Bonus Bits & Bites
Whole Foods Market confirmed earlier this week that they plan to close their millennial-focused Whole Foods 365 store in Bellevue, Washington. The store, the third of the new concept stores, opened in late 2016 and was soon followed by others across the country. The Bellevue store is expected to close tomorrow, Saturday October 14, but it has already been removed from the 365 website. Amazon, which officially closed on its nearly $14 billion purchase of Whole Foods in late August, is reportedly "not a fan" of the 365 concept. The decision to close the Bellevue store was reportedly made prior to Amazon's purchase of the grocer. “The decision was made by company leadership prior to the Amazon merger after careful evaluation of both store performance and the site challenges that exist for successfully operating a grocery store,” Whole Foods Global PR Director Robin Kelly said in a statement. Kelly added that the Bellevue store closing doesn’t indicate that Whole Foods is backing away from the 365 concept. “We remain committed to the 365 format, and will continue to sign new leases and open stores in a variety of markets." Following the Bellevue closure, there will be five 365 stores open with another 18 in the pipeline including two in Georgia in Decatur and Buckhead.
According to sources close to the store, the Kroger on Howell Mill Road at Howell Mill Square is undergoing limited exterior renovations this week as it works towards a more extensive interior renovation early next year.
Bargainata, a service of the Atlanta chapter of The National Council of Jewish Women, announced earlier this week that they are closing their Sandy Springs area "thrift" store. The shop, which is currently located on the back side of a small center adjacent to the Goodwill center at Abernathy Drive and Roswell Roads, moved to its current location in late 2015. The store's previous home was about a mile south in Hilderbrand Court, where the new Modera Sandy Springs luxury apartment complex is currently under construction. Bargainata, which primarily features women's clothing, jewelry and accessories, is currently offering 40% all merchandise. Prices vary by item, with a mix of thrift-like prices and eBay-like prices. Store officials indicate the store will reopen elsewhere, but the new location has not yet been confirmed.
A fourth location of Jacksonville, Florida-based Maple Street Biscuit Company is coming to Georgia. The breakfast eatery opened their first Atlanta area location last last month in Duluth, and recently confirmed plans to open other locations in Alpharetta and Woodstock. The fourth Georgia location will be in Savannah at 220 West Broughton Street.
A new Speedway fuel center with Speedy Cafe and convenience store is coming to Lilburn at East Lawrenceville Highway, at its intersection with Harmony Grove Road. The fuel provider first went before the Gwinnett County department of planning and development last spring, but only recently has the project begun to move forward. Speedway, a wholly owned subsidiary of fuel provider Marathon, re-entered the metro Atlanta market last year. The company today operates locations in Norcross, Lawrenceville and Alpharetta. Speedway also hoped to open a new location in Kennesaw, but after being denied by the city of Kennesaw, is suing the city. Sources say the suit is ongoing.
Slingshot Entertainment, located in a former BJ's Wholesale at Peachtree Industrial and Jimmy Carter Boulevards in Peachtree Corners/Norcross has "temporarily closed." The bowling, go-cart and entertainment venue that also featured an American Ninja Warrior-style course, opened in the former big box space during the summer of 2015. The Slingshot website has been replaced with a simple black and white "splash page" that says: "WE'VE GOT A NEW LOOK COMING!" Local sources suspect the business will not reopen.
The Wendy's at Spring Road and Cobb Parkway in Smyrna officially reopened yesterday after being demolished and rebuilt over the past few months. The new restaurant sports the company's latest "image activation" design elements and is a significant improvement over the location that previously stood in its place. According to a source at Wendy's Dublin, Ohio headquarters, the original Spring Road location opened in 1975 and was the 90th overall Wendy’s restaurant.
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