INDIANAPOLIS -- After sitting vacant for more than six years, shoppers returned Wednesday to the site of the old Atlas Supermarket, for the grand opening of Indianapolis' first Fresh Market.

The specialty grocery store, which sits at College Avenue and 54th Street on the city's north side, has been under construction for the past year.

It's been a long wait for many Meridian-Kessler residents, who saw their neighborhood grocery close in 2002 after 55 years of operation.

"I used to go to Atlas all of the time," resident Melanie Priest told 6News' Julie Pursley. "I've been waiting six years. It's been great for the neighborhood and community."

Wednesday, the past met the present, as former Atlas owner Eleanor Mauer cut the ribbon on the new store.

"There was a grocery here before us and there had to be a grocery after us," Mauer said. "I love it, it's beautiful."

The Fresh Market is much larger than Atlas, and includes additional parking on top of the building. Still, store officials say they hope to keep the essence of Atlas' specialty feel.

"The way we do our customer service and the quality of our products, we should be able to fill those expectations that Eleanor has and with all of her support and the community support, we feel as if we're going to do well here and fulfill their needs," said Fresh Market General Manager Brian Freeman.

Atlas closed its doors in 2002, and the original building was eventually demolished. Marsh bought the property in 2004 with the intentions of opening a new grocery there, but in late 2005 said it was halting work because of low earnings.

Kite Realty bought the property in January 2006, and the Fresh Market deal was inked shortly after.

Fresh Market has 79 stores across the country, including one in the Cool Creek Center in Carmel and one in Ft. Wayne.