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For the first time in the U.S. Southeast, the blocky world of Minecraft will step off the screen and into Atlanta this fall. Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue opens Friday, Nov. 20, for a limited run at Pullman Yards (225 Rogers St. NE), inviting fans, families, and first-time explorers to become real-life heroes in a story-driven rescue quest.
Created by Montreal-based multimedia studio Supply + Demand in collaboration with Experience MOD and Mojang Studios, the hour-long, team-based adventure (groups of up to 25) blends advanced technology, immersive environments, and interactive play.
Atlanta’s Pullman Yards Hosting First Southeast U.S. Immersive Minecraft Experience
Guests use a handheld “Orb of Interaction” to gather resources, craft items, battle familiar mobs like creepers and skeletons, and explore iconic biomes while working to save villagers.
No prior Minecraft knowledge is required. Completers receive a limited-edition half-zombie, half-villager cape, and a Trading Post offers merchandise to commemorate the adventure. The touring attraction has already drawn more than 1 million visitors globally since its Dallas debut in late 2024.
“Making our Southeast debut in Atlanta with Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue is an exciting milestone as we continue expanding the tour across North America,” said Olivier Goulet, founder and CEO of Supply + Demand and co-manager and investor of Experience MOD. “In collaboration with Mojang Studios, we’ve created an experience that sits at the intersection of game design, immersive storytelling and advanced multimedia technology, transforming a beloved digital world into a real-life quest.”
Minecraft, the best-selling game of all time with more than 425 million copies sold worldwide, has long thrived on creativity, curiosity, and shared adventure across generations. Atlanta’s strong local ties to the franchise make the city a natural stop.
In November 2017, MINECON Earth—the first fully livestreamed edition of the annual Minecraft celebration—was taped at Center Stage in Atlanta, hosted by Lydia Winters and actor Will Arnett. The event revealed the Update Aquatic (including coral, kelp, dolphins, shipwrecks, and the trident), hosted the franchise’s first mob vote (won by the phantom), and broadcast to viewers worldwide.
Local engagement continues through education and community events. Atlanta Public Schools’ Level Up Atlanta: Minecraft Student Build Challenge, launched in 2023 with support from the mayor’s office and Microsoft, has become an annual K–12 program.
Students use Minecraft: Education Edition to reimagine Atlanta landmarks such as the Beltline, Centennial Park, and the Stitch, tackling issues like connectivity, climate resilience, food security, and historic revitalization. Winners are recognized by city leaders.
Just days before the Pullman Yards opening, Atlanta will host another Minecraft-tinged event: the Soundcraft Symphonic Experience on Nov. 14 at LOOP (665 Marietta St. NW). Presented by the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra and Non/Sense Arts Foundation, it pairs Terry Riley’s minimalist classic In C with live performances of instruments built inside Minecraft by students, alongside a world-premiere Minecraft orchestral medley. Minecraft creator JazziiRed will participate, blending student musicians, professional players, and digital elements.
Tickets for Minecraft Experience: Villager Rescue go on sale Wednesday, Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. at MinecraftExperience.com, starting at $32 (with multi-pack, group, and flex options available).
Operating hours vary by day; paid parking is on-site. The venue is wheelchair accessible, and children under a certain age must be accompanied by an adult—check the official site for current policies. As the experience continues its North American expansion, Atlanta’s debut marks a blocky new chapter for the city that once hosted Minecraft’s global livestream milestone.
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Delta Air Lines is giving a glimpse of a major overhaul of its flagship Delta One product, shifting emphasis from the seat alone to a complete elevated experience of dining, service, and thoughtful details.
In the promo, Delta, asks: “What makes a great flight? It’s not just the seat. It’s what you eat, what you sip, how you’re taken care of and all the details around you. We’ve been working on all of it, and it’s all part of the new Delta One Coming soon.”
This messaging aligns with Delta’s formal announcement of its largest investment and most holistic redesign of Delta One in nearly 30 years, informed by two decades of customer insights and building on more than $1 billion already invested in the fleet.
