After a string of violent incidents, RaceTrac has decided to close its short-lived Downtown Atlanta location. Situated at the corner of Piedmont and John Wesley Dobbs Avenues in the street level of The Mix student housing development (120 Piedmont Avenue), the small format, eight fuel pump RaceTrac opened in late 2019 and marked the Atlanta-based fuel provider's first "non-traditional brick and mortar" location.
The decision to close the store was swift.
Monday afternoon RaceTrac CEO Natalie Morhous released the following statement:
"I am deeply saddened by the recent senseless acts of violence at and near this store," said CEO Natalie Morhous. "As an Atlanta-based business, we did not reach this decision lightly. We know how important our stores are to the community: They are open to guests 24/7/365, they create local jobs, they generate taxes, and play a critical role in the states in which they operate. However, RaceTrac can only be successful when our stores are safe for our team members and our guests."
Morhous, 40, a third generation leader within the family-owned company, was named RaceTrac's CEO as of January 2, 2024.
When RaceTrac opened, it marked the return of a gas station and convenience store to the area following the 2018 closure of the longstanding Shell on the same property. The Shell, which had problems of its own, was referred to by Georgia State student newspaper "The Signal" as "Shady Shell" in a 2019 report.
A Change.org petition from March 2023 cited "a substantial amount of gun violence, robberies, and sexual misconduct issues" and called for the RaceTrac to be "SHUT DOWN." The petition has received nearly 1,300 signatures including 69 this week, according to the website.
At the time of the October 2023 shooting, a report from WSB-TV quoted a student who referred to the RaceTrac as "The Infamous RaceTrac."
ToNeTo Atlanta visited the Downtown RaceTrac a half dozen or so times and always found the store active but seemingly ill-maintained with trash littering the outside and the inside often poorly stocked.
Furthermore, RaceTrac hired a patrol officer to alleviate security concerns but during at least one of our visits, we observed the officer with headphones on, fully absorbed by their phone and ignoring the activity of the store. According to Georgia State, the company hired an off-duty police officer to provide store security earlier this year.
RaceTrac's closure follows the January announcement by In-N-Out that for the first time in their history they are closing a location. The West Coast burger joint will close its Oakland restaurant as of March 24 due to customers and associates regularly victimized by car break-ins, property damage, theft, and armed robberies, according to the company.
The RaceTrac closure is effective immediately. Affected store employees will be offered opportunities to continue employment at one of the other 127 RaceTrac locations in Georgia. Overall the Atlanta-based company operates more than 570 stores throughout ten states.
What are your thoughts on the closure of the Downtown RaceTrac? What would you like to see open in place of RaceTrac Downtown? All things being equal, do you prefer QuikTrip or Racetrac, why?
Please share your thoughts below.
24 comments:
The Dickens you say! Wow, a sad statement/reflection on Atlanta. That being said, I used to patronize QT only because the closest RaceTrac to me is over 5 miles away. My spouse worked for RT so it was a bit of a conflict to fuel up at Quik Trip.
But the QT I would go to is such a fustercluck to get in and out of, and always has super-sketchy people outside panhandling and loitering, that now I pay a premium elsewhere just to get away from that.
Atlanta is going to get way, way worse before it even starts to think about getting better.
Finally! Some actual Atlanta news for you ITPers....LOL
Yikes! Downtown is becoming the new Buckhead with all the gangs and shootings.
It's the Wild West in downtown Atlanta. That happens when everyone is packing and carrying a gun thanks to Kemp and Georgia Republicans weakening gun laws. Pretty much anyone and everyone can carry a gun.
What has occurred in the past and present on this piece of land is indicative of larger social issues.
Criminal activity or lifestyle that is enabled by pop culture musicians, news media, and movies/TV.
The message young people may receive is that crime pays or thug life is cool.
The reality, life in prison is boring.
Black on black crime.
Crime of opportunity.
Homelessness and decades of apathy by all levels of City of Atlanta govt.
The losers are the ordinary people, the community and business.
The winners....who can tell?
