Kroger announced plans Friday to close sixty stores nationwide over the next eighteen months. The grocer did not reveal a list for the closures and indicated that one would not be provided.
Amazingly, the store slated to close the soonest is also one of the grocer's newest in metro Atlanta.
The large format Kroger at 2452 Morosgo Way in Atlanta near the Lindbergh MARTA station opened November 9, 2016 and is due to close July 19, according to multiple store employees. The roughly 84,00 square foot store had several of the bells and whistles of newer, larger Kroger stores like a designated "Pickup" area, Starbucks and a Murray's Cheese counter but did not have a drive-thru pharmacy or a fuel center. The store also opened with a "Kro-Bar" but that offering was replaced by private meeting space in 2022. Sources close to the grocer indicate the Morosgo store has "never performed" and that it dealt with constant issues related to theft and loitering.
There was originally talk of a Walmart opening on the Morosgo property but ultimately Fuqua Development, the developer of the project, got a deal done with Kroger instead which seemed to appease the community.
Real estate sources ToNeTo Atlanta spoke with in preparing this post all agree that backfilling the huge freestanding building will not be easy.
The Kroger Citi Center store that anchors Belvedere Plaza - 3479 Memorial Drive in Decatur - is also slated to close, according to a source at the store. The larger format Kroger is also several decades old but unlike Lindbergh and Brookhaven, did offer fuel. The Belevedere Plaza location carries the "Citi Center" branding as it featured assorted third party community businesses such as a nail salon, tax office and barber in space at the front of its store. The company also operates Citi Center stores on Metropolitan Parkway and Cascade Road, both in southwest Atlanta.
The company in late 2022 closed the "Baby Kroger" at 720 Commerce Drive, also in Decatur. ToNeTo Atlanta reported this past September that Trader Joe's has been linked to the redevelopment of the former Baby Kroger property.
Kroger's planned closure at Belvedere Plaza is no doubt unwelcome news to those in the community but there are still grocery options nearby including an Aldi store across the street as well as the Walmart Supercenter that opened on the site of the former Avondale Mall in 2008.
The Belvedere Plaza store is also slated to close later this fall September 13.
The company also plans to close their store at Windward Village - 11877 Douglas Road - in Alpharetta. The roughly 54,000 square foot store opened along with the shopping center in 1999 and also features a fuel center. That said, the store's orientation within the center is atypical and it's located only two miles from the more prominent and better performing Kroger that anchors Saddlebrook Shopping Center (10945 State Bridge Road).
The Alpharetta Kroger is due to close as of August 16 according to an employee at the store.
Related: United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 confirmed Friday that Kroger plans to close two Virginia stores, as well as single stores in West Virginia and Tennessee in batches starting August 22, 2025 and ending September 19, 2025.
As a result of these store closures, Kroger expects "a modest financial benefit," the company said. Kroger said the resulting savings will be invested in "customer experience initiatives." Kroger also said that all employees at affected stores will be offered roles at other Kroger locations.
Shares in Kroger (NYSE: KR) traded up nearly 10 percent Friday (+$6.45) ending the day at $71.97. The shares are up 43.88 percent over the past year and 120.23 percent over the past five years.
The upcoming closures come about a year after the shutter of the more than forty year old Kroger at Riverview Village (3300 Cobb Parkway) at the corner of Cobb Parkway and Paces Mill Road in Vinings. The store closed August 17, 2024 after 44 years serving the community.
Cincinnati-based Kroger commanded a 26 percent share of metro Atlanta's grocery market in 2023, according to data released by Chain Store Guide. Lakeland, Florida-based Publix was a close second with 22.5 percent of the Atlanta market.
Interestingly, Kroger has in recent years closed stores in both Buckhead and Brookhaven where new Publix stores have opened (Buckhead) and are opening soon (Brookhaven).
Data released in late 2024 by analytics firm RetailStat indicates that Kroger's stake had shrunk with the grocer controlling 21.3 percent of the Atlanta market compared to Publix's 20.5 percent. Also worth noting is that according to their store data, Kroger had 124 stores in the Atlanta MSA (Metropolitan Statistical Area) in 2024 while Publix had 159.
Where do you do the majority of your grocery shopping? Have you visited the Kroger on Morosgo Drive? What would you like to see open in place of the affected stores?
Please share your thoughts below.
52 comments:
Regarding the Morosgo location, not surprised. It is always a fine assortment of homeless, addicts and spectacular looking weirdos that I'm sure drove most of the general public away. Although it will never happen, would love to see an Ingles go in there.
The Morosgo store was poorly located on the site - hidden from view along the main roads. No Kroger signs on Piedmont or Lindberg either.