Delta One Overhaul Being Soft-Launched This Fall from LAX
The refreshed “soft product”—covering food, beverages, service rituals, amenities, and personalization—debuts first on transoceanic Delta One routes departing Los Angeles International Airport this fall, before expanding across the global network in early 2027. Specific early launches include Auckland (from around October 24), Brisbane (October 26), and additional cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Paris starting November 3.19
Delta’s Chief Marketing and Product Officer Ranjan Goswami described the approach as “rooted in solving real customer needs and desires, with intentionality behind every detail,” aiming for the industry’s most premium end-to-end experience.46
Delta One Overhaul: Elevated Dining Focused on Classics
The culinary program, developed with chef Simon Hulstone (associated with Michelin-starred work), prioritizes elevated comfort food rather than overly formal fine dining. Highlights include:
- A Delta One Wagyu burger with caramelized onions, cheddar, and cornichons on a toasted brioche bun.
- Hong Kong-style or regionally inspired sea bass / grilled salmon.
- Braised lamb with red-wine demi-glace, lyonnaise potatoes, and grilled asparagus.
- Beef short rib, seasonally rotating risotto, macaroni and cheese, and a chicken Caesar salad entrée.
- Mid-flight lighter options such as a chicken salad croissant, hummus, and crudité.
Dessert retains the signature sundae cart with upgrades (new chocolate sauce, Amarena cherries, pecan praline), plus a dairy-free sorbet that can be paired with a Champagne Taittinger float and a Napa Valley-inspired fruit-and-cheese plate. Pre-order windows extend to 18 hours before departure—longer than before and the closest among major U.S. carriers—with expanded gluten-free, lighter, and pre-arrival (sleep-maximizing) choices.
New tableware (over 60 pieces with Delta branding) and service touches support the experience, including a “sip and settle” welcome with a hot towel, warm nuts, and a preferred beverage, plus fresh cracked pepper and improved sauce presentation.
Upgraded Beverages and Hospitality
The drinks program adds Blanton’s single-barrel bourbon (93 proof, starting December 1—the first airline to offer it), Dassai 45 sake on Tokyo-Haneda flights (from November 3), and alcoholic/non-alcoholic Hugo Spritz and Paloma cocktails (rolling out in 2027)
The wine list, curated with Master Sommelier Andrea Robinson and SkyMiles input from 1,600 options down to 13 from 11 wineries, features high-end Napa selections such as Silver Oak alongside an expanded Taittinger Champagne partnership and fewer rotations for consistency.
Amenities include a refreshed Missoni Winter Elsewhere collection (with Grown Alchemist skincare, Marvis dental kit, and a reusable wrist strap), a second Missoni Mini pillow on ultra-long-haul flights, enhanced mattress pads, memory-foam pillows, slippers, and eye masks. Limited-edition Delta x Bombas socks return on select flights.
Service design drew heavily from flight attendants, with over 200 team members contributing across testing phases and trial flights.
Next-Generation Suites Coming in 2027
While the soft product arrives first, a next-generation Delta One suite hard product debuts on new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft in 2027 (with retrofits planned for A330-200/300 fleets). These feature longer lie-flat beds (extending to around 83 inches / more than 6.5 feet in some descriptions, angled for better views and space), 24-inch cinema-quality screens, wireless charging, Bluetooth, improved storage, and privacy doors. Broader cabin refreshes will reach more than 800 aircraft over several years, and Delta is expanding its Porsche ground transfers.
The reel’s focus on the full journey—beyond the seat—mirrors passenger comments that mix excitement for the upgrades with ongoing requests for reliable Wi-Fi, consistent seating quality, and service attentiveness. Delta positions the changes as addressing those holistic needs across thousands of touchpoints.
For premium travelers, the initial LAX transoceanic launches this fall offer an early look at the reimagined Delta One, with the full suite of new seats and network-wide rollout following in 2027. Official details are available on Delta’s news hub and Delta One pages.
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Powder Springs, Georgia — Two neighboring gas stations on Marietta Street sparked a brief but chaotic “gas war” this week, repeatedly undercutting each other until regular unleaded fell as low as 97 cents per gallon and triggered hours-long traffic jams that required police intervention.
Metro Atlanta Fuel Stations Duel in Brief ‘Gas War’
The Amoco and Sunoco stations engaged in successive price cuts after one station’s policy of pricing five cents below its neighbor escalated into open competition. Drivers reported prices dropping from the $1.50s into the $1.40s and $1.30s before hitting the sub-dollar range, levels not commonly seen in decades. Video circulating on social media, including posts by Daily Loud and My Mixtapez, showed price signs at 99 cents alongside long lines of vehicles.
