Summer’s fading fast, but we’ve had so much fun on our road trip (thank you, Raleigh, Houston and San Diego) that we’re squeezing in a few more stops at Target stores across the country. Up next? Say hello to Atlanta, G.A.
If your only taste of Atlanta has been a burger or wings while on a layover (Atlanta’s home to the busiest airport in the world), it’s definitely time for a closer look at this vibrant city. And who better to show us around then our very own Target team? Buckle up for adventure with Rony Garcia, Store Team Leader at our Atlanta Edgewood store.
Rony, tell us about Atlanta’s hot spots.
Well, pretty much everything’s hot here, literally (summertime temps are usually in the high 80’s, and it’s almost always humid), but you’ll have so much fun that you’ll barely notice! Atlanta has an awesome aquarium, endless outdoor concerts and festivals and tons of sporting events (new stadiums for the Falcons and Braves are under construction now and Georgia Tech football is huge). We also have a great food scene. BBQ is king, but we have so much more, from nationally-known favorites like Fox Bros. to local gems like Home Grown. And, you’ll probably want to pair all that great food with a Coke. Coca-Cola is headquartered here, and visitors love to check out the World of Coca-Cola experience.
We’re also incredibly proud of the Martin Luther King, Jr. King Center—it’s not to be missed. And, after hosting the 1996 Olympics, we’ll forever have Olympic spirit, so be sure to check out Olympic Village. Fun fact: Visitors to our store constantly ask if they can buy vintage Olympic gear. Alas, no Olympic finds here, although we do have a ton of great Atlanta Hawks, Falcons, Braves and Tech gear.
And, what about your team? Where will we find you on a typical day when you’re not rocking red and khaki?
My team is big on neighborhood parks. You’ll catch us running, biking or just strolling through Piedmont Park or on the Belt Line—a long walk-way that snakes through the area. Little Five Points is a really fun area full of shops and restaurants. And, when it gets really hot, we might head to Centennial Olympic Park for the dancing water displays.
How about at work? What’s your day like?
Every day brings something new. Right now we’re wrapping up concert and festival season, so we’re busy helping guests find just the right gear, from tents, camping chairs and coolers to vintage tees and snacks. And, if they want to pick everything out on Target.com and pick it up in our store, we’re ready to help with that too.
And of course, we have a lot of fun—and some pretty interesting stories. Atlanta’s become a hot-bed for movie crews—films like Captain America, Guardians of the Galaxy and The Hunger Games have filmed nearby. So, we never know when a big movie star will stop in, or when we’ll get an urgent call from a director who needs 100 pillows on-set. Whatever our guests need—whoever they are—we’re here to help.
And the same goes for our team. We’re not just co-workers. We’re truly like family. If someone on our team needs extra support, we’re always here for each other. And, we take every chance we get to pay our good fortune forward in our neighborhood and community, too.
What are your favorite ways to give back?
We always look for organizations and events that mean a lot to our team and will make a difference for our community. We’re passionate about making sure those in need have enough to eat, whether it’s packing food at the local food bank or delivering lunches through Meals on Wheels. We’re also huge supporters of our local schools—doing school restoration projects, reading with kids, or even coaching local sporting teams. These events have a real impact on all of us!
After chatting with Rony, it’s clear: Atlanta’s no fly-over city! Stay tuned for more local flavor from our stores teams as our trip continues.
The following images are courtesy of ACVB and AtlantaPhotos.com: Skyline and Olympic Park images by Gene Phillips, aquarium image by Kevin C. Rose, King Center image by James Duckworth, and Belt Line image by Jenni Gartman.
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