Is Harry's closing?

[Susann]

I am panicking! I just overheard a conversation between a customer and a manager at Kroger. The customer was saying that she went to Harry's and they were going out of business. Please, fellow Atlanta bbers, tell me I shouldn't believe everything I hear and that this is just a mean and ugly lie!

[funnybone]

I used to live in the Atlanta area and would be shocked to hear that Harry's closed. I know Harris Teeter's was closing stores throughout the south, but that is all I know. WOW - iI hope you heard wrong as that would really be cause for alarm.

[Nancy171]

I know that Harry's isn't in the best financial shape (it lost money last quarter and had a decrease in year-over-year sales). The stock is trading at 64 cents/share and seems to have been declining pretty steadily for the past five years.

However, the financial web sites don't have any information about it shutting down or being sold. As a public company, I think they'd have to issue a press release with news that big before letting the information disseminate through word-of-mouth.

I've never been to Harry's but I plan to stop by if I'm ever in Atlanta again.

[emilycat]

Oh, please say it isn't true! I haven't heard this Susann, but I think I would have a serious breakdown if they did -- I suppose I could always ask the cute manager-dude at Harry's who always flirts with me.... see if I can extract a little information. ;)

[mb]

Harry's just CAN'T close...it is the best store ever!!! it was about the only thing that gave me 2nd thoughts about leaving Atlanta! and, it's the only reason I'd like to go back to visit! :)

[Sara Emily]

Use your INFLUENCE, Emily, and give us the whole scoop! ;)

[Leanne]

Surely not. I'll be interested to know though. They can't get rid of all of the good places to shop!

[Susann]

Update-I went to their web page. No information about closing was given. I guess that means we are all safe. Emily, if you do speak to your manager-dude friend next time you go, I will be interested to hear what he has to say.

Ummm, about them closing, that is... :)

[cchhbb]

I just heard that Harry's sold their 3 warehouse stores to Whole Foods. It sounds like they are going to remain open under the Harry's name at least for awhile.

[sandy77d]

There is an article in the AJC this morning saying that the 3 large Harry's have been sold to Whole Foods. It says that Whole Foods will keep running them as Harry's at least for a few months before deciding what to do with them. The article said that Harry's wanted to sell the Harry's in a Hurry stores but Whole Foods did not want to buy them. Sorry for the bad news!:(

[emilycat]

Waaaaaaaaaaah! :(
Well, I'd rather have Whole Foods take over than Publix.....
How very disappointing. I just read the article, though, and it doesn't sound like all is lost -- apparently, they're going to try to merge the best of the two stores into one, and they may even keep the Harry's name for good.
I just hope the wine and cheese selections don't become more limited. -- and Whole Foods is so much more expensive. Ugh! I am not a happy camper.

[daner94]

This is not good news for a Friday morning!!! I really wonder what will change now.

[EllenL]

In the last two months, I've lost both my (very) local Harris Teeter and Harry's. This is not good! I may have post traumatic stress disorder and wake up in the middle of the night from a nightmare about not being able to find lemon grass for a recipe or about never having one of their baguettes again. I agree, Emily, at least it's Whole Foods and not a typical chain. But life (shopping, cooking, and eating) as we know it won't be the same...

[heeter]

Really unhappy here as well. I know alot of you on this board like Whole Foods but I never really have. Harry's was always 10 times better IMHO.

Heather

[daner94]

I encourage you all to go to ajc.com and check out the article about the purchase. I don't know how to put a link here for the article but it is an interesting read.

On the ajc's home page, on the bottom of the page, under business, is the story, 3 Markets to be sold.

"Whole Foods officials say they will launch a new hybrid concept, based on the Harry's purchase. They will be taking the best elements of Whole Foods and the best elements of Harry's and they will experiment."