Customers described the scene as surreal. Wartanna Haywood, who typically spends about $90 to fill her truck, paid roughly $15 at $1.14 per gallon and told WSB-TV, “Ain’t it a wonderful day for America” and “Look at God.” Another driver called it “Christmas.” People summoned relatives and friends to join the rush.
The sudden demand overwhelmed local roads. Powder Springs police arrived, blocked entrances to the pumps, and ordered waiting drivers to leave, with one officer heard shouting, “Everybody leave, goodbye.” Once congestion eased, access resumed. Officers later said they would ask the stations to coordinate with them before any future price wars to avoid similar disruptions.17
Georgia’s statewide average for regular gas hovered near $3.80 per gallon at the time, with the national average higher, making the local deals a stark outlier amid elevated fuel costs. The price war eventually ended, and signs returned to more typical levels. Managers offered limited explanations, with one telling reporters the duration was unclear and directing questions to the competing station.
The episode quickly went viral on social media, where the Daily Loud post alone drew tens of thousands of views and hundreds of engagements, amplifying images and video of the packed pumps and rock-bottom prices. While drivers celebrated the temporary savings, the event highlighted both the power of aggressive local competition and the practical limits of sudden demand spikes on infrastructure and public safety.
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The Atlanta Dream and Atlanta Hawks issued a joint statement Tuesday announcing that Games 3 and 4 of the 2026 WNBA Finals will be played at State Farm Arena in downtown Atlanta.
Game 3 is set for Wednesday, October 21, at 8 p.m., with Game 4 scheduled for Saturday, October 24, at 1 p.m. The Saturday game is part of a basketball doubleheader; the Hawks will host the Houston Rockets at 8:30 p.m. that evening in their 2026-27 regular-season home opener.
Atlanta Dream and Hawks Say WNBA Finals Games 3 and 4 at State Farm Arena
The Dream, who advanced to the Finals by sweeping the New York Liberty in the semifinals, will face the Golden State Valkyries. The series begins Saturday, October 17, in Golden State, with the higher-seeded Valkyries holding home-court advantage. Neither franchise has previously won a WNBA championship; this marks the Dream’s first Finals appearance since 2013 and the Valkyries’ first in just their second season as a franchise.
The move relocates the Dream’s home games from Gateway Center Arena. In the joint statement, the organizations noted that shifting the games required significant collaboration among the Dream, Hawks, NBA, WNBA, Golden State Valkyries, and broadcast partners amid a tight timeline and scheduling conflicts.
“Ensuring that Games 3 and 4 of the Finals will be played at State Farm Arena is an important moment for the Dream’s players, fans, the organization and the city of Atlanta and is a testament to the extraordinary momentum of the team, women’s basketball and the growing impact of women’s sports,” the statement said.
The official Atlanta Dream account posted on X urging fans to “show up and show all the way out” at State Farm Arena, directing them to early ticket access. Tickets for the general public go on sale Friday at 10 a.m.; fans can join the Priority List or general presale via atlantadream.com.
The announcement resolves earlier uncertainty about the Dream’s Finals home venue and creates a high-profile basketball showcase in Atlanta.
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Druski is set to host the November 7, 2026, episode of Saturday Night Live, becoming the first digital creator to take the host’s chair on the long-running NBC sketch series.
The booking, first reported by Matthew Belloni of Puck and subsequently confirmed by Variety with multiple sources, marks a milestone for the 50-year-old institution.
Druski To Make History As First Digital Creator To Host of SNL
While SNL has drawn talent from YouTube and social platforms for decades—starting with Andy Samberg and The Lonely Island in 2005 and continuing with recent cast members such as Grace Reiter—it has never elevated a pure-play online comedian to the hosting role. Previous hosts with large digital followings, including Nate Bargatze and Shane Gillis, built their careers first through stand-up and live touring. Kim Kardashian’s 2021 hosting stint is the closest prior example of an influencer-driven booking.
Druski (real name Drew Desbordes), 32, was born in Columbia, Maryland, and raised in the Atlanta suburbs of Gwinnett County, Georgia. He began posting character sketches on Instagram in October 2017 under the handle that became “druski.” Early breakout characters included the frat-bro Kyle Rogger, a ruthless record-label executive, and various mega-church pastors.
