A Snellville jewelry store with nearly four decades in business is expanding to East Cobb, filling one of the empty storefronts at Merchants Walk Shopping Center days after Sterling Organization completed its $93.2 million purchase of the center.

A&J Jewelers is listed as "coming soon" on Sterling's online tenant directory for Merchants Walk, according to the directory page posted after the acquisition closed Tuesday, July 21. The jeweler will occupy the former Spenga fitness studio space.

The listing is the first new tenant to appear on Sterling's directory since the West Palm Beach, Fla.-based private equity firm bought the 271,992-square-foot, Whole Foods-anchored center from EDENS. Sterling made the purchase on behalf of its $600 million institutional fund, Sterling Value Add Partners IV.

No opening date for A&J Jewelers has been announced, and no building permits for the space have surfaced in public records.

Who is A&J Jewelers?

A&J Jewelers has operated out of Snellville since 1986, specializing in engagement rings, custom jewelry, watches and in-house repair. Its current showroom sits at 1575 Scenic Hwy S in Snellville. The Merchants Walk location would be its first presence in the East Cobb market.

Vacancies and what's next

Sterling has room to work with. The center was 90% leased at the time of sale, leaving roughly 26,000 square feet of vacant space, according to Sterling's July 21 press release. East Cobb News reporter Wendy Parker noted Thursday, July 23, that Mirko Pasta recently closed and its signage has been removed, and the adjacent Duck Donuts space remains empty after closing last year. Another 17,273 square feet of retail space near Marshalls is also available.

One detail current tenants and shoppers may want to note: Sterling has signaled it plans to raise rents it considers below market as existing leases expire. Bob Dake, a principal at Sterling Organization, said in the company's July 21 statement that "additional upside exists through the opportunity to bring below-market rents to market as those leases naturally expire."

Sterling already owns three other properties in the Atlanta metro area: Five Forks Crossing, Marketplace at Buckhead and Presidential Commons in Snellville.

The firm has not announced a timeline for filling the remaining vacant space or any broader redevelopment plans for Merchants Walk.