the company wants to relocate its Cumberland store after its current location closes.
- "We will have more stores open in Atlanta at the end of the year than we did at the beginning," he said.
The big picture: Barnes & Noble said it now has more than 700 brick-and-mortar locations, up from fewer than 600 stores in 2023. It plans to open 60 stores this year, according to its press release.
- Its revival comes after "more than 15 years of declining store numbers" and stiff competition from online big-box retailers like Amazon that sell hardcover, paperback and e-books.
2. Where to watch fireworks around Atlanta
Plug your ears, open your eyes wide, and celebrate America's 250th birthday with some colorful explosions in the sky.
Pro tip: Expect traffic delays and road closures early Saturday morning in Midtown and Buckhead due to the Northside Hospital Peachtree Road Race, and in places where holiday parades and events are planned.
๐ Fireworks!
Stone Mountain Park: One of the Southeast's largest July 4 celebrations features drones, lasers, music, and nightly fireworks. (through July 6)
Truist Park: Watch the Braves play the New York Mets and afterward enjoy a firework extravaganza. (Sat.)
๐งจ Other notable shows: Decatur, Sandy Springs, Acworth, Marietta, Kennesaw
๐ถ "Basura," a new musical inspired by the true story of young Paraguayan musicians who build instruments from landfill materials, continues at The Alliance. (through July 12)
3. A bridge very near
PATH Foundation crews installed a 180-foot bridge spanning Peachtree Creek this week as part of Atlanta's segment of the Chattahoochee RiverLands project.
Catch up quick: The Trust for Public Land's plan to connect metro Atlantans to the Chattahoochee River calls for a greenway and trails along the waterway.
What's next: The bridge connects the historic Standing Peachtree green space, where RiverLands opened a nice kayak launch, to areas downstream.
- It is expected to open in late 2026, according to Atlanta City Council member Dustin Hillis, who represents the area.
4. Five-ish Points: Fish kill reported in South River
โ๏ธ The brother of former Atlanta Falcons player Calais Campbell has been charged with murder after their mother was found dead in her Buckhead townhome. (WSB)
๐ง Atlanta officials are investigating reports of dead fish found in the South River possibly caused by a chemical spill at the South River Water Reclamation Center. (AJC)
๐ World Cup fans from around the world are taking in the sights and sounds of Atlanta, but a free exhibit seeks to expose tourists to Georgia outside of its capital city. (CBS)
โ๏ธ Delta Air Lines will take over two gates at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport from Spirit Airlines, which shuttered operations in May and filed for bankruptcy. (11 Alive)
5. 1 crowded pub to go
South Downtown's Brewhouse Cafe and The Irish Exit in Centennial Yards were one-in, one-out entry after England's thrilling win yesterday over the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Zoom in: Alex Taylor of Manchester has been following the England men's national team throughout the group stage, traveling to Dallas, Boston, New York and now Atlanta.
- Of all those cities, he's enjoyed Atlanta the most, he told Axios. "The vibes here are really good."
What's next: England travels to Mexico City where they will play Mexico on Sun., July 5. Alex and friends will be there as well.
The big picture: "Wherever you win, you fall in love with it," he said. "I think a lot of us fell in love with Atlanta today."
๐ฅต Kristal is "running" in Saturday's Peachtree Road Race. Say hi if you see her out there struggling!
๐๏ธ Thomas is cheering on Kristal from afar while he watch waves roll in and out.
- He's off next week. Stay safe and have fun!
This newsletter was edited by Crystal Hill.
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