When Paul Nair opened the first location of his upscale neighborhood grocer, Savi Provisions, in Atlanta's Inman Park neighborhood in 2008, he didn't realize he was on the cutting edge of a trend that has begun to reshape retail markets from the suburbs to prime corners of Manhattan. Savi Provisions, which serves curated wines, high-end cheeses and chef-prepared meals, should open its 25th location next year after expanding to Nashville, Savannah, Durham, Raleigh and Charlotte, Nair said, and his next concept is doubling down on the collision of convenience and craft food and beverage. This month, Nair expects to open the first UPop, which stands for Urban Provisions Offering Petroleum, an Arco gas-served convenience store on Peachtree Road in the heart of Buckhead, Atlanta's toniest neighborhood. Unlike QuikTrips, Wawas or 7-Elevens, UPop will still be selling Savi's high-end product selection, replete with liquor and a cigar bar, Nair said. “What I'm trying to do is I'm trying to elevate the convenience store experience to a higher level,” Nair said. 
Nair has more competition than ever. Upscale convenience store concepts have expanded across the country, from new entrants like Foxtrot in Chicago and Washington, D.C., and The Goods Market in Los Angeles, to the largest convenience chain in the country, 7-Eleven, launching its Evolution concept in Dallas and other markets.Consumers…  Read the full story here. | | |
