The city of Atlanta is growing everyday in ways the city's founding fathers never thought possible when they first started laying railroad track back in 1836. The world has made it's way to Atlanta and Atlanta to the world. Citizen Supply (675 Ponce De Leon Ave., 2nd Floor, 678-705-9145, M-Sat. 10-9 p.m., Sun. 12-8 p.m.) at Ponce City Market is combining the old flea market, everything-under-the-sun shopping experience without the big-box store feel.
While visiting the Citizen Supply store, founded by Phil Sanders who is also the founder of Foster Atlanta, there would be no wrong way to go when you enter the second floor space and are immediately confronted with venues similar to art exhibits. According to Sanders, that's sort of the plan.
"The idea of Citizen Supply is to support the economy of handmade and small-batch businesses, he said during a recent phone interview. "Sixty-five percent of our merchandise are from small businesses."
With items like exclusive designer iPhone 6 cases from Khristian A. Howell ($45.00) to 100 percent cotton "In God We Must" T-shirts (available in white, gray, olive-$22.00) by IGWM, Citizen Supply supplies the shopping public with brands you are not likely to see in other stores because the majority of these brands sell their products online.
"We provide the businesses a showcase and space to support their products," Sanders said. An eye-catching handmade leather backpack from Bradley Mountain stood out as one of the unique accessories I saw on my tour of the store. "Those guys are doing it the right way with well crafted pieces," said Sanders regarding the bag I described. A negative: Despite there being three sales associates on hand during my half-hour visit, I was unable to have immediate assistance with trying on one of the New Market Goods handwoven cotton T-shirts ($75-$85.00). The gift and the curse is that you have access to one-of-a-kind clothes, accessories and gift ideas like kids toys and books, adult bikes from Sole Bicycle ($399-$499.00), summer-ready beach dresses from Maelu ($75-$85.00) and even a glow-in-the-dark pillow case ($50.00) from Grandiflora, but unlike a traditional flea market no personal attention from the actual business owner. I definitely had questions regarding the wide variety of personal care items on display from brands like Maum Goods, Brother's Artisan and Moses Beard.
The vendors and their wares are shifted in and out of Citizen Supply often enough to keep customers on their toes. "Vendors are added to our store every week," Sanders said. "We're looking to add another 75 vendors to our current 75 vendors."
Shopping at Citizen Supply will break the monotony of shopping at Atlanta's many major brand names, if not for good then for at least a moment. The odds of picking up a skirt, shirt, khakis or bow tie from Citizen Supply and seeing the same piece of clothing while passing through a department store will be few and far between.
"My hope for Citizen Supply is that we're just a step along the way on the journey of these small businesses," Sanders said. "I hope we can prove that these vendors are just as trustworthy and good as the big names."
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