Ceremonial ribbon cutting marks the transformation of a long-vacant big-box property into an 80,000-square-foot destination for worship, events, and community connection.
Thousands of Eagles Nest Church members, families, and community members filled the church’s new Roswell home Sunday, celebrating the culmination of a 14-year ministry journey and the transformation of a long-vacant Kohl’s into a dynamic destination for worship, events, and community connection.
The Sept. 6 grand opening, themed “The CrossOver,” brought the congregation together for two high-energy worship experiences and an all-white celebration marking a new season for the ministry. The days leading up to Sunday’s crescendo featured a ceremonial ribbon-cutting with Roswell Mayor Mary Robichaux, Eagles Nest Pastor Lee Jenkins, his wife Martica Jenkins, church leaders, and additional community stakeholders.
“This project demonstrates the power of vision and thoughtful redevelopment to bring new energy to an underused property. Eagles Nest Church has made a substantial investment in Roswell and created a place that will welcome people, strengthen community connections, and contribute to the continued vitality of the Holcomb Bridge Road corridor,” said Roswell Mayor Robichaux, who recognized the redevelopment as a significant investment in one of the city’s most visible commercial corridors.
First Lady Martica Jenkins, Pastor Lee Jenkins, and Mayor Mary Robichaux
The milestone represents the completion of an approximately $28 million investment encompassing the acquisition and comprehensive redevelopment of the former Kohl’s property at 2342 Holcomb Bridge Road. After sitting vacant for nearly a decade and becoming an unofficial parking area for tractor-trailers, the 80,000-square-foot space has been reimagined as a state-of-the-art, multi-use destination where people can work, play, and gather throughout the year. The redeveloped facility includes an auditorium seating more than 1,000 people, dedicated spaces for children and students, and flexible areas designed to accommodate weddings, graduations, conferences, meetings, concerts, corporate trainings, and community gatherings.
“Standing in that room and feeling the energy, gratitude, and excitement of thousands of people was a full-circle moment for me and for this entire ministry,” said Jenkins, founder and senior pastor of Eagles Nest Church. “Since we first stepped into ministry, we knew the church was never defined by the building we occupied. But this moment showed what can happen when vision, faith, and perseverance come together. We did not simply open the doors to a new church. We opened the doors to greater possibilities for how we can serve Roswell, North Fulton, and the broader community.”
Eagles Nest began in 2012 with a small group gathering in a DoubleTree hotel ballroom. Over the next 14 years, as the ministry grew, the congregation worshiped in a succession of temporary locations including Andretti Karting and Games, a business office park, Phase Family Center, and Centennial High School’s auditorium and gymnasium. That journey made Sunday’s celebration especially meaningful for Jenkins, a North Fulton resident who has lived in Roswell for nearly 25 years and envisioned the property’s potential long before Eagles Nest would call it home. Before entering full-time ministry, Jenkins spent 25 years as a Wall Street wealth manager and vice president of investments at firms including Morgan Stanley and Raymond James.
The grand opening marks the first phase of a broader vision for the approximately 16-acre site. Rather than a traditional church campus centered primarily on weekly services, Eagles Nest has created a flexible, multi-use environment designed to remain active throughout the week, beginning with event rentals available this fall. Future phases of the campus are expected to bring Class A retail, dining, family-oriented amenities, and a daycare partner to the property, positioning it as a vibrant, year-round destination for Roswell, North Fulton, and the surrounding region.
“What happened Sunday was the beginning, not the end, of the vision,” Jenkins said. “We celebrated how far God has brought this ministry, but we also looked ahead to what this entire campus can become. We envision a place that remains active throughout the week, supports complementary businesses and services, creates memorable experiences, and becomes an epicenter for how we connect with our community.”
Eagles Nest Church Senior Pastor Lee Jenkins
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About Eagles Nest Church
Eagles Nest Church is a non-denominational, multigenerational church based in Roswell, Georgia, founded in 2012 by Senior Pastor Lee Jenkins. With close to 4,000 members, Eagles Nest is committed to creating an engaging, welcoming environment that connects faith with everyday life and encourages individuals and families to grow, serve, and make an impact. The church’s new home is located at 2342 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell.
