The Fresh Market is larger, and that makes longtime customer Barbara Jones happy.
"It's much, much nicer. It's really great. I know we'll enjoy it," she said Wednesday while shopping in the store's new expanded location in the National Hills Shopping Center on Washington Road.
The 23,200-square-foot store is 30 percent larger than its former location in another part of the shopping center.
"We love the location. It's been a great location for us. It made perfect sense for us to relocate within the center," said Randy Kelley, the senior vice president for real estate and construction at The Fresh Market.
The expanded store has more organic produce and larger departments for flowers, wine, dairy, fresh meat and frozen foods, said Craig Carlock, The Fresh Market's chief operating officer.
"I loved their fresh produce and meats," Carol Blount of Martinez said during the grand opening. "The desserts, also. Everything is really good."
The store added 11 employees, bringing its total staff to 82 workers, Mr. Carlock said.
The Greensboro, N.C.-based grocery chain had tried to expand its building space, but it was easier to start over in a new location, Mr. Carlock said.
The store opened in its previous location in 1990.
The shopping center's landlord, Abernathy and Timberlake Investments Group LLC, plans to tear down the old store within three to four months and build a CVS pharmacy closer to the road, Mr. Kelley said.
The Fresh Market has 86 stores in 18 states in the Southeast, Midwest and Mid-Atlantic. It has nine stores in Georgia.
Reach LaTina Emerson at (706) 823-3227 or latina.emerson@augustachronicle.com.
THE FRESH MARKET
LOCATION: National Hills Shopping Center, 2701 Washington Road
STORE HOURS: 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday
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Another pharmacy...just what we all need! How do these pharmacies continue to expand? Is it the pill trade?
Much nicer than the old store. But, the parking lot is a disaster. The spaces are much closer together than the old store. They are tighter, and it seems like the row of cars behind you are is too close. Maybe I'll keep parking in front of the old store and just walk over.
The Fresh Market is amazing. What are they going to do with that ugly White/Dillards building?
I love Fresh Market. But the old dillards probably residential.
They are going to paint the Dillard's building to match the new stucco color of The Fresh Market. At one time, the new landlord's wanted to make it a mini-mall.
Nice compact upscale townhomes or lofts would be better investment. Over turning it into a mini mall. Put bodies in the center and turn one of the other stores into a coffee shop/resturant. There is already a cellphone place, hair place, grocery store, windsor jewelery, and another store. Not to mention all the other stores, shops etc on washington rd. In walking distance.
not as good as the old one, boring
what are you joking? Its 3 times bigger and offers a better selection.
Townhomes in the old Dillards building is a great idea. Surely, nobody would object to that. If they put some windows in and make the outside nicer it would be a great addition to National Hills Shopping Center.
Gosh! it has been a long time ago that JB White was the upscale store in National Hills Shopping Center.
I worked there for six years {not saying what department} I do remember our present Sheriff, Ronnie Strength ,started off working there in the Shoe Department...ending up the personnal manager before quitting to become a deputy sheriff..one day he was personnel manager and the next he was directing traffic at Berkman and Washington Rds. And then The Sheriff ! Now that is what I call reaching one's goals.
I like the new Fresh Market better but still disappointed. They do not have a sit down Cafe and wireless internet. Oh well, I guess I will continue to shop at Earth Fare more often.