ATLANTA — The Walmart in Atlanta's historic Vine City community has officially reopened following an 18-month closure due to fire damage.
In May 2022, the store was forced to close after a fire was set inside the building. It partially reopened the next day and crews were able to make the repairs to fully reopen the store.
However, another intentional fire was set just before Christmas in 2022, which forced the former Walmart Supercenter to close its doors for much longer.
On Wednesday, Walmart held its grand re-opening as a 75,000 sq. ft. Neighborhood Market store.
The retail store offers fresh produce, grocery and pharmacy services. Officials said the store also has an Atlanta Police touchdown station, which is meant to deter crime and provide customers with a feeling of safety.
The store at 825 MLK Jr. Dr. NW is vital for thousands of people in the Vine City Community. For many in the community, the store was the only convenient place for prescriptions and other necessities.
Many customers told 11Alive that they had been going to the Cascade Walmart for prescriptions and groceries while the Vine City location had been closed. However, that became increasingly difficult because many customers said they didn't have the transportation to get there.
"I had to go away from my home to a different Walmart miles away -- maybe five to 10 miles away," one shopper, Mary, said.
The new Neighborhood Market Store is also on the edge of the Atlanta University Center, making it a resource for students at all of the schools who wouldn't be able to get groceries.
While the U.S. Department of Agriculture doesn't classify Vine City as a food desert, residents say it absolutely is.
"We didn't have a place to shop for our fresh foods, for our people, goods and all of that. And the pharmacy is most important," another shopper, Joy Barnes, said.
Walmart officials said the pharmacy was expanded to include more fridges, prescriptions and a full-service deli.
"What they have done with this store now is marvelous. It's wonderful," Barnes added.
Walmart also said it wants to "further invest in the community" and presented the following donations on opening day:
- Atlanta Community Food Bank ($2,000)
- H.O.P.E. Atlanta ($2,000)
- Warrior GMR Foundation ($2,500)
- Bearstrong, Inc. ($2,000)
- H.E.Y. Atlanta ($2,000)
- Hands On Atlanta ($2,000)