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Owner blames mall management for sudden eviction notice
Small businesses at NorthLake Mall are scrambling to relocate their entire inventory after receiving sudden written eviction notices from mall security, according to a local shop owner.
TUCKER, Ga. - The remaining few stores at Northlake Mall in Tucker will be forced to close at the end of the month.
They said they just found out this past Friday.
Sudden Tucker mall evictions
What we know:
Tony Cade, who owns Challenges Games and Comics, said security personnel distributed a written notice to shop owners at Northlake Mall last Friday stating they must be out in 30 days.
Cade said they "were completely blindsided."
The store has been there for three years, and now is one of the last standing storefronts left in the mall.
"I'm just trying to stay focused," he said. "Try not to get emotional."
The gaming store serves as a major hub for a local Dungeons and Dragons group.
"I'm going to be lost when this place is gone," patron Henry Walsh said.
Walsh said that the location has a deeply personal impact on its community.
"This is where I've met some of my best friends, my roommate," Arianne Gisz said.
Walsh expressed disbelief at the short turnaround time provided by mall management.
"You're going to expect someone to in 30 days, move out like 8000ft² worth of product?"
Unanswered city development questions
What we don't know:
Local leaders and shop owners still do not know who bought the property or what will happen to the space.
Representatives from mall management could not be found for comment, and Cade said the new owner skipped a scheduled meeting with tenants earlier this week.
Tucker Mayor Anne Lerner confirmed that local government officials were left completely in the dark.
"The city was not notified about the evictions nor of any sale. It’s my understanding the business owners were on month to month leases," Lerner wrote in a statement. "As soon as the city was aware, our economic development team reached out to mall management and its leasing team to offer support to these businesses. Our economic development team is also in the process of following up directly with each of the business owners to understand their needs and connect them with potential leasing opportunities within Tucker."
Lerner noted on Facebook there are currently no active rezoning or permit requests on file for the property.
Mall ownership previously pitched building apartments on the blighted property to city leaders in June 2025.
What you can do:
Walsh said, "When we found out, the first thing, like most of us thought was, what can we do to help?"
Patrons of the store have started an online fundraiser to help Cade relocate all of his merchandise.
Patrons remain dedicated to assisting the storefront through the abrupt transition over the next few weeks. Gisz said, "Anything I can do to help I'm trying to do because this is a second home to me."
Cade explained that his focus remains entirely on serving the loyal customers who frequent his shop. Cade said, "It's not even about me now. You know, the community love the store. They depend on the store. So I've got the pressure also not to let them down."
The Source: The information is based on original reporting by FOX 5's Rob DiRienzo. This story was gathered from Northlake Mall business tenants and patrons, who shared details of their sudden eviction notices and community efforts, as well as Tucker Mayor Anne Lerner.