Where is APD? Still hundreds of officers short?
Downtown crime runs a business out? What a shock. Good for Racetrac for pulling out. Sucks for the workers.
These thugs are not republicans, lmao. And they would get them regardless.
Anon @ 11:10 am: "Pretty much anyone and everyone can carry a gun."
Yeah, it's called the right to bear arms. In gaming terms, life in Atlanta is a first person shooter.
Anon @ 11:57 AM: "Black on black crime."
Right, because white on white crime isn't a thing huh? Obviously you are racist, because I never heard that the Sandy Hook or Las Vegas or Columbine or The Pulse Nightclub's assailants stopped to check the ethnicity of the people they took out.
Nice to know that even though violence affects literally everyone from kids to the elderly, men and women, Americans to New Zealanders, we have the luxury of thinking that human beings ONLY attack those in their same demographic in 2024.
Hey folks, let's talk about what's going on in downtown Atlanta – it's a bit of a mess. The problem is, we've got two big issues that are holding us back: homelessness and too much crime.
First off, we've got a bunch of folks without a home, just trying to survive. It's tough for them, and it's tough for the rest of us too. If we don't help them out, it's like trying to build a house on a shaky foundation. We need to address the needs of the unhoused, get them the support they require, so they can get back on their feet.
Now, the second thing is crime. It's everywhere, scaring businesses away and making people think twice about coming downtown. Imagine wanting to visit a friend, but you're worried about your safety – that's not how a city should be. We need to tackle crime head-on, make our streets safer, and bring the good vibes back to downtown.
If we don't fix these problems, our city won't progress. Businesses will keep leaving, and people from other parts of town won't want to visit. Let's work together to make downtown Atlanta a place where everyone feels safe and welcome. It's time for a change!
There are more gun related deaths per capita in red states compared to blue states. I think that tells you everything you need to know.
I'm black and we must do better! Black crime is real and we are destroying our own community. No more defund the police! We need more! Democrats only need us when elections are alive! Wake up!
Anon @ 3:12. The incidents you refer to do not happen every day. Turn on your TV, news sites or newspapers and see what does happen every single day. And please save your racist card, that will not stand.
People, get off your social media feeds!! You speak of Atlanta as if its some sort of warzone. Yet, business are investing billions of dollars on developing the city proper.
If Atlanta is anywhere near as bad as you think it is, how can you explain the billions of dollars of investment happening in the city?
Leave your screen and get out in the world. There are people using you and your fear to drive clicks and money to themselves. They're using you, don't be a pawn.
The issues in Atlanta have nothing to do with guns, race or political parties. The issue is irresponsible behavior from politicians, pastors, teachers, parents and kids. Until people stop playing the victim card and take responsibility for their actions and the actions of those around them things will not change.
Anon @ 9:51, you left out judges and magistrates who release violent criminals back into society or impose light sentences for those that should be locked up forever.. Not to mention those with rap sheets 10 feet long that are out running wild.
Atlanta has been a blue city for decades, and that's where most of the gun violence is. They coddle and even celebrate criminals and neglectful parents, which is the crux of the issue.
How will a vacant gas station deter crime from happening in this area?? Seems like shutting the gas station down is a recipe for more crime.
Anyone who writes here “I’m black”…….isn’t.
To the commenter regarding not being black; wow someone who is so damn clairvoyant they can deny a person's color by just looking at a blog. Get some help.
Not clairvoyant. Clair Huxtable.
Crime should always be better but if you compare 2024 to the 80s and 90s, Atlanta is fairing much better. Remember when Atlanta was considered a Murder Capital along with Detroit? Remember the Red Dog Unit that roamed around Atlanta? Atlanta's current crime rate is far lower than those of the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, particularly the late 1980s and early 1990s. For example, Atlanta reported 16,097 violent crimes in 1990 compared to 4,609 in 2021. And 2023 was even lower than 2021.
And in 1876 it was 23 crimes per 100. That’s 23%! Wow the percent is lower now.
Post a Comment