New Georgia store to feature groceries and golf

A new grocery store concept coming to Georgia will not only offer groceries, but golf as well.

The new store, called FreshTake, will take over the former 42,000-square-foot Whole Foods location at Augusta's Washington Crossing shopping center at 2907 Washington Road.

FreshTake is set to open its doors next summer, with a retail concept that will blend convenience, culinary indulgence and leisure, the company announced on Friday.

Located at I-20 and Washington Road in Augusta, home of the Masters Golf Tournament, the grocery store is spearheaded by 28-year-old Jackson Mitchell, CEO of Jackson Mitchell Holdings, which operates five Little Giant Farmers Market locations in the Atlanta area.

"We are thrilled to introduce FreshTake to Augusta," said Mitchell in a statement. "This store represents the culmination of my career and a deep love for the grocery business.”

Looking to redefine the traditional grocery experience, Mitchell said that “our goal is to create a space that not only offers top-quality groceries but also becomes a hub for the community, where people can come together to enjoy great food, entertainment and convenience."

The new store will bring 130 new jobs to the area and will include an in-store café, a walk-up barbecue smokehouse and a five-hole putting green, as well as Jackson's, a beer and wine bar.

In addition to groceries, the store will offer health and beauty items, general merchandise and a full-service pharmacy that offers vaccinations. FreshTake will also feature Instacart pickup and delivery services.

Mitchell is a fourth-generation operator of Mitchell Grocery, which operates a distribution business that serves independent grocery stores in the Southeast.