Today I’m taking you on a tour of a place that feels like your coolest friend: full of surprises, effortlessly stylish, and layered with charisma. Let’s wander through Ponce City Market, nestled in the heart of Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, where history meets modern life. It’s also called PCM if you’re a local.

Perched proudly at 675 Ponce de Leon Ave NE, PCM occupies a legendary spot once home to Ponce de Leon Springs, then a lively amusement park (Atlanta’s very own “Coney Island” in the early 1900s!), then a baseball diamond for the Atlanta Crackers, and finally a giant Sears & Roebuck warehouse from 1926 until 1987. The massive brick-and-beam structure fell into quiet disrepair, became “City Hall East” in the early ’90s, and was reborn through Jamestown’s development between 2011–14 emerging as the vibrant, mixed-use property it is now.

Go outside the back of the building, and you’re on the BeltLine Eastside Trail—Atlanta’s epic transformation of old rail into 22 miles of green, art, parks and fitness zones. It weaves through neighborhoods and it’s a pedestrian, skater, bike rider, skateboard rider and dog-friendly paradise.

Right across from it is the Historic Fourth Ward Park, offering a pond, amphitheater, splash pad, and skate park inaugurated by Tony Hawk himself.

I love to walk the BeltLine from Piedmont Park to PCM, take in the murals, make a gelato stop in the Hall, then settle into a candle-making class or rooftop mini-golf at Skyline Park. Wrap it up with skyline views and a sunset toast and that’s definitely a day worth having.

Anthropologie — Where Dreamers Shop

As soon as I get to PCM, I head straight to Anthropologie whose entrance is on the outside. It calls to those seeking that whimsical touch—flowing dresses, artisan pottery, quirky candles, etc. Inside, there’s often an Atlanta-made vase or table setting that feels like it’s whispering to you to take it home. That’s PCM Anthropologie in a nutshell: you go in looking for something and come out with several things that just speak to you. And it’s also the best place to get a gift for someone.

Anthropologie display artists are some of the best in the business. As a designer, there’s always some fun displays I can take inspiration from like this bike that was made out of fabric.

They’re known for their candles too and I always go around smelling almost each and every one of them.

See what I mean about display?

And again, a cool way to display their mugs.

Their soft furnishings are really good too. I’m obsessed with chairs so I took plenty of inspiration from all of their upholstered chairs.

In the back they have a clearance section that is just chef’s kiss.

Food Hall — A Culinary Global Adventure

The Central Food Hall is PCM’s heartbeat. Imagine Chelsea Market vibes: diverse vendors under one roof.

• WH Stiles Fish Camp invites you to pull up to their counter lined with aquariums. This is the restaurant of award winning James Beard winner Anne Quatrano. Try their lobster rolls and large assortment of fresh oysters. At last count, there was 18 different types. As a New England girl, from Connecticut, this is like a piece of home.

• H&F Burger has the softest bun, juicy patty, and melted cheese that sends you straight to heaven. It also has my favorite shoestring fries. If you really want to splurge, try an artisanal root beer float. Just wow.
• I just tried Bibi by Delbar (if you’re a foodie, you’re familiar with the Middle Eastern restaurant Delbar)–the lamb & labneh sandwich was to die for and the fries came with a tahini dip. Yummy.

Beyond those, there’s ramen & sushi, Moroccan, Mexican, Cuban, Chinese, gelato, coffee, retro candy and my favorite bakery 5 Daughters just to name a few. Another favorite is the King of Pops cocktail pairing with a popsicle (a guilty pleasure). So many countries, so little time.

Just a few of the places in the Food Hall.

The Japanese restaurant’s wooden wall always gives me goosebumps. I’m always trying to figure out how I can use this idea in a client’s project.

There she is. My favorite King of Pops cocktail. A prosecco French 75 with a lemon popsicle. But they have several combinations including a bourbon drink with a ginger popsicle that’s delicious.