Even though there is a constant flow of unsheltered men and women around the perimeter of the store at Lindbergh, I liked that location. I could go to Chick Fil A and then get groceries. I have a Krogers at Edgewood but will definitely miss the Morosgo store and employees.
No surprise about the Lindbergh location - that area is a haven for the usual suspects. Sorry to hear that Fiesta Kroger and Shitty Center Kroger are going the way of Baby Kroger and Disco Kroger. At least we still have Krogerdishu down by the airport and Krogay at Ansley.
The Skye Hill Kroger always seems relatively busy and serves an area of working class people who will really miss it if it has to go. Surrounded by multi-family housing developments. Kroger really should revisit that decision.
I never use the Belvedere Kroger, but I imagine it will have similar impact on a similarly economically disadvantaged area. I don’t know where Kroger will be spending the money they’ll be saving, but I know it won’t be on anything resembling customer service.
I honestly didn’t know the Lindbergh Kroger was there. I am not surprised about Skye Hill. It’s a really small Kroger. It stays busy though but I only there in an emergency
Not surprised about the Douglas rd location. It’s always dead.
dang wanted them to close Monroe Kroger
Morosgo closure is a shame, but not a surprise. I enjoyed being able to go to Home Depot and Kroger in one easy trip, but dodging the unhoused to drive between the two was definitely a challenge.
So hoping to close the Northlake Kroger, in favor of a TJs...
Kroger probably assumed the existing bldgs along Piedmont immediately to their East would eventually turnover and become newer out parcels, allowing the Kroger to orient more to the street with a few QSRs in front of it. Instead, those places are still run down stores/clubs.
Don't think so
I haven’t been to Belvedere plaza since 2009 when they closed the movie theater though. Had some fun times at that theater.
The Douglas Rd Kroger is my personal one, and yes, always quiet, and yes, that’s what I love about it! But crazy that they just completed a complete store upgrade within the last year and now are closing! But besides the Saddlebrook store (which a district leader told me is basically one of their district model stores), there is also one on 141(Peachtree Pkwy) super close as well that’s significantly bigger too
Agree about the Skye Hill location
Creating more food deserts for communities in need.
Meant West
Can anyone close the Cascade Citi center it has to be one of the worst Krogers ever.
Didn't you mean to say "homeless?" There I fixed it for you
I called it the "secret Kroger ".
I call the one in Edgewood the "Crazy Kroger".
I wish Kroger would invest in updating the Ansley Mall location. That location is old and run down. It's hard to believe it's still a high performing location. Now that Bank of America next door to the Ansley Mall location has closed, Kroger could expand or at least renovate. I live across the street I would rather drive to the Kroger on Ponce.
Now Kroger should update and renovate the Ansley Mall location. There's room to expand since Bank of America closed next door. I live across the street and would rather drive to the Kroger on Ponce.
There is absolutely zero chance that Kroger will take these savings to invest in “customer experience initiatives.” The customer experience has been consistently dreadful since COVID.
We get it - you’re angry and hateful. But language evolves (my grandparents called the local homeless guy a “hobo”) so if somebody wants to say unsheltered what’s your concern?
Now Kroger should update and renovate the Ansley Mall location. There's room to expand since Bank of America closed next door. I live across the street and would rather drive to the Kroger on Ponce.
Unsheltered men and women? Watch your pronouns homie!
Last Christmas I was at Lindbergh looking for a seasonal item and spoke with a manager and regional manager who helped me locate it at the Brookhaven store. In chatting with the regional manager, he said the Lindbergh store actually loses money because they have to employee security around the clock and contract clean up crews because of the trash and debris left by the homeless in that area. He said they had begged the city for some help and got no response.
Community: "We need a grocery store in our area. It's a food desert!"
Also community: "Oh the shoplifting don't matter. Krogers has enough insurance".
Also community part two: "See they only close because they hate our community".
The one at Skye Hill has not been updated in decades. That's an odd little shopping center but it's close to all those apartments.
I've been to the Kro-Bar and was disappointed. They had a lot of "departments" but there was no staffing in most of them, which meant you couldn't buy the fancy stuff. Or get a drink, which was the whole point of my trip. Charlotte has some Harris Teeters that have wine and snacks and those are staffed.
Pretty soon, in order to prevent theft, people will have to wear just their underwear in order to shop. Or they could go the way of Costco and charge a membership fee
We love the Ansley Kroger and can always find what we’re looking for there. It’s an older store but very convenient and has a well-stocked organic produce, which Publix does not. We shop that Kroger 10 times more often than we do any Publix these days. Publix is clean and nice but doesn’t carry everything we purchase regularly (especially organic fruit and veggies), and their prices are higher. Kroger and Trader Joe’s are our go-to.
