Bringing neighborhood necessities to downtown.

ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 29, 1996--Living downtown became more attractive with the opening of Kroger Food Stores' newest location -- City Plaza.

Until now, many of the basic services needed for a residential community, such as a grocery store, were missing from the downtown district. However, the growing number of new downtown residents was partly responsible for Kroger's decision to open a store there.

According to Brent Scott, Kroger vice president of merchandising, "Kroger has a long history of supporting metro Atlanta communities. When we learned about the City Plaza project, we didn't even hesitate on making the decision to open the first downtown grocery store to help revitalize what was once the heart and soul of Atlanta." City Plaza represents the first time in Kroger Food Store's history that one of its stores is located in a downtown, mixed-use residential development.

The new Kroger will offer 18,000 items -- from staples to gourmet foods prepared by Chef Roger Jennings. Chef Roger operates K. Roger's Cafe at the newly renovated Kroger Ponce de Leon store, featuring fresh pastries, sandwiches, pizzas and main entrees. The gourmet to-go items will be particularly popular with the large number of business people downtown. Other amenities include pharmacy services with an extensive over-the-counter selection and an automated bank teller machine.

City Plaza sits across from Atlanta City Hall and within a two and one-half block radius of the State Capitol. City Plaza was built on 3.18 acres of city-owned land (bordered by Trinity and Central Avenues, and Mitchell and Pryor Streets). The complex includes 164 luxury, midrise apartments, a parking garage and 24,000 square feet of retail space.

Located directly across from City Hall on Central Avenue, Kroger occupies 13,500 feet of the total retail space. According to the City Plaza developers, the remaining retail space will be occupied by several restaurants, a bank branch, a dry cleaner and other retail establishments.

Developed by Harold A. Dawson Company, City Plaza is the first major real estate development in the history of Atlanta's Central Business District that is owned, developed, leased and managed by an African-American real estate firm.

The City Plaza development is going to help reshape downtown from a dwindling nine-to-five business center into a thriving residential community," said Harold A. Dawson, Jr., president and COO of the Harold A. Dawson Company. "City Plaza brings the quality living space and the necessary retail clients needed to attract residents and businesses to the downtown area.

In addition to opening the City Plaza store on Aug. 26, Kroger also plans to hold an official opening ceremony for the new location. The ceremony will take place on Sept. 5 at 11:00 a.m. The public is invited to attend the event or to stop in and sample foods during the open house. Speakers at the Sept. 5 event include Mayor Bill Campbell, Atlanta City Council President Marvin Arrington and City Plaza developer Harold Dawson, Jr.

The Kroger Company was founded in 1883 by Barney H. Kroger in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Atlanta Kroger Marketing Area, with its 25,000 workers, is responsible for 150 stores in Ga., S.C. and Ala. Approximately 90 of those stores are located in the metro Atlanta area.

CONTACT: Duffey Communications

Lauren Sidman, 404/266-2600

or

Kristen Casteel, 404/266-2600