Gourmet Grocery and Wine Shop Planned for Crossroads

By Kevin Collison

A gourmet food, fine wine and spirits shop with roots in Atlanta is in the works for the Crossroads, bringing an additional grocery option for its rapidly growing residential population.

Planning for a Savi Provisions franchise in the former YJ’s Snack Bar space at 130 W. 18th St. is well along, according to Chris Wilbur and Stacey Elliott, the local owners.

“We still need some things to come together, but we hope in a matter of a few weeks to make an official announcement,” Elliott said.

“Our attraction was around Savi being purveyors of fine wines, cheeses and other foods, and their concept being very well matched to the Crossroads,” she said.

Wilbur added, “we’re excited to bring something unique and needed” to the Crossroads area.

The planned Savi is within walking distance of several new Crossroads apartment projects totaling almost 900 units: the City Club Apartments at 20th and Main; ARTerra at 21st and Wyandotte; REVERB at 18th and Walnut, and KC Artistry at 19th and Oak.

The 2,200 square-foot Savi on West 18th would join the recently opened DGX convenience store at the City Club development in bringing needed residential services to the district.

Savi’s was founded in Atlanta in 2009 by Paul Nair. In a statement on the firm website, he said he was inspired by the neighborhood markets and delicatessens of New York City.

“The concept was created initially out of need and a realization that there was a sincere demand for an urban, friendly and convenient place that people could come to for food, groceries, and fun,” Nair stated.

Savi’s is described on the website as a “neighborhood destination that sells locally-sourced gourmet and organic foods, fine wines and spirits, with a generous environment to sample and celebrate the fruits of everyone’s labors.”

There are several Savi’s now in the Atlanta area and the firm recently began franchising the concept to other communities.

A representative at Savi’s in Atlanta declined to comment. The owners of the building where the business would be located also declined to comment.

The Savi website indicates the business wants to blend in with its surroundings wherever it’s located.

“As an integral part of the neighborhood, an advocate for local sourcing and an enthusiast for the nostalgic purveyor of once forgotten generations, we open our doors to you and yours,” according to the Savi website.