No, I love that store and rely on it way more than the Publix that’s next door to it!
It could use an update, but the parking is easy, and the store is a good size — they carry everything but it isn’t one of those mega stores that take you an hour to find stuff. It’s my go-to store, and I love it and won’t go to Publix next door unless absolutely necessary.
Awww man. Kroger gave you the most bang for your ebt buck. Knowwhatimsayin’?
ALL City of Decatur and Avondale residents would be thrilled to have a Trader Joe’s replace the once Baby Kroger on Clairemont. The perfect size and spot!
I use the Belvedere location primarily
for gas and emergency grocery purchases. Closing that store will definitely disadvantage the neighboring communities.
The Morosgo Kroger closure is sad but not surprising as has been stated in previous comments. It was a beautiful store when it opened with many amenities. It even had a fresh juice bar (which was removed within a year). Besides seeing the riff-raff hanging out around the store (which caused the Zesto's to close and it had been there for many years) I knew the store's days were numbered when they put combination locks on the rest rooms. You had to go to customer "service" to get the combination which often had nobody there or people waiting in line. One time, as I was walking in, there was a guy working on his car near the front entrance of the store (blocking the front drive) as if it was his personal driveway. I alerted security. That whole area has gone down. Shootings at the Texaco at Lindburgh and Piedmont. A dog walker shot at nearby apartments. People caught in crossfire in the Home Depot parking lot caused by an apartment pool party fight. On and on. Horrific. I'm sure the people who bought expensive condos and townhouses around there are regretting their decision.
Nobody thinks that but your racist ass
Guess the new "Uptown" branding wasn't enough to turn around Lindbergh. Surprise, surprise. I went to the Kroger there to renew my car registration last year but decided to pass when I saw a partially clothed homeless man with a katana sword pacing around the parking lot.
Belvedere kroger should get product, they never have what you need as big as it is. I hardly go there anymore. The community would definitely miss it.
Confusing cause with effect. Kroger isn’t creating the food desert. The clientele is causing it through theft and by driving away other customers. If you don’t think that is a reality, why don’t you go open a store and see how the math works out for you.
The Belvedere store is underserved but closing it will be a hardship for many residents in the neighborhood. Maybe if Wayfield Foods adds more product it come somewhat ease the inconvenience. Too bad Wayfield doesn't sell gas or provide prescriptions.
The security issue is the final nail in that coffin.
This is typical Kroger behavior. They can use all the excuses but basically them and Publix are a monopoly and therefore close and create more food deserts. Aldi and Walmart are not the same as a quality grocery store. And for your trader Joe's people dream on.
Kroger is getting demolished in this market by Publix. Despite being cheaper than Publix, Kroger stores are just dirtier, poorly laid out and stocked and their customer service is non-existent. At the Chamblee Dunwoody store, the customer service desk is actually closed for the first couple hours after opening. Not sure how that is even possible. I wanted to exchange something there and was told the customer service desk doesn't open until 9am. They actually rolled in closer to 9:30.
Kroger can use all the excuses they want for closing stores. They and Publix are basically a monopoly in Atlanta and therefore open and close and create more food desert's. Aldi and Walmart are not the same and don't have enough quality or variety. As for you Trader Joe's people dream on.
Brookhaven one was Gangsta.
They need to close the one on South hairston so my baby mama won't have a job
I wouldn't be surprised if one of the 3 Roswell stores closes. They are all located within 8 miles of each other and all have Fuel Centers. The Centennial Kroger is 3 miles south of the one in Alpharetta. Two of the stores 431 near 400 and 441 near Centennial HS have major management problems. I work for Kroger and I also think this may be due to their ECET (Every Customer Every Time) BS customer service push. We are horribly understaffed in our store and have issues with registers going down constantly because management doesn't want to maintain and service them properly.
Morosgo Kroger - I've had a PO Box for decades at the Broadview Post Office there and have watched the area go from slightly dodgy to occasionally quite scary. There was even a man found shot and killed alongside that Quik-Trip this month. The number of folks standing around looking for day labor, plus the street pharmacists, and those who need some serious mental healthcare and medication has skyrocketed. They've always been there, just now there are a whole lot more of them. People are living in the woods all around there and along Buford Hwy. And it can't be safe to live in those woods with some of those folks. I don't know what the solution is-I wouldn't even know where to start. But Atlanta mayors all talk about tackling the issue and nothing happens.
I'd just like to post an update that these closures, with dates, have now been officially confirmed as of a few minutes ago: https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/kroger-confirms-4-stores-closing-metro-atlanta-area
Ha ha. Describing crime and mayhem in the Lindburgh area is considered racist. Figures.
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