Why Old Fourth Ward’s Promised Grocery Store Fell Through

Old Fourth Ward’s long-awaited mixed-use project The Bowery is finally moving forward — but without the Publix grocery store that was originally promised.

So what happened? After the 2022 shutdown of Atlanta Medical Center and a two-year rezoning freeze, developers say grocery partners like Publix pulled out due to reduced foot traffic and economic uncertainty. Now, construction is underway on 273 apartments, 12 townhomes, and limited retail — with no grocery anchor. The project kicks off this fall and will complete by mid-2028.

In this video, I break down what’s really happening and how this shift impacts the community. Let me know what you think in the comments: Should developers continue building without real plans for food access? — I’m Mellanda Reese and I cover all things real estate and development right here in Atlanta.