Friday, March 20, 2020

[UPDATE] Publix Pushes GreenWise Market Debut in East Cobb, Likely Ending Further Development

In a move many saw coming, sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that Publix has pushed the highly anticipated debut of  its GreenWise Market store in East Cobb to "at least May." June 17  The 25,000 square foot store anchors the new Sandy Plains Marketplace project on Sandy Plains Road near Shallowford Road.  A Publix source told ToNeTo Atlanta in February that the plan was to open the store April 8. Our February emails to Publix's local media relations contact seeking confirmation of the date were never answered, and in light of recent events, we have not attempted again to seek confirmation, knowing there are more important things to worry about.   

When the store does open, it will be the state's first GreenWise Market, a separate concept that the company announced in 2017 it would restart expansion of after a decade long lull.  Several tenants have already opened in the new center including Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q, MOD Pizza, Panda Express, Hollywood Feed, Sandy Plains Dental Group and Synovus Bank.  Breakfast eatery First Watch was planning to open this weekend but has pushed their opening in light of recent events.  Future openings are slated to include Bad Daddy's Burger Bar, Clean Juice, Dogtopia, Banfield Pet Hospital and, as we reported Thursday, a second Atlanta area franchise of Crumbl Cookies

Several real estate sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that Publix is pausing indefinitely any future GreenWise store development.  No specific reason has been shared but the recent closures of Lucky's Markets and Earth Fare as well as the struggles of The Fresh Market, all competing in a similar space to that of GreenWise, likely contributed to Publix's decision to re-evaluate their need for a second banner.  There are currently six GreenWise stores open with another six listed on the GreenWise specific website.



Whole Foods Market 365, a less expensive division of Whole Foods Market meant to appeal to a more diverse customer base, was scrapped last year with the company saying that most existing stores would be converted to the classic banner.  The move, which was then expected to be completed by this past fall, is apparently still happening, but delayed for unspecified reasons.  In Atlanta, the conversion would affect current 365 stores in Buckhead and near Decatur.
Bisnow reported January 28 that Orkin & Associates, the real estate investment arm of the Orkin family, purchased the 73,000 square foot Sandy Plains Marketplace for $43.8M from Fuqua Development.   At $600 per square foot, it is reportedly one of the most expensive shopping center sales in Metro Atlanta's history.

ToNeTo Atlanta reported February 23 that Publix also plans to bring an additional standard Publix store to the East Cobb market in the coming months.  The new store, slated to open in East Cobb Crossing (4269 Roswell Road), will be 37,400 square feet and joins Dick's Sporting Goods and co-anchors of a space once home to Kmart.  Several real estate sources tell ToNeTo Atlanta that this store was originally intended to be a GreenWise store.  

Additionally, a grocery-anchored redevelopment along Ashford Dunwoody Road in Dunwoody was originally expected to be a GreenWise, but sources say that Publix is committed to the site but as a standard store. 

Have you visited a GreenWise Market store?  Do you think the East Cobb area need another grocer?  Where do you do the majority of your grocery shopping?  

Please share your thoughts below.  

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I believe the buckhead 365 whole foods has already converted back to a traditional whole foods by virtue of noticing the signage had changed a few weeks ago.

I live near this Greenwise and am excited about the whole shopping center. We are spoiled in East Cobb, in that I'm somewhat equidistant to Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Publix, Aldi, Kroger, Target, the soon to come Lidl etc. Sam's Club and Costco are both inconvenient however.

I also heard they are putting a grocery store in the new Sprayberry development. That area doesn't currently have a grocery store. No announcements on the "who" just yet, but speculation is another Aldi or Lidl.

Anonymous said...

The shopping center has a great location however I hate the Fuqua developer. His shopping center design/layout does not function well. Looking at the barbecue place there's very little parking. Love the fact that they will have a drive-thru but using it will be a nightmare. Getting in and out of the shopping center is hard. Panda Express needs a drive-thru . He's a terrible developer and an ugly man. I wish he would stop.

Anonymous said...

Please contact Aletha Dupuis in their business development team. She will give you the details. The store is actually not going to be the Greenwise concept. It will be a Publix Neighborhood location, a new concept with mostly Publix store brand products and fresh to go foods. They also plan to restart the “Pix” concept, but without gas, in the Sandy Springs area near Hammond Dr. Aletha will happily provide the details.

Kitster said...

Soon to come Lidl? Where? I know of the one in Roswell. Is there one being talked about in the Sandy Plains corridor?
Also, possible grocery opening in Sprayberry? Where would that be?
Both of those would be great!

As for Sams Club and Costco being inconvenient - there are locations of both in Woodstock. Sams is only 6 miles away from both Sandy Plains/Shallowford and Sandy Plains/92. Costco is another two miles beyond that. While you can't walk to them - they are "close by".

J Leeds said...

The Kroger at Haynes Bridge in Johns Creek has been being remodeled for a few months now. Part of the remodeling was the removal of all of the “Fresh Fare by Kroger” signage that was inside the store.

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