Whole Foods Market is opening its eighth grocery store in metro Atlanta on Wednesday, at Merchant's Walk in east Cobb County.
The addition of Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods helps cap a major redevelopment of the retail complex. Whole Foods, which announced plans for the store in 2009, will be competing with Trader Joe's, Fresh Market, Publix and Kroger.
Edens & Avant, based in Columbia, S.C., bought Merchant's Walk in 2000 and launched a major overhaul. The project included the addition of regional and national restaurants and retailers and the expansion and renovation of Georgia Theatre Company's Merchant's Walk Stadium Cinemas.
Edens & Avant said Tuesday that the addition of Whole Foods marks the completion of the redevelopment of Merchant's Walk on Johnson Ferry Road.
"The opening of Whole Foods has been one of the most anticipated aspects of Merchant's Walk redevelopment and it helps complete our mission of delivering a community-focused development back to the community," said Lyle Darnall, Edens & Avant Managing Director, in a release.
The new Whole Foods Market will take up space left by Media Play. It will be open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
