East Athens Wellness Experience to Host Opening
The newly redeveloped community campus at 585 Vine St. will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 13.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The East Athens Wellness Experience will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony on November 13 from 10 a.m. to noon at 585 Vine St. in Athens. This community-focused project repurposes the former Triangle Plaza into a site featuring gardens, walking paths, and a shared commercial kitchen.
Why it matters
The project aims to restore the property to its original purpose as a local business and community center. It provides residents with direct access to food resources, culinary training, and wellness programming within their neighborhood.
The redevelopment was funded through a state grant program using federal American Rescue Plan Act dollars, following an application submitted in 2022 and approved in 2023. The site, located at 585 Vine St., will be open for public use starting November 13.
The players
Rashe Malcolm
Rashe Malcolm is the owner of the property and the driving force behind the redevelopment of the former Triangle Plaza site.
East Athens Wellness Experience
This new community-focused campus provides residents with shared kitchen facilities, public gardens, and educational wellness resources.
The details
The site has been transformed into a multifunctional campus that includes outdoor gathering areas and a shared commercial kitchen designed for cooking classes and entrepreneurship training. These facilities are intended to support ongoing education regarding nutrition and healthy living.
Timeline
Rashe Malcolm opened a restaurant at the site in 2019.
The property was purchased by Rashe Malcolm in 2021.
The state grant application for redevelopment was submitted in 2022.
Grant approval was officially received in 2023.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony and public tour will occur on November 13, 2026.
Market Landscape
This project exemplifies a growing trend of utilizing federal recovery grants to repurpose commercial properties for community-centric usage rather than traditional retail or housing development. By focusing on shared facilities like commercial kitchens, it positions itself as a resource-hub model within the neighborhood sector.
Residents can access the new gardens, walking paths, and shared commercial kitchen starting after the November 13 opening. These amenities are designed to offer locals free or low-cost opportunities for food preparation, culinary instruction, and community engagement.
The takeaway
This project highlights how federal grant dollars can successfully transition aging commercial real estate into vibrant community assets. Residents are encouraged to monitor future announcements regarding enrollment for the culinary and gardening classes scheduled to begin at the campus.
What happens next
The facility will officially launch its public programming on November 13, 2026, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and public tour.
Further reading
Find more updates on new projects in the area on the Athens Openings & Closings section page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Athens Banner-Herald.
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