Perimeter Mall: Your In-Depth Guide to Atlanta’s Northside Shopping Hub

Perimeter Mall is one of Atlanta’s largest and busiest shopping destinations, serving residents of Sandy Springs, Dunwoody, Brookhaven, and the wider metro area. Whether you live nearby, commute along GA‑400, or are visiting Atlanta and staying in the Perimeter business district, this is a central spot for shopping, dining, and services on the city’s north side.

Where Perimeter Mall Is and How It Fits Into Atlanta

Perimeter Mall is located at:
4400 Ashford Dunwoody Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30346

Although many locals think of it as “in Dunwoody,” the mall is part of the broader Perimeter Center area, a major commercial district just outside the Atlanta city limits, near:

• I‑285 (the Perimeter) – the interstate loop around Atlanta
• GA‑400 – the main north–south corridor to Buckhead, Midtown, and Downtown
• Sandy Springs and Dunwoody – two of metro Atlanta’s most active suburban cities

For most Atlantans, Perimeter Mall is the go-to northside shopping center, an alternative to Lenox Square and Phipps Plaza in Buckhead, with plenty of national brands, services, and nearby offices and medical facilities.

What You’ll Find Inside Perimeter Mall

Major Department Stores and Anchors

Perimeter Mall typically features large anchor stores that many Atlanta shoppers use for one-stop trips. While specific tenants can change over time, you can generally expect:

• National department stores offering clothing, shoes, cosmetics, and home goods
• Mid- to high-end fashion brands
• Cosmetics and beauty counters with in-store services in the anchor stores

If you’re used to shopping in Buckhead or Midtown but live OTP (outside the Perimeter) to the north, Perimeter Mall often provides similar brands with easier parking and less city-center traffic.

Specialty Retail and Luxury-Adjacent Shopping

Perimeter Mall sits in the “Malls and Luxury Retail” space for the north metro area. While it may be a step more casual than Buckhead’s luxury centers, it is still known for:

• Well-known fashion retailers (men’s, women’s, and children’s)
• Footwear and athletic brands
• Jewelry and watch shops
• Beauty and skincare stores
• Tech and gadget retailers

For many Atlanta residents, Perimeter Mall is where you go for:

• Wardrobe updates (workwear, casual, and special occasions)
• Back-to-school and holiday shopping
• Gifts for birthdays, baby showers, weddings, and graduations

If you’re visiting Atlanta and staying at one of the Perimeter Center hotels, this mall is usually within a short drive or even walking distance, making it a convenient place to pick up anything you forgot to pack or upgrade your outfit for a night out in Buckhead or Midtown.

Dining and Food Options Around Perimeter Mall

Inside the Mall

Perimeter Mall includes a range of dining choices that make it easy to turn a shopping day into a full outing:

• A central food court with fast-casual options
• Sit-down restaurants scattered throughout and around the mall
• Coffee shops and snack kiosks on each level

These options are useful if you:

• Take MARTA in from in-town Atlanta and plan to spend several hours shopping
• Need a quick bite between errands in the Perimeter Center area
• Are traveling with children or a group and need varied, flexible choices

Around the Mall: Perimeter Center Dining

Beyond the mall itself, the broader Perimeter Center district has a dense mix of:

• Chain and local sit-down restaurants
• Hotel restaurants and bars catering to business travelers
• More fast-casual spots along Ashford Dunwoody Road, Perimeter Center West/East, and Hammond Drive

If you live in nearby neighborhoods like Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, Brookhaven, or Chamblee, it’s common to treat Perimeter Mall as a combined shopping-and-dining destination, especially on weekends or after work.

Getting to Perimeter Mall from Around Atlanta

By Car

Perimeter Mall is highly car-accessible, which is one reason it’s so popular with Atlanta residents.

Key routes:

• From Buckhead / Midtown / Downtown:
  Take GA‑400 North to I‑285 East, then exit near Ashford Dunwoody Road.
• From East Atlanta / Decatur / Stone Mountain:
  Take I‑285 West, exit at Ashford Dunwoody Road.
• From Smyrna / Vinings / Westside:
  Take I‑285 East, exit at Ashford Dunwoody Road.
• From Roswell / Alpharetta / Johns Creek:
  Take GA‑400 South to I‑285 East or I‑285 West depending on traffic, then Ashford Dunwoody.

🅿️ Parking:
Perimeter Mall offers large surface lots and parking decks. Shoppers often choose this mall over in-town options precisely because parking is typically easier and less expensive than in Buckhead or Midtown.

Tip: On peak shopping days (holiday weekends, December, or major sale events), allow extra time for traffic along Ashford Dunwoody Road and the mall ring roads.

By MARTA (Public Transit)

Perimeter Mall is one of the most transit-friendly malls in metro Atlanta.

• Closest MARTA Station:
  Dunwoody Station (Red Line)
  MARTA Rail Red Line runs from North Springs down through Sandy Springs, Buckhead, Midtown, and Downtown to the south.

