An indoor farmer’s market spanning nearly 10,000 square feet is set to open next year just outside of Buckhead. The Upper West Market will provide intown residents a nearby selection of locally produced produce, meats and other foods. The new facility is located at 1385 Collier Road just southwest of Buckhead in the former Cagle’s chicken processing plant.
Ben Hautt of Robles Partners, which is spearheading the development, said there are a bevy of food halls in Atlanta, but “no real farmers markets.”
“Atlanta doesn’t have anything like this,” Hautt said. “We have a ton of food halls but no true markets. If you look at most major cities around the world, they have an indoor facility where local producers can sell produce. The best example is Pike’s Place Market in Seattle.”
Pike’s Place Market and London’s Borough Market served as inspiration for Upper West Market, Hautt said, which will make it a “first-of-its-kind” destination in Atlanta highlighting the area’s culinary and agricultural heritage and diversity. Several vendors have already committed to occupying space in Upper West. They include pasture-raised meat producers White Oak Pastures of Bluffton, Georgia, Honeysuckle Gelato, Dips Kitchen, and Summerland Farms.
Valuable addition to the community
“I think a lot of us that live in the area, if we are having people over for dinner and we want to cook a really nice meal, where do you go?” Hautt said. “A lot of people would say Whole Foods, and some people may even drive 40 minutes to Dekalb Farmers Market. But with Upper West, they can go to a local market and get grass-fed beef from White Oak Pastures or pick produce to make a salad with ingredients all from a Georgia-grown facility. That fills a need people have to get great local produce while also supporting local farmers and helping to prop them up. Most farmers will attest now it’s difficult with rising costs, inflation, and downward pressure to produce groceries as inexpensive as possible.”
The farmers market will be a component of a culinary hub in the 80,000-square-foot mixed-use development. Summerland Café by Michelin-star chef Anne Quatrano and Hop City Wine Bar are slated to open in spaces adjacent to the farmers market. Novare Events is leasing a 26,000-square-foot event space that includes an outdoor garden. The two-story development will also feature office space and indoor/outdoor seating and an indoor bistro.
Robles Partners said the market will host special events, cooking classes, and seasonal celebrations.
Upper West Market is scheduled to open in summer 2025.