His “Coulda Been Records” Instagram Live series—in which he auditioned aspiring musicians in the style of American Idol or Making the Band—exploded in popularity and led to collaborations with Drake, Lil Yachty, Jack Harlow, and others. He has since expanded the universe into YouTube series, festivals, and an arena tour, while appearing in music videos, Super Bowl ads, and on The Voice as its first commentator. In 2026 he became the youngest host in BET Awards history. His following stands in the tens of millions across Instagram (~13.7 million), TikTok (~15.6 million), and YouTube.
The November 7 episode places him in Season 52 alongside hosts already announced or completed such as NBA star Jalen Brunson, Dakota Johnson, and Shane Gillis. The Halloween episode (October 31) is set to be hosted by Obsession breakout Indie Navarette with musical guest Gracie Abrams.
NBC and SNL representatives have declined to comment, and Druski’s team has also declined, so an official announcement has not yet been issued. Belloni noted that if the episode succeeds, “I’d bet on the floodgates opening” for other digital creators.
For SNL, the move is both a ratings play and a cultural acknowledgment. The show has long mined the internet for cast talent and viral energy, but the host slot has remained the domain of movie stars, musicians, athletes, and established stand-ups.
Druski’s audience skews younger and more online-native than traditional broadcast viewers, and his high-engagement character work—ranging from social satire to elaborate impersonations—aligns with the sketch format. Recent viral hits, including a 2026 mega-church sketch and a portrayal of Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk that racked up over 100 million views in two days, demonstrate the reach he can bring to Studio 8H.2
The booking also underscores broader industry shifts. Digital-first comedians and creators have increasingly crossed into traditional media, brand work, and live events without the old ladder of club circuits and late-night spots.
Druski’s path—from college dropout posting from his mother’s house to Forbes Top Creators lists (with reported earnings in the mid-to-high eight figures in recent years) and now SNL—illustrates how short-form video has rewritten the rules of comedy stardom. Whether the episode delivers on the promise will be judged by both the live audience in Studio 8H and the much larger one watching clips the next morning. For now, the report itself is the news: the first digital creator is stepping into one of television’s most iconic roles.
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A man died and four others were reportedly injured Monday afternoon after an incident on the Goliath roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia in Austell, Georgia.
We’ve reached out to Six Flags for comment and will update this article when they respond.
The incident occurred around 5 p.m. on October 12, 2026. Witnesses and local reports indicated that a man fell from the ride and struck the coaster car multiple times during the fall. One witness told local media, “He was in our pictures. He fell and hit the car three different times,” referring to souvenir photos taken from the ground.
The ride stopped on an incline, stranding other passengers. Emergency crews and park staff evacuated riders four at a time via a stairway attached to the lift hill. News helicopters captured the evacuation. The park was shut down for the remainder of the day.
WSB-TV reported that four other people were injured and taken to hospitals. It was not immediately clear whether those injuries occurred in connection with the fall or during the evacuation and response. The victim’s identity has not been released.
Six Flags Over Georgia issued a statement: “We are deeply saddened by the guest incident at our park today. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with the guest’s family, friends, and loved ones. We are also providing support to the guests and team members affected. The park team and local authorities responded immediately, and we are cooperating fully with local authorities as they complete their investigation. Out of respect for the family’s privacy, we will not be sharing additional details at this time.”
Goliath is a steel hypercoaster manufactured by Bolliger & Mabillard. It opened in 2006, stands 200 feet tall, and reaches speeds of up to 70 mph. It features a large first drop and a 540-degree spiral. A previous medical-related death occurred on the ride in 2006 when a rider became unresponsive.
The Cobb County Police Department and park officials are investigating the cause. Early unconfirmed accounts, including from social media and Reddit, suggested a possible restraint issue, with one witness describing a seat whose restraint was found unlatched after the train returned to the station. Authorities have not confirmed the circumstances.
This is a developing story. Major roller coaster incidents remain rare in the U.S., where parks operate under state-level safety and inspection requirements.
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Atlanta rapper Soulja Boy (born DeAndre Cortez Way) posted on social media on October 10, 2026, under the banner “SOULJA BOY 2028,” floating the idea of a White House bid. The posts framed the concept as “a new chapter” and “a bigger vision,” with a stated commitment to creating opportunities for the next generation.
