Decatur’s liquor law change makes way for this gourmet grocer

Amazon’s plan to buy Whole Foods means even bigger competition for Paul Nair’s Savi Provisions, a chain of little gourmet and organic grocery stores in Buckhead, Brookhaven, Inman Park and Midtown Atlanta. MATT KEMPNER / AJC

Amazon’s plan to buy Whole Foods means even bigger competition for Paul Nair’s Savi Provisions, a chain of little gourmet and organic grocery stores in Buckhead, Brookhaven, Inman Park and Midtown Atlanta. MATT KEMPNER / AJC

The mystery grocer that sparked Decatur’s recent change in its alcohol ordinance is Savi Provisions, an Atlanta-based chain.

The Decatur commission voted to allow packaged liquor, beer and wine to be sold in the same store, eliminating a limitation that had discouraged packaged liquor outlets in the city.

Paul Nair, the owner of Savi Provisions, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution he signed a letter of intent to locate in the former Cook's Warehouse store space. The location on W. Ponce de Leon Avenue also included a Sherlock's Wine Merchant.

Nair said he hopes to open a small grocery there in August.

Savi Provisions, which offer gourmet and organic groceries and fresh prepared foods as well as wine and craft beer. Nair’s four existing stores are in Buckhead, Midtown Atlanta, Inman Park and Brookhaven, with plans for the another to open in late fall on Pharr Road in Buckhead.

Nair and Savi Provisions were the focus of a recent AJC Unofficial Business column about the likely local impact of Amazon's big move to buy Whole Foods.

AJC Unofficial Business columnist Matt Kempner offers you a unique look at the business scene in metro Atlanta and beyond. You'll find more on myAJC.com, including these columns:

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