In Augusta, Georgia, Kroger at Eisenhower Crossing has earned a 2025 CoStar Impact Award, as voted on by local judges with knowledge of the market, for the completion of its first development in its Atlanta regional division in five years.
Located at 3942 Harper Franklin Ave., Kroger at Eisenhower Crossing is the first net new store completed in Kroger’s Atlanta division in five years. Spanning 118,000 square feet, this location has a clothing section, a dedicated Murray’s Cheese shop, a sushi bar and grocery pickup options.
Additionally, the store is complemented by an adjacent gas station. The $32 million investment was supported by the Augusta Economic Development Authority, which helped secure funding to reimburse Kroger for site improvements, including enhancements to ingress and egress.
The company is struggling at the moment, though. In December, Kroger's rival, Albertsons, backed out of a proposed $25 billion merger, after a judge initially blocked the deal. In addition, in early March, Kroger announced that its CEO, Rodney McMullen, resigned after the company announced that McMullen was under a disciplinary conduct investigation. It has not become public yet what the former CEO did, but Kroger stated that McMullen's misconduct was not related directly to the business.
About the project: Construction on the Eisenhower Crossing location began in June 2023. The retail center and grocery store were completed in May 2024.
What the judges said: Timothy McFalls, manager of commercial and retail development for the Augusta Economic Development Authority, said this development "clearly addresses the growing food desert situation in Augusta/Richmond Co."
They made it happen: Victor Smith, as division president, represented Kroger's interests. Catherine Smith McKnight and Don Clark of the Augusta Commission acted as District 3 and 5 commissioners, respectively.