Tucker

Imagine a community with affordable homes, good schools, kid-friendly parks, and great neighbors, and you have Tucker, Georgia. It’s just a few minutes northeast of Atlanta, but it is all about suburban living. Farmers markets, chili cook-offs, parades, church activities, and youth sports are the norm for a weekend afternoon. After a day of family fun, you can stop by one of its many restaurants for some down-home Southern cooking or to try something exotic you have never had before. You may think you have to commute to Atlanta for work, but many companies are starting to look to Tucker to set up their headquarters and regional offices, which means less time on Atlanta’s busy streets and more time with your family. Tucker is an unincorporated community in DeKalb County.

• Population: 27,600
• Several notable businesses make their headquarters in Tucker. They include The Big Green Egg, the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, YP Holdings, Oglethorpe Power, and Emory University Orthopaedics and Spine Hospital.
• Tucker is home to the Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts.
• More than 91 percent of adults living in Tucker have a high school education and nearly half hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. This makes Tucker one of the most educated places in the state of Georgia.
• Over 230 acres of Tucker are dedicated to parks and green spaces with lakes, trails, creeks, sports fields, tennis courts, playgrounds, pools, and picnic areas.
• Tucker is home to two public libraries, both of which are part of the DeKalb County Public Library system.
• Since the 1950s, Tucker holds an annual festival called Tucker Day. It includes a parade, food, arts and crafts, and live music.

• MARTA – Atlanta’s public transportation system, MARTA, offers six daily bus routes to and from the Tucker area.
• Interstates – Tucker sits near the northern intersection of Interstates 285 and 85, which is great news for commuters. Interstate 285 is best known as Atlanta’s Perimeter because it encircles the city. Interstate 85 can take you north to South Carolina and south towards Alabama.
• Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – Hartsfield-Jackson is the world’s busiest airport, and it is approximately 24 miles southwest of Tucker.

• Northlake Mall ­­­­– Just across Interstate 285 from Tucker is Northlake Mall. It is home to stores like Macy’s, Sears, JCPenney, Kohl’s, Men’s Warehouse, and Victoria’s Secret. The surrounding area, which includes Briarcliff Village, is home to Michaels, Best Buy, Target, Kroger, PetSmart, and multiple other recognizable stores.
• Cofer Crossing – The area of Tucker where Lawrenceville Highway and Hugh Howell Road meet is home to several large shopping centers with big name stores and restaurants. In Cofer Crossing, you will find Kroger, Walmart, Applebees, Game Stop, HomeGoods, Dollar Tree, Taco Bell, Payless, and more. Other stores and restaurants in the surrounding shopping centers include Publix, Papa John’s Pizza, Zaxby’s, Staples, Longhorn Steakhouse, and Moe’s Southwest Grill.
• North Dekalb Mall – Located just up the road in Decatur is North DeKalb Mall, another popular shopping destination for Tucker residents. Stores include Burlington, Macy’s, Ross, Marshall’s, and Dollar Tree. It also has its own theater.

• Taqueria Los Hermanos – The Tucker area is home to several great Mexican restaurants, but Taqueria Los Hermanos is a local favorite. Once you try its hearty portions of authentic cuisine, you will become a regular. Some people call it the best Mexican in the state of Georgia.
• Papi’s Cuban & Caribbean Grill – Speaking of the best of the best, some people say Papi’s Cuban and Caribbean Grill is the best Cuban restaurant in Metro Atlanta. The restaurant has a few locations scattered throughout the Atlanta area, including one in Cofer Crossing in Tucker. That staff is always friendly, but the food is what keeps customers coming back. From Mofongo to the assortment of Cuban sandwiches, you will feel like you are out on an island when you dine here.
• Matthews Cafeteria – Everyone needs some comfort food once in a while, which is probably why Matthews Cafeteria is such a popular location. It serves everything you can dream of when you crave Southern cooking, including fried chicken, mashed potatoes, turnip greens, and mac and cheese. The restaurant began serving the area in 1955, and it has been a staple ever since.
• Local No. 7 – Local No. 7 may look like your average bar and restaurant, but the food here is anything but average. The fried green beans are one of the most popular menu items, and the eatery manages to be both family-friendly and a great place to have drinks on a late Friday night.
• Shorty’s – Skip the generic pizza joints you find scattered throughout the suburbs and head straight to Shorty’s, Tucker’s favorite pie maker. All of the pizzas are named for musicians, and you’ll find toppings that you can’t get anywhere else. Don’t like pizza? Don’t worry. There are salads, sandwiches, and a few other dishes on the menu. If you ever get a chance to dine in at Shorty’s, make sure it’s a night when there is live music.

• Stone Mountain Park – Stone Mountain Park is one of the Atlanta area’s most popular destinations for visitors and residents alike, and it is only about five miles south of Tucker. The park centers on a large rock mountain with a carving of three key men from the Civil War on the face of it. Visitors can walk or ride up the mountain, take in a laser show, enjoy live entertainment, view historical sites, play golf, enjoy a meal, shop, ride a boat, ride a train, conquer the rope bridges, and much more. It is definitely a great way to spend a day or even a weekend with your family.
• Atlanta Silverbacks Park – As soccer becomes more and more popular, Atlanta Silverbacks Park becomes a more and more popular destination for fans. Located just outside of Tucker, the multi-million dollar facility features four full-size soccer fields. It is home to the men’s professional soccer team, the Atlanta Silverbacks, as well as the women’s semi-pro team. Youth soccer teams, adult soccer leagues, and the Atlanta Renegades Rugby Club also practice and play there.
• Heritage Golf Links – The majority of the Heritage Golf Links golf course sits within the boundaries of Tucker. When it opened in 1996, Golf Digest named it one the “Best New Golf Courses in America.” It features a challenging layout, complete with a 20-acre lake, as well as clubhouse and driving range. Instructors are also available.
• Room Escape Adventures – If you love puzzles and problem-solving, Room Escape Adventures is an excellent place to visit. Up to 12 participants are stuck together in a room with a scenario that forces you to find a way out. It’s great for team-building with co-workers, but you can have a good time with friends and family, too, when you are in the mood for something a little more outside the box.
• Atlanta Botanical Garden – Tucker is just minutes away from all Atlanta has to offer. One of the closer attractions is the Atlanta Botanical Garden. There is always something in bloom, an exciting exhibit, or another event, such as a concert or chef demo going on. You can also dine at the Garden’s restaurant.

• Tucker Middle School

• Tucker High School