JONESBORO — The city of Forest Park’s project to repurpose an old Rite Aid building on Forest Parkway seeks to help culinary entrepreneurs while expanding healthy food options within the city.
In a presentation to the Clayton County Board of Commissioners meeting in January about The Grapevine project, Forest Park City Manager Ricky Clark said the city envisions an open air gathering place similar to Ponce City Market in Atlanta.
The renovated building of nearly 11,000 square feet will offer flex office space, a bakery, coffee shop, space for large conferences, bar vendor space for special events, creative studio space, a culinary kitchen available for rental, and more.
Clark said many people do food prep in homes but without proper licenses. This would give those who have the talent — but not the capital — a chance to start their own legitimate businesses.
Clark also stressed that Forest Park is limited in options for healthy eating and there is no true coffee café in the city.
Final construction documents are planned to be submitted for plan review on April 15 with bids going out in April.
Forest Park is partnering with Clayton State to run it and the city is seeking other partnerships as well.
“We’re just excited that we’re able to potentially partner with Clayton County to ensure that one of the largest areas of the county, we’re once and for all solving the inherent need to have more food options,” Clark said.
County Commissioner DeMont Davis asked about what kind of partnerships Forest Park is looking for and will it duplicate services of the small business incubator in the works at the old Social Security building in Morrow.
“We don’t look at it as duplication but looking at it as innovation in our county,” Clayton County COO Detrick Stanford said.
Davis added that these types are services are needed in Clayton…
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