Bookzilla Loves ATL is a monthly blog series documenting Bookzilla's adventures around the city of Atlanta. DBF's curious Book Monster will visit various Atlanta-based organizations who are taking a unique approach to their industries and services, all while showing love for their hometown of Atlanta.
Last on our “Bookzilla Loves ATL” journey is Ponce City Market! Located at the crossing of the Atlanta BeltLine and Ponce de Leon Ave., the 2,100,000-sq./ft. building is one of the largest brick buildings in the United States. From 1926-1979, it was used by Sears as a retail store, warehouse, and regional office. From there the space served as Atlanta’s City Hall East until it was closed to the public in 2010. Now, the mixed-use development is filled with local retail stores, beautiful restaurants, a food hall, boutiques, offices, and residential units under the name Ponce City Market!
A partnership between Chef Hugh Acheson and Dale Donchey, Spiller Park Coffee is a 500 square feet kiosk that serves fresh coffee and Sublime Doughnuts among many other filling foods.
Tell us about yourself, and what you do for Ponce City Market (PCM).
I’m Matt Bronfman — Chief Executive Officer of Jamestown, which developed Ponce City Market. I’ve been working at Jamestown since 1998 and originally served as General Counsel.
Marrakesh Mediterranean Market is a beautiful place to get delicious hummus, beef kebabs, and their sweet assorted Moroccan cookies. Owner Udi Hershkovitz took some time to show Bookzilla around his colorful shop!
How would you describe PCM’s organizational mission?
Ponce City Market incorporates a pedestrian network, the convenience of desirable retail and dining under one roof, exceptional residences and office space, green city spaces and access to the Atlanta BeltLine trail, bordering the city and linking in-town neighborhoods. It’s a space that brings people together to eat, shop, work, and live. We worked to preserve the historic building’s authenticity and character while focusing on environmental sustainability and connection to the surrounding community.
General Manager Bethany Thompson loved reading her favorite book with Bookzilla at Bellina Alimentari, an airy Italian restaurant and grocery.
What does PCM bring to Atlanta as a community?
Revitalizing the historic Sears, Roebuck, & Co. building, Ponce City Market is a vibrant community center in the heart of Atlanta. The development brings Atlanta new shops, world-class office space, restaurants and food stalls from nationally acclaimed chefs throughout the Central Food Hall, apartments with unparalleled views of the city, and much more. There’s always something happening, from a weekly farmers market to live concerts and shopping events.
Citizen Supply founder Phil Sanders loved taking pictures with Bookzilla and showing us his huge space in one of the upper floors of Ponce City Market. Citizen Supply is a curated marketplace that offered small batch, craftsman quality, handcrafted goods from local and international artisans.
Tell us something you’d like visitors to know about PCM.
Ponce City Market is pursuing a LEED Core & Shell Silver certification, which is earned through the installation and use of environmentally sustainable architectural features. To earn that certification, Ponce City Market was built with features such as water-efficient fixtures and landscaping, energy-saving LED lighting; green cleaning materials and equipment, and state-of- the-art recycling stations.
Elk Head Clothing is a menswear and lifestyle brand that enjoys encompassing the outdoors and its rugged independence. Founder Garrett Hilgendorf is just as tall as Bookzilla!
What new PCM project, offering, etc. are you most excited about this year?
In addition to offering dine-in and take-out dishes for guests, every food stall inside Ponce City Market’s Central Food Hall carries a selection of grocery items, curated by the respective owner and/or chef to reflect the menu’s flavor. For example, find Italian cheeses and cured meats from Bellina Alimentari, spicy Puerto Rican sauces for the pantry from El Super Pan Latino Sandwiches & Bar, and Mediterranean spices from Marrakesh. We’re launching this market element with a tasting event open to the public in September — stayed tuned for more details!
El Super Pan is a lively sandwich bar with bold flavors created by Puerto Rican Chef Hector Santiago. Bookzilla enjoyed their sandwiches, snacks, sides, and sweets baked in-house.
What is the best way to stay up-to-date on news and events for PCM?
Check out the website, which includes info on upcoming events. There’s also an email signup at the base of the page for those interested in receiving our regular newsletter. And follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
One of the most interesting elements of Ponce City Market is its direct access to the Atlanta BeltLine! Take a break from shopping and eating and stroll out onto one of the most scenic parts of the BeltLine just steps away.
What is your favorite book, and why?
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Bookzilla had a wonderful day at Ponce City Market! He can’t wait to come back and visit even more of the many stores and restaurants this in-town market has to offer.