Peachtree Corners has a way of turning entrepreneurs into neighbors. For two local self-starters, what began as a smart business decision soon grew into something much bigger—a flourishing love for the community they serve. Drawn first by the city’s innovative spirit and supportive business community, they brought their ventures here, confident that Peachtree Corners’ positive energy and small-town warmth would give them room to grow. And they did just that. Yet, they also soon realized that Peachtree Corners isn’t just a great spot to build a business—it also is the kind of city they wanted to call home. These business owners-turned-residents have found their place in Peachtree Corners, and their stories illustrate why the city has become one of the most coveted locales in metro Atlanta.

Andrew Hajduk: A Community Connection

Andrew Hajduk never actually planned to have his company located in Peachtree Corners. In fact, when he founded Vox-pop-uli, a marketing production company that’s recognized as a leader in large-format digital printing and creative services, in Duluth in 1996, Peachtree Corners did not even exist. It still wasn’t a city when Hajduk moved the company to the Northwoods complex in 2005. Yet, by the time Vox-pop-uli moved a third time to Peachtree Industrial Boulevard (PIB) in 2019, it was firmly entrenched in Peachtree Corner’s booming business ecosystem. And Hajduk wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It was never really intentional to be in Peachtree Corners. We just knew we loved the PIB corridor and its centralized location,” he notes. “But when Peachtree Corners became a city, it was a benefit to be able to say we were located here. Having that association with the city elevated our presence. I realized that I’m in the greatest part of Atlanta to grow my business. So several years ago, we embarked on an initiative to really focus locally. Now I always say that the next $10 million is within 10 miles.”

In addition to outstanding access to local highways, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and unlimited client opportunities, Peachtree Corners has provided Vox-pop-uli––which helps customers effectively communicate their brands through print, apparel and specialty engraving services––with an ideal location for its talented creative staff and a connection to a city municipality that truly cares about its local businesses. What’s more, Hajduk’s company began partnering with the city, sponsoring events and resources on the Town Green and providing merchandise as a full-fledged business partner, among other services.

“There’s truly a commitment from city leadership to work with the people who want to take Peachtree Corners to the next level,” Hajduk says. “They are open to listening to the concerns of local businesses, whether it’s about permitting, infrastructure or safety. The city is good at having those conversations. When it comes to the engagement of all the stakeholders involved, the job this city does is second to none. I’ve never had that feeling anywhere else.”

With that in mind, empty nesters Hajduk and his wife decided to move from their home of 25 years in Johns Creek to Peachtree Corners in 2023. “It was great timing. We found the perfect house in a phenomenal neighborhood, and we have great neighbors. This is such a great community,” he observes. “It’s such a diverse community. You also have everything you need here."

From a variety of restaurants to concerts and events at the Town Green and The Forum, Hajduk notes that residents never have to leave town to get the quality of life they seek. They also have access to affordable homes, great schools and so much more. All of this makes Peachtree Corners the perfect place to both live and run a business. He concludes, “There’s a level of care that’s just different. For me, from day one, Peachtree Corners felt like home. Look at what we have to offer. And even though Peachtree Corners is one of the biggest cities in Gwinnett, it doesn’t feel like it. There are so many ways to make connections here in the community. I love Peachtree Corners.”

Raquel Stalcup: Serving Up Success In Peachtree Corners

Raquel Stalcup drove Peachtree Parkway every day for 20 years. As a long-time resident of Johns Creek, she often used the main thoroughfare, finding herself in Peachtree Corners for one reason or another. So when she and her business partner, executive chef Charlie Sunyapong, saw that Peachtree Parkways’ Noble Fin Restaurant was closing, they jumped at the chance to bring their own restaurant vision to life.

“We thought it would be a great place to showcase our restaurant,” says Stalcup, co-owner and director of operations of Stäge Kitchen & Bar, which opened in 2021. “The culinary scene has definitely grown in Peachtree Corners, but there wasn’t a restaurant within the city—or even all of Atlanta—that could offer high-end sushi, global tapas and fresh pastas all in the same location. We created the concept, and Peachtree Corners became our home for our original location.”

Since opening (during the COVID pandemic), Stäge has become a local favorite, welcoming not only city residents, but also visitors from across the metro area. And the experience of working within Peachtree Corners was so positive for Stalcup and her team that they also opened Pêche Modern Coastal at The Forum in 2023, bringing a high-end seafood concept to the city. They followed that with the opening of Sheesh Mediterranean, located in food hall Politan Row at The Forum, in 2024. According to Stalcup, “Peachtree Corners is great. The city has been growing, and it’s very innovative and forward-thinking. They really support the growth of business, and they are easy to work with. It’s just seamless opening up here, and the community is so welcoming.”

That welcoming atmosphere encouraged Stalcup to relocate from Johns Creek to Peachtree Corners two years ago. “I just fell in love with Peachtree Corners,” she notes. “There’s business. There’s residential. There are restaurants. There are concerts and festivals. There are so many events. There are parks, trails and wonderful outdoor spaces. And they are doing so much to modernize the city. I saw Peachtree Corners moving forward within the community, and I really enjoyed that. There’s constant growth, and that’s really important to me.”

For Stalcup, that includes the city’s effort to become more walkable by connecting locales like the Town Green and The Forum. With so many spots brought together, local residents often cross paths, and friendships are established every day. In fact, running into her neighbors and patrons on any given day is one of Stalcup’s favorite parts of being a Peachtree Corners resident. She adds, “I’ve also built a lot of personal relationships with other business owners. We all support each other and work together to make Peachtree Corners a real destination. That’s what we want to be known as, and we’re working to put Peachtree Corners on the map in that way.”

Finding a home for both herself and her businesses has allowed Stalcup to enjoy exactly what she had always been looking for: a bona fide live-work-play community. “I love living here, and I love being a business owner here,” she says. “The community loves local business, and it’s wonderful. For me, Peachtree Corners is just a great modern town. It has a small-town feel, but it’s growing, and that growth is what makes me so proud of the area.”

For more information, visit peachtreecornersga.gov.