Murder Kroger

Murder Kroger is a pop culture theme and Internet meme (viral concept made popular via the Internet) in the Atlanta area based on the Kroger supermarket on Ponce de Leon Avenue in the Ford Factory complex. The store itself is considered a local landmark^[1][2] known for its nickname "Murder Kroger". The "Murder" reference may be due to a murder that took place in the parking lot in 2002,^[3] or due to its proximity only 3 blocks east of Boulevard, an area infamous for street prostitution and drug dealing (although the area surrounding the store, Poncey-Highland and Virginia Highland, is affluent).

Pop culture theme and Internet meme

The store has entered popular culture in Atlanta, reflected in a song about the store, several series of t-shirts,^[4][5] and an unofficial Facebook page.^[6]

"Murder Kroger" t-shirt

"Murder Kroger" logo used for another t-shirt series

Cartoon about "Murder Kroger"

"Murder Kroger" Facebook page

"Murder Kroger" in Atlanta pop culture

Atlanta band Attractive Eighties Women recorded a song^[7][8] about the Kroger on Ponce with lyrics including "It's a good place to go if you wanna buy crack; But if you go there for groceries you may never come back; It's murder, Murder Kroger" and "It's a grocery store with a deadly twist; You'll get shot in the head for your shopping list; Murder Kroger!"

Whilst Murder Kroger remains the most popular name for the location, others affectionately call it "Killer Kroger," "Crack Kroger," or even "Freddy Kroger" to reference the villain of A Nightmare on Elm Street.^[9]

In April 2011 rumors circulated on Twitter that the store was to be renovated or demolished.^[10] The rumors turned out to be exaggerations based on a substantiated leak about a plan for a ramp from the store up to the BeltLine.^[11] These plans were the basis for a darkly humorous cartoon.

2002 Murder

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution of August 2, 2002:

"The body of a man was found late Friday night in a car parked in the parking lot of a Kroger grocery store located in the 700 block of Ponce De Leon, authorities said. A passerby noticed a strong odor coming from the car and alerted police. Police did not release the man's identity."

^[12]

References

1. ^ "Basic Stuff", Vice Magazine
2. ^ http://clevortrevor.livejournal.com/2011/01/11/
3. ^ Atlanta Journal Constitution, August 2, 2002
4. ^ Spreadshirt
5. ^ http://www.murderkroger.com
6. ^ "Murder Kroger" Facebook page
7. ^ "Murder Kroger", Attractive Eighties Women, YouTube
8. ^ "Attractive Eighties Women" MySpace page
9. ^ Yelp
10. ^ Twitter #murderkroger
11. ^ Thonas Wheatley, "Murder Kroger to get a makeover? Grocer says 'no'", Creative Loafing, 2011-04-06
12. ^ Atlanta Journal Constitution, August 2, 2002