Georgia was named the No. 1 state for Best Business Climate in a survey of site selection experts. Results of the survey, published by Site Selection Magazine, were announced in January. Those who responded to the survey choose where to create jobs and invest capital.
With Georgia’s favorable business climate has come a steady stream of food store openings.
A new Sprouts Farmers Market opened Nov. 15 in Stockbridge, marking the Arizona-based grocer’s 17th store in the state. It is located at 1040 Chen Parkway.
Aldi currently operates about 84 stores in Georgia; six of those opened in 2024, including locations in Brunswick and Hartwell in December.
Heather Moore, Loxley divisional VP for Aldi, told The Shelby Report in mid-January that “we are also pleased to share we are planning to welcome Aldi to the communities of Thomaston, Bainbridge, Americus and St. Mary’s later this year.”
Publix Super Markets, which operates about 217 stores in Georgia – second only to Florida – opened eight new locations in 2024 in the Peach State, according to Media Relations Manager Nicole Krauss. They included Douglas, Jan. 17; Hampton, March 6; Villa Rica, May 22; Milledgeville, June 26; Gainesville, Sept. 12; Hoschton, Oct. 9; Dahlonega, Oct. 30; and Atlanta (Buckhead), Dec. 4.
The Buckhead store, located in the Buckhead Landing development, is larger than average, at nearly 55,000 square feet. It features an expansive selection of fresh food and beverage options to complement its traditional grocery departments. These include a chicken wing bar with more than a dozen flavor options and a “Pours” counter offering beer, wine, smoothies and other beverages.
The following cities are expected to have Publix openings this year, according to Krauss, who noted the time frame is subject to change. Second quarter: Jasper, Sharpsburg and Gainesville; third quarter, Brookhaven; and fourth quarter, Braselton.
California-based Trader Joe’s now has seven stores in Georgia following the openings of two more in late 2024. The Sandy Springs location debuted Nov. 1 in the Chastain Park area, and the Alpharetta store on Halcyon Days Trail followed Dec. 13.
A store in Johns Creek has been confirmed, according to commercial real estate news outlet ToNeTo (Tomorrow’s News Today) Atlanta, as has a location in Peachtree City.
Kroger, which operates 166 stores in 76 Georgia cities, broke ground last February on a new Kroger Marketplace on College Station Road in Athens that will replace the store nearby that opened in 1983.
According to The Athens Banner-Herald, the new Marketplace is expected to open this summer. The 116,274-square-foot store is in a space where a Kmart formerly operated. In addition to the fuel center, it will feature a Starbucks coffee, Murray’s Cheese shop, culinary kiosk, pharmacy with drive-thru and apparel department.
A Lidl opened Sept. 25 on Bethelview Road in Cumming.
“The new location is part of Lidl U.S.’ growing store network in the Atlanta area,” the company said. The Cumming site joined locations in Duluth, Roswell and Suwanee.
A discount grocer, Lidl sells fresh produce, meat, bakery items and household products, with a heavy emphasis on private brand products to keep prices as low as possible.
The Dill’s Food City in Royston that was destroyed by fire in February 2024 eventually will be rebuilt, according to a Jan. 21 story from WLHR 92.1, Lake Hartwell Radio. The station addressed local rumors that the owners were planning to sell their site in Royston, as well as their store in Lavonia.
Owner Tracy Dilworth said the rumors were not true, adding that they had hoped to start construction in Royston by the end of 2024, but the approval processes are more complicated than they used to be.
Just after the fire, Dilworth, who operates the grocery company with his brother Stan Dilworth, told the Franklin County Citizen Ledger that the store would be rebuilt “better.” Dill’s has served the Royston community since 1955 and at the current location since 1970.
“The best Dill’s ever, that is our goal,” Tracy Dilworth told WLHR.
Addressing food insecurity taking priority in the ATL
While there is abundant grocery development in some areas, others lack full-service food stores. But progress is being made.
A co-op market – a store owned by its members – was set to open just after press time, Jan. 25, in the Atlanta suburb of East Point.
Called Market 166 Grocery & Kitchen Co-op, it is located at 2903 RN Martin St. at Atlanta Utility Works. Incorporated in 2018, the first step along the path to opening a storefront was the opening of Mini Market 166 in the East Point Farmers Market, which sold food items to the public one afternoon per week.
Two other stores in underserved areas are expected to debut in the second half of this year. The City of Atlanta announced Dec. 19 that the food markets will open through its partnership with Invest Atlanta and grocer Savi Provisions.
The Invest Atlanta board approved more than $8 million in funding for the stores. The location at 2080 Campbellton Rd. SW near Campbellton Plaza will be a municipal grocery operated by Savi Provisions under a sublease agreement with Invest Atlanta, while the downtown site will be operated by Savi Provisions through a sublease agreement with an existing tenant.
“We recognize the challenges faced by communities in accessing fresh and nutritious food,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, who also chairs the Invest Atlanta board. “This municipal grocery store strategy is a significant step toward addressing food deserts in our city and ensuring that all residents can enjoy healthy, affordable food options.”
Both locations will sell “affordable fresh produce, meats, dairy products and other essential grocery items,” according to the press release from the mayor’s office. They’ll also offer cooking demos, nutrition workshops and other resources about healthy eating habits, accept SNAP benefits and offer online grocery delivery and pickup. About 80 jobs are expected to be created as well.
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Savi Provisions currently operates 16 stores in and around Atlanta, as well as a handful in North Carolina and Tennessee.
“Savi is honored to work with the Mayor’s office and Invest Atlanta on these transformational projects, which will provide our downtown residents with much-needed groceries, fresh produce and meal solutions,” said Savi CEO Paul Nair. “We are proud to be a local business supporting our fellow residents with affordable groceries and high-paying jobs.”
A day after the Savi Provisions announcement, Invest Atlanta said it is giving more than $750,000 to grocery operators to help increase access to healthy, affordable food. In addition to funding, the grantees will receive ongoing support, resources and technical assistance provided through Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) “to help optimize supply chain processes and increase access to affordable healthy food for the community.”
Fifteen grocery store owners/operators are receiving up to $50,000 each.
Invest Atlanta said, “Their projects, ranging from community gardens and mobile markets to educational programs on nutrition, are set to expand the ways residents access and engage with healthy and accessible foods.”
Grant recipients are Kosher Guacamole Corp.; Sevananda Cooperative Inc.; Pyramid Grocery; Wadada Natural Foods & Juice Bar Inc.; Halal Madina Market 2024; Fruits Veggies & Herbs; Frazie’s Market; Lee Street Meats & Grocery; Westview Corner Grocery; Nourish and Bloom Market; Little’s Food Store; Buy Low; Rhinehart Farmer’s Market; Focused Community Strategies; and The Guild Collective.
Additional Invest Atlanta grocery grants also have been given to Goodr, a concept that connects excess food that is safe for consumption with food-insecure communities. Goodr will open a grocery at Be on Edgewood and will serve senior and unhoused Atlantans.
A grant to City of Refuge, a faith-based nonprofit, will help fund the new City of Refuge Transformation Center at 1343 Joseph E. Boone Blvd., which will include a neighborhood food market.
Through its grant, the Atlanta Community Food Bank will renovate an existing commercial property along the Martin Luther King Drive corridor into a Community Food Center.
The Sweet Auburn Municipal Market, home to 30 local businesses including grocery vendors, will use its grant to reconstruct its vendor booths and fund a new Vendor Success Program administered by Invest Atlanta.
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