Soulja Boy Teases 2028 Presidential Run
In the accompanying statement, he identified four priority areas: economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, education, and the future of technology and AI. He wrote, “From music to business to technology, I’ve always believed in thinking bigger and challenging what’s possible. Now I’m exploring what it means to bring that same vision to public service. The future starts with a conversation.” He also shared a simple “Vote for Soulja Boy 2028.”
Reports from Billboard, Complex, AllHipHop, and others emphasize that the posts stop short of a formal campaign launch. There are no detailed policy proposals, announced campaign organization, or reported Federal Election Commission filings at this stage. The language is exploratory rather than declarative.
Way, born July 28, 1990, in Chicago and raised primarily in Atlanta, would be 38 during the 2028 election cycle—meeting the U.S. Constitution’s minimum age requirement of 35. He first rose to fame as a teenager with the self-promoted 2007 single “Crank That (Soulja Boy),” one of the earliest major viral internet hits. The track spent seven nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped establish a playbook for online-first music careers. His debut album souljaboytellem.com reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200; subsequent hits included “Kiss Me Thru the Phone” and “Turn My Swag On.” He has long mixed music with business and technology ventures.
This is not his first proximity to presidential politics. In January 2019, Saturday Night Live aired a sketch (with Chris Redd portraying him) inspired by a viral interview, imagining a Soulja Boy presidential run in which the character claimed credit for inspiring both Donald Trump and Barack Obama; Way shared the parody at the time. More recently, he performed at the Crypto Ball, an event tied to Donald Trump’s January 2025 inauguration festivities, and later dismissed criticism by noting he had been paid well for the appearance.
Online reaction has been swift and largely memetic, with comparisons to Kanye West (Ye), who previously launched presidential bids and received a small number of votes (around 60,000 in one cycle). Some users treated the announcement as pure entertainment or content; others noted the long odds facing any celebrity outsider candidacy. Coverage has consistently flagged the gap between a social-media tease and the infrastructure, fundraising, ballot access, and policy development required for a serious presidential effort.
Whether the posts represent a genuine exploration of public service, brand extension, or something in between remains open. As of October 11, 2026, Soulja Boy has started a conversation; a formal campaign has not yet begun.
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Alabama fans threw bottles, cans, and other objects toward Georgia players near the tunnel after the Bulldogs’ controversial 20-17 win at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
No. 2 Georgia defeated No. 6 Alabama in a tight SEC matchup that left the Crimson Tide with their first loss of the season (dropping them to 5-1 overall, 3-1 SEC). The Bulldogs improved to 6-0 (4-0 SEC). Frustration boiled over after late controversial officiating decisions and a costly personal foul, with videos showing projectiles raining down as Georgia players headed off the field. Georgia staffers quickly directed players to put their helmets back on for protection.
Georgia Players Pelted With Objects Thrown by Alabama Fans
Debris littered the crimson end zone near the tunnel; one water bottle landed near a cheerleader’s feet, and a Georgia staffer appeared to catch another object mid-air. ESPN and local reporters (including Alison Mastrangelo of WSBTV and Matt Stahl of AL.com) shared footage of the incident.
The game featured several disputed calls that fueled the postgame anger. In the third quarter, an apparent Alabama interception deep in Georgia territory was overturned on review (with ABC analyst Kirk Herbstreit noting a lack of definitive evidence that the ball hit the turf). Late in the fourth, officials did not flag what many Alabama fans and the sideline viewed as clear pass interference on a throw toward the end zone involving Georgia’s KJ Bolden (and contact with Alabama’s Rico Scott).
On the next play, Bolden helped sack Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell, pushing the Tide out of field-goal range. Alabama then needed a stop to get the ball back, but cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. was called for a personal foul after a shove, giving Georgia a first down and allowing the Bulldogs to run out the clock.
Alabama head coach Kalen DeBoer addressed the emotional late-game moment involving Lee and the broader need for composure. “Yeah, we just we preach emotional maturity,” DeBoer told reporters, adding he “would have never expected that to happen.”
