The first grocery store to operate in downtown Atlanta was funded by taxpayers
FOX Business’ Ashley Webster has the latest on the store’s efforts to target ‘food deserts’ at ‘Varney & Co.’
O’Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O’Leary explains why city-owned grocery stores are ‘a bad idea,’ shares concerns over Zohran Mamdani’s promises, and discusses why he supports Bitzero.
Atlanta’s first state-operated grocery store, Azalea Fresh Market, is off to a great start, according to city officials.
The community-run, taxpayer-funded restaurant is located in an area of the city that has long been considered a food desert. The City of Atlanta, Invest Atlanta, IGA and Savi Provisions jointly worked together to develop the store, which has served tens of thousands of customers since it opened last fall.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens told Black Enterprise that the store served more than 20,000 customers in its first weeks of opening last fall.
BUY NOW, PAY LATER FOOD CONSUMPTION IS LIKELY TO BE REPEAT AS CONSUMERS CONSUME FOOD COSTS
“Our management is committed to increasing access to fresh food throughout the city, and Azalea Fresh Market is a milestone in ensuring that neighborhoods are healthy,” said Dickens, who is also Chairman of the Board of Invest Atlanta, in a statement.
Azalea Fresh Market in Atlanta is the first municipal grocery store in the state. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
Dickens called the store “a community center that will serve the residents of the neighborhood, support Georgia products and promote healthy living as we continue to revitalize Downtown.”
Dr. Eloisa Klementich, chief executive officer of Invest Atlanta, said the store’s goal is to promote local job growth and continue to boost the Downtown economy.
“This initiative is another example of Atlanta leading the way in addressing food availability and food insecurity through a new grocery store model that will promote sustainable community development and enrich the lives of local residents,” Klementich said.
NYC BUSINESS LEADER FEARS ‘LAWLESS COMMUNITY’ AFTER ZOHRAN MAMDANI WINS MAYORAL ELECTION
The store is open every day from 7 am to 10 pm and occupies two levels, offering a wide range of products including fresh produce, milk, meat and staple foods. It also sources from local farmers and suppliers to support the regional economy.
Azalea Fresh Market in Atlanta is the first municipal grocery store in the state. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
Atlanta’s efforts are being watched closely by other cities, some of which have struggled to find similar state-supported stores, and others are considering launching their own.
BILLIONAIRE CEO WARNS TO CLOSE FOOD STORES IF DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST CANDIDATE WINS NYC RACE.
New York City’s Socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was sworn in on New Year’s Day, has floated the idea of city-owned stores in the Big Apple.
Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayoral candidate, speaks during the United Federation of Teachers mayoral forum in New York on May 17, 2025. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg/Getty Images/Getty Images)
Mamdani campaigned on a series of progressive policies aimed at reducing the cost of living. Among his proposals, Mamdani said he wants to build a chain of shops in the city. But Mamdani’s plan has faced consternation from business leaders, with billionaire grocer John Catsimatidis threatening at one point to close or sell his Gristedes properties if the city moves ahead with state-owned supermarkets.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
While Catsimatidis later retracted those threats, he said he intended to reduce his company’s exposure to New York.
