COBB COUNTY, Ga. — A new Kroger store is one step closer to opening inside a Cobb County mall. The county's planning commission voted unanimously Tuesday to allow Kroger into Cumberland Mall.
"That sounds very good. I don't see anything wrong with that," said barber Keith Richardson who works across the street.
"That's new. That's forward thinking," Richardson said. "If you think about it, people are in the mall shopping anyway. They can stop and get groceries, whatever."
The more than 88,000 square foot store would take over the second floor of the building where Sears is located. Sears would still operate out of the first floor. The nearly $30 million project would also include a Kroger brand gas station in the parking lot.
"I need to see how it will fit on the second floor with the shopping carts and everything," visitor Sreekanth Pericherla said.
"I think it's cool, I actually shop at Kroger," Richardson said.
Many call having a grocer in a mall a novel idea, but still point out a major concern.
"They're putting in the Braves stadium right across the street," Adam Moore, who works in the area said. "It might add to the traffic, especially once the stadium goes up. The traffic is already kind of a mess."
A representative for Kroger told Channel 2's Erin Coleman he could not comment about the project, because it is still pending. He said if the project is approved after the full board votes on May 19, the community will learn a lot more. For now though, there's mixed reaction to what could be the newest addition to the area.
Kroger approved to open store inside Cumberland Mall
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