He also said of the officiating’s role: “We can’t put the game in the situation where the officials come into play. We got to control the things we control.” DeBoer was captured on video confronting Lee on the sideline, reportedly telling him he had “cost us the damn game.” Alabama quarterback Keelon Russell took a measured view of the calls, saying there were “no questionable calls.”
Georgia coach Kirby Smart focused postgame praise on Russell rather than the fan behavior, calling him “an elite athlete, an elite player” who will “be hell in this league for two years.”
Alabama fans voiced heavy criticism of the officials on social media and in response to the team’s posts. Comments included “You got ripped off. You played well enough to win” and “Refs lost this game for Bama,” citing the overturned interception, the no-call pass interference, and other disputed plays.
One Georgia-affiliated account noted the bottles and cans and observed that Alabama fans “aren’t taking the loss well,” while some Alabama supporters online apologized for the behavior. No immediate public statements from University of Alabama administrators, athletics officials, law enforcement, or Georgia players specifically addressing the object-throwing were widely reported in the hours after the game.
In the SEC, throwing debris or objects onto the field is treated as a serious sportsmanship and game-management violation. Recent precedents include $250,000 fines: the University of Texas was assessed that amount in 2024 after fans threw debris during a loss to Georgia (with requirements to identify and ban involved individuals from athletics events and review game-management/alcohol policies), and LSU received the same fine for fans throwing bottles during a loss to Alabama. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has stated that such actions “cannot be part of any SEC event.”
Bylaws note that using cans or plastic bottles as projectiles can trigger an immediate fine and potential suspension of alcohol sales privileges. (Field-storming fines were separately standardized at $500,000, but debris-throwing has carried the $250,000 level in these cases.) Any potential SEC action regarding the Alabama incident would typically follow a review.
The episode marked an ugly postscript to an otherwise hard-fought, high-stakes rivalry game that carried College Football Playoff implications. Alabama next travels to face Tennessee.
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Cavender’s Boot City will open its seventh Georgia store in Alpharetta later this month with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a.m.
The western-wear retailer, which has operated for more than 60 years, is launching the 21,150-square-foot location at 7011 North Point Parkway on Saturday, Oct. 24.
Cavender’s Boot City Set To Open in Alpharetta
The company said the grand-opening celebration will include discounts and a chance for shoppers to join its My Cavender’s loyalty program, with those offers running through Saturday, Oct. 24.
The store will carry Cavender’s full assortment of men’s, women’s, and children’s western apparel and accessories, including handcrafted boots, hats, shirts, jeans, dresses, and belts, along with work boots and apparel. Merchandise will include established labels as well as the retailer’s own lines: Rockin’ C, Rafter C, and JRC & Sons.
In-store services will include boot fitting, hat shaping, and boot stretching.
My Cavender’s members receive exclusive offers, early access to sales and promotions, returns, and invitations to special events, according to the company.
The Alpharetta store will be open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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Publix has thinned its metro Atlanta footprint, with two local stores among a small group of Southeast locations the chain has shuttered.
The employee-owned grocer, headquartered in Lakeland, Florida, continues to close stores in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. In the Atlanta area, the affected sites are 1380 Atlantic Drive NW in Atlanta and 2562 Shallowford Road NE in Chamblee, which both closed last year.
Publix Closing Multiple Stores
The store closures were part of the company’s routine practice of replacing older supermarkets and dropping locations that miss performance targets.
Some of the Florida and South Carolina closings are planned rebuilds; Publix has not announced replacement timelines for the West Palm Beach or Palm Bay stores.
The local cuts come as Publix reports only modest growth. In its latest results, the company cited softer consumer spending and lower Medicare reimbursement rates tied to the Inflation Reduction Act. Retail analyst Scott Mushkin of R5 Capital has also pointed to GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, arguing that the medications are leading some shoppers to buy less food.
Publix itself has framed store openings, remodels, and closures as ordinary portfolio management rather than a broad retreat. It still runs well over 1,400 stores across eight Southeastern states, with Georgia its second-largest market after Florida.
Even as those two metro stores have gone dark, Publix is opening elsewhere this month, including sites in Alabama, Kentucky, Florida, and North Carolina. For Atlanta shoppers, the immediate hit is the loss of the Atlantic Drive and Shallowford Road locations, and of the Pub Subs and deli counters that have built a following well beyond the usual grocery run.
