Supermarkets Update: FreshTake, Hy-Vee’s

A couple of noteworthy developments in the grocery sector:

Augusta, Ga., which has been home to the famed Masters Tournament for 90 years, now has a grocery store with five miniature golf holes to honor that event. Slated to formally open in a former Whole Foods store on Jan. 30, FreshTake Grocery says its aim “is to redefine the grocery experience, combining cutting-edge amenities, exceptional offerings and community-focused service into one extraordinary space.”

The mini-golf installation consists of a single green with five holes scattered across it. It is located adjacent to a firepit on the store’s exterior. Inside amenities include a sushi bar, pizza and pasta counter, BBQ smokehouse, hot food stations and a full-service Starbucks. There’s also the Jackson’s Beer and Wine Bar, which features 13 large TVs and a curated selection of beverages, and the Ice Box beer cave, which offers chilled beers to-go. As for groceries, the store offers selection of name-brand items, specialty and organic products, gluten-free options, and private-label brands like Food Club and Crav’n.

FreshTake Grocery is the brainchild of Jackson Mitchell, a fourth-generation grocer who also operates five Little Giant Farmers Market locations in metro Atlanta. “We are beyond excited to officially celebrate the Grand Opening of FreshTake Grocery with the Augusta community,” said Mitchell. “This store was built with our customers in mind—combining a wide range of offerings, outstanding customer service and innovative features to create something truly special.”

• Hy-Vee Inc. (West Des Moines, Iowa) said it will convert all its in-store restaurant locations to Hy-Vee Market Grilles with a menu that focuses on breakfast and burgers. The Hy-Vee news release did not mention that making room for many of those Market Grilles involves closing 79 Wahlburgers franchise locations existing in its stores, report a variety of news sources, including Restaurant Business.

The transition will happen across Hy-Vee’s region in phases over the next several weeks, with an official launch of the Market Grille concept on Feb. 4, After that, Hy-Vee said it will eventually have 221 Market Grille and Market Grille Express locations across the Midwest.

“The closures will erase a huge chunk of the burger chain created by celebrity brothers Mark, Donnie and Paul Wahlberg,” Restaurant Business reported. “As of the end of 2023, Wahlburgers had 109 locations, according to Technomic data.”