Out & About Newspaper, Tennessee’s largest GLBT publication, will return to all three of Harris Teeter’s Nashville area stores, after they were pulled just over a month ago by the company that handles the free publication racks, DistribuTech.
The move quickly followed the decision by The Kroger Co. to allow O&AN back in eight of its Nashville stores.
Jennifer Panetta, director of communication for Harris Teeter, notified O&AN Publisher Jerry Jones of the decision on Friday, July 6. Jones said she had requested copies of the publication earlier in the week. A review was finished on July 5, and the company made the decision to allow the publication back in their stores.
“We are very pleased that our readers will once again be able to pick up O&AN at their local Harris Teeter store,” Jones said. “For more three years we had an outdoor box at the Harris Teeter store in Hillsboro Village. Our readers will be pleased they can once again shop at Harris Teeter and see O&AN at the free publication rack.”
Leaders of two Nashville organizations that lead a “save your receipt(s)” campaign against Kroger and Harris Teeter, were pleased at the results of the campaign and Harris Teeter’s decision.
Christopher Sanders, president of the Tennessee Equality Project, said he was proud to see Harris Teeter recognize the growth of Nashville’s GLBT community.
"It is important for businesses to be responsive to changes in the market,” Sanders said. “Harris-Teeter recognizes the growth of the GLBT community in Nashville. This step will help make our community more welcome in their stores."
John Wade, president of the Nashville GLBT Chamber of Commerce, said he was pleased that Harris Teeter recognized O&AN as a valuable news source for many of its customers.
“We are delighted that Harris Teeter was quick to respond to the concerns expressed to them by many in the GLBT community,” Wade said. “I believe Harris Teeter made the appropriate decision to reinstate this news source that so many of their customers value.”
The July issue of O&AN will be available in the following Harris Teeter stores begining Monday, July 9.
Harris Teeter Hillsboro Village
2201 21st. Avenue South
Nashville TN 37212
Harris Teeter Harpeth Plaza
6002 Highway 100
Nashville TN 37205
Harris Teeter Peartree Village
210 Franklin Rd, Suite 100
Brentwood TN 37027
