Savi Provisions Taking Over Atlanta | Eater Atlanta

"With its green awning and white lettering, I’ve likely seen Savi Provisions in my neighborhood; it sells wine, beer, groceries, and artisanal food. The first location opened in 2009 in Inman Park—modeled on New York bodegas and inspired by founder Paul Nair’s time studying hospitality at Cornell—and offered local produce, drinks, and ready-made foods like sandwiches, soups, and a sea salt chocolate chip cookie. Since then neighborhood locations followed in Brookhaven, Midtown, and Decatur, and the chain has grown to 16 Atlanta stores (the latest in Virginia Highlands) with the city selecting Savi for the Grant Park Gateway retail space as its 17th; the business has also expanded into Tennessee and North Carolina with over 20 total stores. After the first eight stores Savi began franchising, and Nair says he’s looking to reacquire and reprogram some franchise locations to preserve the brand ethos. The concept emphasizes locality—sourcing from local farmers, guided beer tastings, and a communal meeting space—and is evolving toward seasonality and smaller weekly shopping habits; Nair also plans to expand service with better coffee, a dessert counter, and on-premise beverage consumption, and is investing in a beverage-database AI to help staff recommend products. City leaders praised the Grant Park decision, noting the Grant Park Gateway is a mixed-use development with parking and recreational amenities, and there is no timeline yet for the new store." - Henna Bakshi