Exterior Improvements Underway at ‘Murder Kroger’ [Rendering]

Even national grocery chain Kroger is jumping on the Atlanta Beltline bandwagon.

Kroger is moving forward with plans to overhaul its store that runs parallel to the Beltline, at 725 Ponce de Leon Ave., the grocery chain’s Atlanta division Wednesday announced in a press release.

“This Kroger has served the Old Fourth Ward, Midtown, Poncey-Highland, Virginia-Highland and surrounding areas for three decades,” Glynn Jenkins, director of communications and public relations for Kroger’s Atlanta Division, said in the release.

“The site improvements continue the investments we’ve already made on the inside of the store, and we expect the opening of Beltline access will give our customers – whether they’re on foot, bicycle, skates or however they choose to travel – another easy alternative to get to the store. We’re very excited about this project at Beltline Kroger and its potential to bring new levels of convenience to the community.”

Aside from site improvements that will give pedestrians and bicyclers access to the grocery store from the Beltline, as well as more trees, new landscaping, a new parking surface, a repainted store and more, the Poncey-Highland Kroger is hopeful Atlantans will start referring to the store as “Beltline Kroger,” instead of its widely-accepted moniker “Murder Kroger.”

In March, Kroger updated its interior including an expanded pharmacy, new lighting, “eco-friendly fixtures” and other upgrades throughout the store.

Here’s a rundown of the exterior improvements:

• Bicycle / pedestrian ramp connecting the Beltline to Beltline Kroger;
• Bicycle rack for locked parking;
• Bicycle repair station;
• New curbs and sidewalks – including paved sidewalk access to Ponce de Leon Ave.;
• New trees – including the addition of 45 Allee Elm and Forest Pansy Red Bud trees;
• New landscaping;
• Water quality pond – located near the center of the parking lot to collect and filter water before it enters the storm drain system;
• Brighter, more environmentally-friendlier LED parking lot lighting; and
• Repaved parking surface – wrapping from the front of the building facing Ponce de Leon Avenue to the back of the building facing North Ave.

Construction on the store, which originally opened in 1984, is expected to be complete in November.

Will you start calling this store “Beltline Kroger,” or will it always be “Murder Kroger” for you? Leave your thoughts in the comments!