Senoia find success thanks to 'The Walking Dead' and film industry

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It is one of the most famous small town Main Streets in America. Senoia, home to more than 20 feature films and where the shops of Main Street blend into a working set for cable’s smash hit The Walking Dead.

FOX 5 News was allowed to shoot drone video of the new retail shops being built in downtown. Nearly every parking spot in downtown is taken, not to mention every store front. And new buildings are even being added along Main Street.

“Ten years ago there were only five on this Main Street. You can look at it today. It's thriving, we are 100 percent leased up” Scott Tigchelaar, President of  Senoia Enterprises said. “Even the new stuff that's being constructed here is 100 percent pre-leased.”

The Walking Dead is bringing tourists from around the world, but developer Scott Tigchelaar said there is more at work here.

“People are getting tired of the big box and the strip centers and things like that. There is an impersonality to that. When you take a walkable downtown like Senoia has there is a quaintness, there is a community and I think America is looking for that again,” said Tigchelaar.

The new additions include another downtown street; in all 15 new shops, 10 residential lofts and a restaurant.

Builder John Tiernan, President of Tiernan & Patrylo Construction said constructing  these period buildings in Senoia has been an exciting project.

“At the end of my career, what I want to be able to say is that I did some exceptional things. And this project is exceptional. Not just for Senoia but all of Metro Atlanta,” said Tiernan.

The new construction is across the street from Nic and Norman’s, the new restaurant from The Walking Dead’s Greg Nicotera and Norman Reedus.

The new buildings will open by this Christmas.

Check out this aerial tour of Senoia:

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