"Atlanta bet on a private grocer; New York is betting on the government."
"And should the store succeed, the success . . . will belong to the private grocer that managed to make a business work where others wouldn’t."
"Downtown Atlanta has an unpleasant grayness to it, as if its architects forgot their charm at home when it was built. I glanced up at the towering corporate buildings that block out any sun that could have reached me, cut through Georgia State University’s greenless college campus, and my route was redirected by the relentless percussion of jackhammers that chipped away at the sidewalks. Finally, I approached the automatic doors to my destination, Azalea Fresh Market, and was welcomed by two security guards.
"At first glance, the store seemed like an ordinary supermarket, but a bit smaller than my usual. Upon a closer look at the items, the prices were anything but ordinary. My eyes darted toward the row of eggs displayed: $3 per dozen. Next to the eggs was a gallon of milk, $4. Behind me was a loaf of Sara Lee Honey Wheat bread, $5, and a 12-pack of canned sodas, $10. I trudged up a nearby set of stairs to see a modern café that featured a sushi counter, a sandwich shop, and a smoothie stand with several iPads to place an order. The sleek wooden tables and chairs were filled with professionals and students typing away on their computers while enjoying a sip and a bite. If you were anything like most Atlantans, given the prices and atmosphere, you probably thought that I was at the newest semi-luxury food market that I spotted on TikTok. In reality, I went to a government-funded grocery store that socialists are raving about.
"Azalea Fresh Market opened last September to address a growing demand for a grocery store in downtown Atlanta. Its opening was the result of a partnership between the City of Atlanta, the Independent Grocers Alliance, and a successful local mini-grocery store chain, Savi Provisions. With no major grocery company inclined to open a location in the downtown area, the City of Atlanta managed to contribute roughly $8 million in cash, loans, and grants to provide the infrastructure needed to help open the business (as well as a second location that is under construction), while the owners of Savi Provisions operate it independently, hoping that the ongoing success of the store will eventually allow it to run on its own. To reach that goal, the store keeps the prices of staple food items as close to those at other supermarkets as it can (though $3 for a dozen eggs and $5 for a loaf of bread can really add up for the more budget-conscious shopper), while operating the café upstairs to generate higher-margin sales from college students and professionals.
"Given the intent behind the establishment of this store, it’s difficult to imagine why it’s gaining so much praise from advocates for Zohran Mamdani’s proposed government-owned markets. Mamdani’s goal isn’t to target food deserts; he aims to outprice private grocers in areas where supply is abundant because he’s convinced that businesses are price-gouging consumers."
. . . More...
Ryan Devine is an Editorial Associate at FEE. He earned a BA in Psychology from Salisbury University and an MPA from Villanova University. At Salisbury, he received the Psychology Department Award, presented to a graduating senior in recognition of academic achievement and meaningful contributions to the department.
About - FEE; FEE’s mission is to inspire, educate, and connect future leaders with the economic, ethical, and legal principles of a free society. These principles include: individual liberty, free-market economics, entrepreneurship, private property, high moral character, and limited government.
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