H.H. Gregg To Enter Ala., Adds 2 Atlanta Stores

Indianapolis— Regional white- and brown-goods powerhouse H.H. Gregg will open its ninth and tenth superstores within the Atlanta market tomorrow, to be followed over the next two weeks with one new location each in Columbus, Ga., and Huntsville, Ala., its first in that state.

The four new units will bring to 61 the number of stores operated by the chain, based here, whose reach extends through Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and now Alabama.

The Atlanta stores are located in the suburbs of Alpharetta and Newnan, which president/chief operating officer Dennis May said, “have been very important target locations for us since our first Atlanta stores opened” some 18 months ago.

The new stores feature a digital center that demonstrates the interconnectivity of digital products, plus what the company describes as the largest assortment of digital and widescreen TVs and major appliances in the market. H.H. Gregg also distinguishes itself in its trading areas with highly trained sales staffs; an in-stock guarantee on all advertised products (or same-price trade-up to the next better model); same-day delivery seven days a week with a 40-minute call-ahead; and complete majap and video installation services.

H.H. Gregg was the first in a trio of out-of-town regionals to extend their reach into the long-underserved Atlanta market. Earlier this fall, California's Fry's Electronics and Florida's BrandsMart USA each entered the area with the first of several planned discount emporiums, setting the stage for what could become a bruising battle for market share. Indeed, H.H. Gregg reportedly left the NATM buying group two years ago in advance of expected territorial overlaps with fellow NATM member BrandsMart.