42 | December 17, 2015 | Alpharetta-Roswell Herald | NorthFulton.com
COMMUNITY
‘Small-town feel in suburbia’ Spend a day in Crabapple By JONATHAN COPSEY jonathan@appenmediagroup.com MILTON, Ga. – As you drive through the Crabapple district of Milton, you can’t help but notice the small shops scattered throughout the area, lining both sides of the streets. Customers wander along wide sidewalks from store to store, browsing and shopping for something new to take home. This is Crabapple. Let’s spend a day here. Only a few years ago, what is now Crabapple was little more than cow pastures and fields. Now it is both the spiritual and actual center of Milton. In a few years’ time, a new City Hall will be finished, moving Milton’s government into Crabapple. “We are watching the downtown being developed as we speak,” said Peyton Jameson, president of the Crabapple Community Association, a business and community group. It’s a unique area, he said. “It’s right on the border of Alpharetta, Milton and Roswell,” he said. “The area has a sense of community
that a lot of downtowns don’t. It’s that small town, community feeling.” It’s that feeling that has drawn so many stores to the area, be they fine dining, lunch or coffee establishments, men’s and women’s fashions, hair, nail and beauty salons as well as art galleries and everything in between. There is so much to do in Crabapple, it’s easy to spend a whole day there. Get your coffee fix We start the day as we start so many days – with coffee. Mugs on Milton is one of the newest businesses in Crabapple and offers hot, local coffee along with fresh-baked pastries made from scratch. “We are the morning oasis and offer some ‘me’ time before you start your day,” said Mugs co-owner Jennifer Newton. Mugs is bright and cheery with large windows on three sides and comfy chairs to perch in and read a good book or check some email before heading to work, all while sipping on that fresh cup o’ joe. “We are the least pretentious coffee shop,” said Gretchen Smith, Mugs’ other co-owner. “We want people to get what they want and feel good about it.”
JONATHAN COPSEY/STAFF
Rise and shine: The ladies of Mugs on Milton — Jennifer Newton, left, and Gretchen Smith — are ready to get your day going with a hot cup of coffee, tasty food and upbeat service. Begin your day right in Crabapple.
JONATHAN COPSEY/STAFF
Crabapple features a mix of restaurants, clothing stores and everything else to keep you occupied. Mugs has had its Crabapple location for about six months. Its first location still sits in downtown Alpharetta (on Milton Avenue, thus the name), but the women said Crabapple has an appeal they wanted. “Crabapple is a nice place, it’s relaxing,” said Newton. “But we saw a need. It needed a coffee shop.” Ryan Shove, a regular at Mugs on Milton, is in film and video production. He said Mugs is his “go-to” place. “They serve great coffee and the staff is always smiling and helpful,” he said. “When I need to get away from the home office or have a great place to meet clients and friends, Mugs is my place.” Let’s go shopping With the day started right, let’s leave Mugs on Milton. To the left of the front door is the crossroads of Crabapple Road/ Mayfield Road with Birmingham Road. The Urban Farmhouse sits next door, offering home decor and interior design services. To the right gets you deeper into the shops. Across the street are yet more shops as well as a school. High fashion becomes local in Crabapple. Several stores offer clothing options of all styles. Be it the Twisted Thread Consignment Store or Southern Chic Dress Boutique, there’s something for everyone. Henry and Pearl is one of the few stores that stock both women’s and men’s clothing. Brands range from Southern Tide, Vineyard Vines, True Grit and Peter Millar for men, and Free People, Show Me Your MuMu, Dylan and Jude Connally for women. Jenny Glover, co-owner of Henry and Pearl’s, said Crabapple is the per-
JONATHAN COPSEY/STAFF
Jenny Glover, co-owner of Henry and Pearl, browses through sweaters.
fect place to shop. “It’s convenient to pull up here and shop versus finding a place to park at Avalon,” she said. Crabapple is a hometown, she said. “There is a common feel and convenience.” Take a break Shopping works up an appetite, right? There are plenty of great options