The long-vacant Walmart building in Perimeter Village finally has a new tenant.

The Dunwoody City Council on Monday, July 27, approved a Special Land Use Permit and several variances for a Kroger Marketplace with a drive-thru pharmacy and gas station at the Ashford Dunwoody Road shopping center, according to Rough Draft Atlanta. The vote, taken on second reading, clears the final council hurdle for Kroger to move into 117,736 square feet of the former Walmart space. It closed in 2024.

Dunwoody City Councilman John Heneghan posted the meeting agenda on X on Saturday, July 25, listing the Kroger item alongside the Georgetown Small Area Plan, the 2025 Financial Report, and alcohol rules.

What shoppers can expect

The Marketplace format is larger and more varied than a standard Kroger. According to Kroger attorney Laurel David's presentation to the Dunwoody Planning Commission on Tuesday, May 12, the store will include a Starbucks, a delicatessen with specialty cheeses and meats, a kitchenwares section, and a baby clothing department.

In its zoning application, Kroger said the store would complement existing commercial uses in the center, provide an additional grocery option for nearby residents, and create local jobs.

A drive-thru pharmacy will run parallel to the building's front façade, 550 feet from Meadow Lane and 1,100 feet from Ashford Dunwoody Road, partially screened by vegetation. A gas station with a covered canopy and employee kiosk will sit along Meadow Lane, roughly 330 feet from the nearest homes.

The remaining approximately 66,000 square feet of the building will go to a second commercial tenant whose identity has not been disclosed.

Delivery hours and neighbor concerns

Residents of Ashford Chase and other adjacent neighborhoods told the Planning Commission they support the store but want tighter restrictions on truck deliveries. At the commission stage, Kroger agreed to no deliveries between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays and between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. on weekends.

Perimeter Post reported that the mayor and council pushed Kroger to narrow those hours further at the first reading. Whether the council attached additional delivery restrictions in Monday's final vote has not been confirmed.

Neighbors also raised crime concerns, citing criminal activity at the former Walmart that had spread into surrounding streets. Kroger's plans include security cameras in the parking lot and at the rear of the store, a security officer on duty during store hours, and a reserved parking space for the Dunwoody Police Department.

Site changes

Kroger's plan reduces the site's parking from 626 spaces to 526 by adding 11 landscape islands and a sidewalk connecting Meadow Lane to the store entrance. Eighteen bike parking spaces will also be added. The property is owned by Kimco Realty.

What's next

Official vote conditions and any attached requirements will be confirmed when the city posts its meeting minutes, expected around Wednesday, July 29. No opening timeline for the store has been announced.