From Dunwoody Station, Perimeter Mall is:

• Generally walkable (a short walk across Perimeter Center Parkway and through the business district)
• Also served by local MARTA bus routes that connect various parts of Perimeter Center

This makes Perimeter Mall convenient if you:

• Live in in-town neighborhoods (Midtown, Downtown, Old Fourth Ward, etc.) and don’t want to drive
• Are staying at a hotel near Peachtree Center, Downtown, or Midtown and want a straightforward transit ride to a major shopping center
• Prefer not to deal with I‑285 or GA‑400 traffic

Typical Hours and When Locals Like to Go

Perimeter Mall’s hours can vary by day and during holidays, but you’ll typically see:

• Mid-morning opening
• Evening closing (earlier on Sundays)

Many Atlantans plan visits:

• Weekday evenings after work, to avoid weekend crowds
• Early weekend mornings or right at opening, especially during back-to-school and holiday seasons
• Midday trips for combining lunch in the Perimeter area with errands at the mall

Because the surrounding area includes a large number of office towers and medical centers, you may notice a lunchtime rush during the workweek.

Services, Amenities, and What Else You Can Do

Perimeter Mall and the surrounding district are more than just retail. Shoppers often combine a mall trip with other errands in the area.

In-Mall Amenities

Offerings may include:

• Guest services / information desk
• Restrooms and family facilities
• Seating areas for breaks between shopping
• Seasonal events or displays around major holidays

Some department stores and specialty shops also provide:

• Alterations or tailoring services
• Cosmetics consultations
• Personal styling or shopping assistance (by appointment in some cases)

Nearby Services and Errands

Within a short drive or walk of Perimeter Mall, you’ll typically find:

• Banks and ATMs
• Drugstores and grocery stores
• Fitness centers
• Medical and dental offices (the Perimeter area is a major medical hub)
• Hotel conference centers for business travelers

If you live further out in north Fulton, DeKalb, or Gwinnett, you can often take care of several tasks in one Perimeter trip—shopping, dining, prescriptions, banking, and appointments.

Perimeter Mall vs. Other Atlanta Shopping Areas

Atlanta has several major shopping zones. Locals often weigh them against each other:

If you live inside the Perimeter but north of I‑20 (Edgewood, Kirkwood, Old Fourth Ward, Midtown), you might choose between Buckhead and Perimeter based on:

• Traffic patterns that day
• Whether you care more about luxury brands (Lenox/Phipps) or ease and parking (Perimeter)

Tips for Making the Most of a Perimeter Mall Visit

Whether you’re an Atlanta local or visiting, a few simple strategies can make your trip smoother:

1. Plan Around Traffic

• Avoid weekday rush hours (roughly 7–9 a.m. and 4–7 p.m.) on I‑285, GA‑400, and Ashford Dunwoody Road.
• If you’re coming from Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead, consider MARTA (Red Line to Dunwoody) to skip highway delays.

2. Use the Layout to Your Advantage

Perimeter Mall has:

• Multiple main entrances from the surrounding parking lots
• Anchors positioned at different ends, with smaller retailers along connecting corridors

If you’re running quick errands, identify:

• Which anchor or side of the mall your main destinations are on
• The closest lot or deck to cut down on walking time

3. Combine Shopping with Food and Errands

To make the most of a trip from elsewhere in metro Atlanta:

• Start with a sit-down lunch or early dinner at or near the mall
• Knock out clothing, tech, and gift shopping
• Finish with drugstore or grocery stops in the surrounding Perimeter Center area

This is especially useful if you’re driving in from Gwinnett, Cobb, or south Fulton and want to minimize extra trips into the city.

4. If You’re Visiting Atlanta

If you’re staying at a Perimeter-area hotel:

• Ask if there is a shuttle to Perimeter Mall; many business hotels in the district offer short-distance shuttle services.
• If you don’t have a car, use MARTA Dunwoody Station as your reference point for both the mall and connections into Buckhead and Midtown.

Nearby Landmarks and Practical Points of Reference

To help you get oriented in the area:

• Dunwoody MARTA Station (Red Line)
  Typically the closest rail stop for mall access.

• Sandy Springs and Dunwoody City Centers
  Both cities surround the Perimeter Mall district and offer additional parks, restaurants, and local services outside the mall environment.

• Local Roads to Know

  • Ashford Dunwoody Road NE – primary access road to the mall
  • Perimeter Center West / East / North / South – ring roads serving the business district
  • Hammond Drive – connects to GA‑400 and local office complexes

If you’re new to Atlanta or just moving to the northside, learning this small network of roads makes navigating Perimeter Center and Perimeter Mall much easier.

Perimeter Mall remains a key shopping and lifestyle anchor for Atlanta’s north metro area, balancing mainstream retail, some higher-end options, transit access, and relatively easy parking. Whether you’re a long-time local, a new resident in Sandy Springs or Dunwoody, or a visitor staying near I‑285 and GA‑400, it’s one of the most practical and versatile places in metro Atlanta to shop, dine, and get things done in a single stop.