FOX Enterprise’ Ashley Webster has the newest on the shop’s efforts to focus on a ‘meals desert’ on ‘Varney & Co.’
O’Leary Ventures Chairman Kevin O’Leary explains why city-run grocery shops are a ‘unhealthy concept,’ shares issues over Zohran Mamdani’s guarantees, and discusses why he backs Bitzero.
Atlanta’s first government-operated grocery retailer, Azalea Contemporary Market, has had a profitable begin, in response to metropolis officers.
The community-driven grocery retailer, funded by taxpayers, is situated within the downtown space lengthy thought-about a meals desert. Metropolis of Atlanta, Make investments Atlanta, IGA and Savi Provisions collectively labored collectively to develop the shop, which has served tens of hundreds of consumers since opening final fall.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens advised Black Enterprise that the shop served greater than 20,000 clients in its first weeks of opening final fall.
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“Our Administration made a dedication to broaden entry to contemporary meals throughout the town, and Azalea Contemporary Market is a major milestone in making certain wholesome, complete neighborhoods,” Dickens, who additionally serves as Make investments Atlanta Board Chair, mentioned in an announcement.
Azalea Contemporary Market in Atlanta is the primary municipal grocery retailer within the state. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
Dickens known as the shop a “group hub that may serve neighborhood residents, assist Georgia-grown merchandise and promote more healthy existence as we proceed to revitalize Downtown.”
Dr. Eloisa Klementich, CEO of Make investments Atlanta, mentioned the goal of the shop is to additionally “stimulate native job development and proceed to invigorate the Downtown economic system.”
“This initiative is one other instance of Atlanta main the best way in addressing meals entry and meals insecurity with a brand new grocery retailer mannequin that may foster sustainable group growth and enrich the lives of native residents,” mentioned Klementich.
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The shop is open each day from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and spans two ranges, providing a variety of merchandise together with contemporary produce, dairy, meats and pantry staples. It additionally sources from native farmers and suppliers to assist the regional economic system.

Azalea Contemporary Market in Atlanta is the primary municipal grocery retailer within the state. (Fox 5 Atlanta)
Atlanta’s effort is being intently watched by different cities, a few of which have struggled to maintain related government-backed grocery shops, in addition to others which can be contemplating launching their very own.
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New York Metropolis socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani, who was sworn in New Yr’s Day, has floated the thought of city-owned grocers within the Large Apple.

Zohran Mamdani, New York Metropolis mayoral candidate, speaks through the United Federation of Academics mayoral discussion board in New York on Could 17, 2025. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg/Getty Pictures / Getty Pictures)
Mamdani campaigned on a slate of progressive insurance policies geared toward reducing the price of residing. Amongst his proposals, Mamdani mentioned he wished to create a community of city-owned grocery shops. However Mamdani’s plan confronted pushback from enterprise leaders, with Billionaire grocery government John Catsimatidis threatening at one level that he would shut or promote his Gristedes places if the town moved ahead with government-run supermarkets.
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Whereas Catsimatidis later walked again these threats, he has mentioned he intends to cut back his firm’s publicity in New York.

