You are correct

I believe Harris Teeter left Peachtree City because corporately it made a decision to pull the whole chain out of Georgia. As far as I know it was well supported and quite successful the short time it was here.
Krogers has an unwritten policy to take "losers" and keep them in the family to prevent competition from having that spot. This comes from an out of stste Kroger manager. Notice that Goodwill would tie up the spot in non-groceries and fill that plan to a T.
Now the Harry's is a totally different story. I have shared more than one dinner and perhaps a beer or three with the manager of that Peachtree City Harry's. He was apalled at the poor attitude in our town by the spendthrift elite that always want the best quality but will never pay for it. I have failed to convince him that we deserve another chance. Unfortunately he works for Fresh Market (the one you always see on Bravo's Top Chef tv show. He has convinced the company a number of times not to come to our town although they keep bringing it up. Some of his friends work for Whole Foods and although he can't make another companies policy he certainly gives them his opinions. We do have fond conversations of whole rabbit, duck, and other goddies. I just have to bow in deference when our towns name comes up.
As far as the Goodwill fiasco, there is no reason not to have a Goodwill store in Peachtree City, just not in a shopping center. Hwy 74 south is fine. The question of lesser foot traffic if they come to the Kroger location seems to confuse some folks. Imagine the Goodwill comingg in and at peak times having 6 registers open. Seem unlikely? That's the foot traffic. It wouldn't be 10% of the current volume of people and it would hurt a lot of other tenants who would soon go elsewhere.