Retail Stores on the Second Floor — Curated with Soul

Above the hustle of the Food Hall lies a carefully curated set of retail stores where national and local makers mingle:

• Citizen Supply champions Southern artisans with woodwork, jewelry, and home goods—felt like walking into a gallery of lovely objects meant to last lifetimes.
• Goorin Bros. Hat Shop has a “feather bar” where you pick a plume and watch them craft your millinery masterpiece right before your eyes.
• Cobbler Union is where shoe love is real: old-school cobbler booths let you customize leather, fit, and soles—most satisfying “make it mine” moment ever.
• Candlefish offers candle-making workshops—choose your wax, scent, and container, then go home smelling like a forest at dawn.

I want to give a very special  shout out to The Village Market and Nomad.

The Village Market is more than a store—it’s a movement with a cash register. Founded by the powerhouse Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, The Village Market is the physical manifestation of her mission to support Black-owned businesses, elevate entrepreneurs of color, and transform “buying Black” from a hashtag into a habit.

The retail space inside Ponce is bursting with products from dozens of Black-owned brands—from shea butter that makes your skin feel like velvet to affirmations on T-shirts that basically speak your daily intentions out loud.

There’s always something new to discover: vegan skincare lines, wellness teas, independent book titles, Afro-futurist prints, and handcrafted jewelry that feels like ancestral armor. One visit and you’ll find yourself saying things like, “Wait—how did I live before this lemongrass body oil?”

The best part? Every single dollar you spend here supports economic equity, Black excellence, and radical creativity. And you’ll leave with receipts and pride.

Walking into Nomad feels like being welcomed into the home of your most well-traveled, spiritually in-tune friend. You know, the one who just got back from Morocco, but was also recently meditating in Oaxaca, and somehow brought back exactly what your energy needed.

This shop is a carefully layered mosaic of artisan-made goods, ethically sourced homewares, handmade jewelry, vintage textiles, and mystical trinkets. There’s incense that smells like moonlight on stone, hand-woven baskets from Ghana, Turkish towels that feel like clouds, and wall hangings that whisper stories in every fiber.

The first time I walked in, I touched a beaded necklace and the shopkeeper casually told me it was made by a women’s collective in Kenya—you can’t fake that kind of intention. You’re not just buying a thing here—you’re investing in community, heritage, and slow design.

Nomad is for the wanderer in all of us—the part that craves color, culture, and consciousness.

Between Nomad and The Village Market, that second floor at PCM starts to feel like a vibe shift. It’s not just retail—it’s cultural immersion. You come in for a casual look-see and walk out feeling more grounded, more inspired, and probably wearing something linen and hand-dyed.

These two shops prove what we already knew: the best kind of shopping is the kind that tells a story, supports real people, and feels good on the inside and the outside.

You’ll also see J.Crew, West Elm, Williams-Sonoma, and Lululemon on the main floor—PCM brings the full spectrum, but always with that artisanal heart.

Skyline Park — Coney Island, But Make It Atlanta

Skyline Park is what happens when someone says, “Let’s build an old-school amusement park… on top of a historic building… with skyline views and craft cocktails.” And somehow, it works.

Take the elevator all the way up, and you’re met with a full-blown carnival in the clouds. We’re talking mini golf, Skee-Ball, ring toss, and a slide that’s basically a rite of passage (it’s huge, slightly terrifying, and makes your inner child high-five your outer adult). If you’re with friends, it becomes a laugh-till-you-snort kind of night. If you’re on a date? Instant icebreaker. If you’re with kids? You’ve already won the day. There’s even a roller skating rink that transforms into an ice skating rink in the Winter.

And the views? Honey. Unmatched. Atlanta’s skyline unfolds before you like a glossy magazine spread. The lights. The treetops. The gentle reminder that you’re alive and doing pretty dang well.

Skyline Park also knows how to feed and water its guests properly—classic frozen cocktails, cold beer, and retro-inspired snacks like soft pretzels, walking tacos, and cotton candy spun right in front of you. It’s a weirdly perfect mix of highbrow nostalgia and low-stakes fun.

Ponce City Market isn’t just a place—it’s an experience. Every visit is an invitation: stroll, snack, wander upstairs where candles perfume the air, treat yourself at the Food Hall, unearth one-of-a-kind retail finds, then step outside and be part of the evolving canvas of the BeltLine.

So whether you’re a local wanderer or passing through Atlanta, PCM is not just worth a visit—it’s the story your day wants to tell.

See ya next time.