It’s no secret that Georgia is recognized for its exceptional business-friendly environment. In fact, Site Selection has named it the number one state for doing business for nearly a decade consecutively. That kind of reputation undoubtedly attracts companies of all sizes to settle in the area every year, establishing headquarters, distribution centers, customer service operations and more, while other companies look to expand in the area. Here are some of the most recent big business moves to our fair city and its surrounding areas.

Exotec

This global warehouse robotics provider will expand its North American headquarters with additional space in a new 37,000-square-foot facility on Peachtree Street in Atlanta. The company attributed its growth to the doubling of orders in the region in 2023, as many Fortune 500 companies wanted strategic projects completed. Expected to open the facility in 2025 with a building capacity of 250 employees, the company will be hiring hardware and software engineers. The new office, located in close proximity to Exotec’s current facility on Ottley Drive, will house a Skypod system showroom, an immersive space, a control center and a lecture hall-style training room. The company offers warehouse systems to improve operational efficiency and improve working conditions for warehouse operators.

HNTB

This Kansas City-based firm, known for designing transportation infrastructure, will be relocating from downtown Atlanta to the 14th + Spring office building in Midtown. The company will occupy the top three stories of the 12-story building. Over the years, the company has served as a consultant for MARTA, including the $2.7 billion More MARTA program. HNTB also serves as the program management consultant for GDOT’s Major Mobility Investment Program. It is expanding its current workforce with listed jobs for project managers, engineers and sales directors. The new location is expected to feature fitness centers, cafes and outdoor centers.

Potbelly

Potbelly Sandwich Works, a neighborhood sandwich shop, is expected to break into the Georgia market with plans to open franchise restaurants in metro Atlanta in 2026. After launching its Franchise Growth Acceleration Initiative, Potbelly is ready to expand with additional franchise opportunities and bring more locations to customers throughout the city to add to its 430 locations nationwide. Partnering with Royal Restaurant Group, the company plans 15 new restaurants, including in locations like Alpharetta, Buckhead, Midtown, Roswell and Sandy Springs in Fulton County, as well as Brookhaven, Chamblee, Dunwoody and Perimeter. Besides sandwiches, the company’s menu features soups, salads, cookies and milkshakes.

SAF

This metals distributor, fabricator and finisher will be relocating its manufacturing and corporate operations to a new 120,000-square-foor facility in Lithia Springs. The new facility’s proximity to I-20 and the company’s Villa Rica facility allows for easy trucking and transportation. Eight outdoor loading docks will optimize logistics and distribution, and company officials say a 100-kilowatt solar farm is expected to help lower energy use. Ultraviolet lights, designed to sterilize contaminants and often used in healthcare settings, will minimize respiratory illnesses. The new location will bring employees under one roof, as the Villa Rica location consists of several buildings.

Biscuit Belly

This Kentucky-based brunch restaurant will expand into metro Atlanta with five locations, with two or three spots expected to open within the next two years. Founded by a husband-and-wife duo of pharmacists-turned-restaurateurs, the restaurant serves gourmet breakfast biscuit sandwiches and Southern-inspired food in an upbeat dining environment.  With one location open in Acworth, the company is looking at locations in Alpharetta, Marietta and Woodstock, along with Brookhaven, Buford and Sandy Springs. The expansion was announced after the company entered a partnership with ATL Biscuits to expand across the Southeast.