A former fitness center in Tucker’s Northlake area sat empty for nearly 20 years before developer and entrepreneur Londzell Hardy envisioned new possibilities for the 30,000-square-foot building on Lavista Road. He imagined an arts center that would bring not only entertainment to the area but also opportunities for local entertainers and businesses.
After a soft opening on New Year’s Eve, Londzell Performing Arts Theatre held its ribbon cutting and official opening on Feb. 4. “We’re marrying the arts with small business. It’s not just entertainment; it’s education,” Hardy said, explaining that the center would be tied to business grants and classes.
Hardy said he not only loves the space but also the location. “It’s near I-285 so it’s no problem to drive here from anywhere in the metro Atlanta area. Also, there’s plenty of free parking.”
Saying that he was inspired by some of the top sports and entertainment venues across the country, Hardy, who in other business ventures visited such venues, said he wanted a place where people could have a great experience.
“I am the decorator,” he said, adding that he wanted everything at the center, including the “green room” where artists hang out when they’re not performing and the bathrooms, to have a luxurious feel.
“I kept everything clean, simple and sophisticated,” Hardy said. “I want every patron to have a high-end experience.” Some areas are more high-end than others, he continued, pointing out VIP seating is available in both the auditorium and the sky boxes created in what was once the fitness center’s walking track.
Discover DeKalb said Londzell Performing Arts Theatre “reimagines the theater-going experience by blending sophisticated luxury with state-of-the-art technology,” noting that “every guest is treated like a headliner.” The Discover DeKalb description added, “With its ‘luxury in motion’ philosophy, the theater offers a seamless transition from the energetic main stage to the intimate fire-lit VIP lounges.”
The auditorium, which is entered through what Hardy called “Star Trek doors,” has both traditional auditorium seating and VIP pit group seating in the orchestra area and along the sides with small tables.
The skybox lounge is divided into sections that seat approximately 30 people and can be reserved by groups. Each has a fireplace and flat-screen televisions, so patrons watch the onstage performance as they consume food and drink.
Hardy described the skybox seating as “intimate areas with perfect sightlines to the stage,” adding, “There’s not a bad seat in the house.”
Chef Daryl Shular said the venue offers a top-notch dining experience with food created from local ingredients that can be experienced as everything from small plates in the bar area to four-course meals in the skybox lounge. “Imagine a four-course meal in a performing arts center,” he said. “There’s nothing like this in the Atlanta area. There may be nothing like this in the country.”
Hardy noted that he and his team were delighted by the warm welcome they received by both DeKalb County and the city of Tucker. Local government representatives were on hand to be part of the official opening.
Mayor Anne Lerner commented that the city is overjoyed that a building that had been vacant for a long time has been reimagined as a space that not only brings a new business venture to the city but also expends its cultural offerings.
Tucker District 2 Commissioner Cara Schroeder commented, “As a former ballet dancer, I take special pride in welcoming a performing arts center to the city.”
Londzell Performing Arts Theatre already has a line-up of entertainment scheduled for the coming months, including tribute performances honoring such music legends as Luther Vandross, Phyllis Hyman and Donnie Hathaway.
