Within an AJC article this morning about Savi Provisions coming opportunities/challenges with a revived Amazon-owned Whole Foods, there this little nugget which will be of great interest to many Decatur folks…

[Savi owner Paul Nair is] deep into plans to expand Savi Provisions, whose stores take up a fraction of the space covered by typical Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. He plans to open an outlet on Pharr Road in Buckhead in late fall and another this summer in Decatur where a Cook’s Warehouse had been.

Savi is an upscale local grocery store with four Atlanta locations to date.  Check out their website for more info.

Many local residents felt the one-two sting after the recent closing of local favorite Yogurt Tap and popular chain Cook’s Warehouse/Sherlock’s Wine Merchant in the last few months.

But the city reminds us that while the short term loss is real, the longer-term trends remain quite strong.  The recent Decatur Focus notes that “The downtown Decatur commercial retail vacancy rate is around 5 percent, which is significantly lower than the national average of 11.3 percent. In 2016, the City of Decatur had a net gain of businesses and employees. The handful of key storefronts that are currently vacant will most likely not be vacant for long.”

In fact, there’s already a new occupant in the old Yogurt Tap space.  And while that Cook’s Warehouse space looks a bit like a sad, empty concrete gymnasium at the moment, we’re interested to see what will fill in that massive, unique space.

What retail gaps would you like to see filled in Decatur this year?

Oh gosh this hurts.   From the good folks at Cook’s Warehouse & Sherlock’s…

Mary S. Moore, founder and CEO of The Cook’s Warehouse (www.cookswarehouse.com) and Douglas W. Bryant, founder and CEO of Sherlock’s Wine Merchant (www.sherlocks.com), announced they made the strategic decision to split their joint store and relocate to new locations of The Cook’s Warehouse in Chamblee and Sherlock’s Wine Merchant in South Buckhead.
 
Moore said, “We opened this location in Decatur in 2005.  It was a great next step for both of us and we have loved serving the Decatur community for over eleven years.
 
“However, this location has not kept up with the growth of our other stores and is currently our highest occupancy cost with an increase on the horizon. While we both searched in the Decatur market to find a new location we both found strategic opportunities in other markets. We will continue to be on the lookout for an opportunity that will allow us to return to Decatur.
 
 “Since closing my Brookhaven location in April 2015 I’ve been looking for the right spot to re-open in that market. Relocating our Decatur store with an opening in late spring in the Peachtree Station Shopping Center is going to be a great move. Anchored by Whole Foods and a variety of popular restaurants and retail, this center on Peachtree Blvd. near Clairmont Road is sure to be a top destination.
 
Bryant said, “I have been looking for a better location in the Decatur market and for a location in the Midtown/Ansley/South Buckhead markets for years.  Having found a great location on Peachtree Rd. at Palisades south of Piedmont Hospital made it an easier decision to move our operations to Sherlock’s Wine Merchant – Peachtree.”
 
“We love the neighborhood and the relationships that we’ve built in Decatur and the surrounding areas but it doesn’t make sense to continue in a spot that doesn’t meet our business goals. Until I find a great spot in Decatur, we look forward to serving our customers in one of our other Sherlock’s locations.”
 
Moore and Bryant agree, “Given the opportunities to move into target markets, we determined it best to not resign our lease in Decatur which is ending on February 28, 2017.”

Amongst the Atlanta Community Food Bank’s fall lineup of cooking classes, is this very Decaturish option (pointed out by Angie, ACFB’s PR manager)…

Delightful Dumplings

• Chef Billy Allin and Pastry Chef Cynthia Wong of Cakes & Ale
• November 9, 7-9 p.m.
• Location: The Cook’s Warehouse – Decatur
• 108 West Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, GA 30030
• $55 – Demonstration and Tasting

Simple Abundance continues its tour of popular, notable restaurants with Cakes & Ale, owned and operated by Decatur residents and known for seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and cuisine made from scratch. Chef Billy’s First Course features a Fall Vegetable Salad – arugula with butternut squash agra dolce and for the Second Course, he will share the secret to his hand-made, pillowy Gnocchi with Fennel Sausage. A sweet treat will round out the menu with Chef Wong’s Figgy Toffee Pudding. The evening includes wine tastings sponsored by Sherlock’s Wine Merchant and a chance to win fabulous door prizes provided by Atlanta Beverage, Bella Cucina Artful Foods, Cabot Cheese and Via Elisa Authentic Fresh Pasta.

And the best part about it all?  “One hundred percent of class tuition benefits Atlanta’s Table, a project of the Food Bank that collects food from our local hospitality industry and delivers it to more than 40 nonprofit partner agencies that provide meals for those in need. For details or to register, visit www.ACFB.org or call 404-892-FEED, ext. 1444.”