On Wednesday, April 30, at 8:00 a.m., the new College Station Kroger Marketplace, located at 2040 Barnett Shoals Rd in Athens, Georgia, will open for business at 8:00 a.m. with an official ribbon cutting ceremony 

At 7:30 a.m., prior to the ribbon cutting, Kroger invites the community to join the celebration which will feature the UGA Redcoat Alumni Band, Cedar Shoals High School Band, Hairy Dawg, Krogis, Kroger associates and leadership, community partners, elected officials and special promotions. Kroger will honor its Zero Hunger | Zero Waste partners, as well as the store’s partners in education, Barnett Shoals Elementary School, Hilsman Middle School and Cedar Shoals High School.

The new store represents a $36 million investment and encompasses more than 126,000 square feet. In keeping with Kroger’s commitment to building Zero Hunger | Zero Waste communities, Kroger contractors and partners were able to recycle over 93% of construction waste to prevent it from going into landfills.

In addition to Kroger’s popular departments such as bakery, deli, floral, meat and fresh produce, the store includes a wide variety of features such as Starbucks, Murray’s Cheese, Sushi and Culinary Kiosk, Pickup, Apparel and Kitchen Place.

The store also includes a pharmacy with a drive-through and ‘The Little Clinic’ which makes lives easier and healthier, with high quality, affordable healthcare. At The Little Clinic customers have access to services such as physicals and wellness screenings, vaccines, telehealth and more. The Little Clinic is also available to diagnose and treat many common illnesses and minor injuries.

Kroger customers will be greeted with a vibrant mural designed by UGA Professor of Art Joseph Norman and the renowned ‘Color the World Bright’ team.

The fuel center, which is the second phase of construction, is expected to open in 2026. 

“This new store represents our pride in the University of Georgia, its faculty and students and the diversity and vitality of the community. It also represents our commitment to those in the communities surrounding Clarke County,” said Victor Smith, president of Kroger’s Atlanta Division. “We look forward to celebrating the grand opening as we introduce the community to our new College Station Kroger Marketplace.”

The existing store, located at 2301 College Station Rd, will close on April 29 at 6:00 p.m.