Last updated on September 17th, 2024
Lakeland, Florida-based Publix is expanding across Georgia with several new supermarkets in partnership with Atlanta-based real estate investment and development firm Branch Properties.
Publix opened one of Branch’s locations Sept. 12 in the Limestone Marketplace shopping center at 2155 Limestone Ridge NE in Gainesville, Georgia. The Shelby Report was there opening morning, witnessing the excitement customers had for a new shopping destination in town.
The store features a seating area at the front for customers who wish to eat in-store from Publix’s deli or ready-to-eat sections. It features the traditional departments that Publix is known for, such as its bakery, meat, seafood and produce sections, as well as a drive-thru pharmacy for convenient pickup.
The first 25 customers opening morning received a free bag of groceries, while those throughout the day who entered their Club Publix rewards number at checkout were automatically entered into a drawing for a $500 gift card. Over the course of the day, employees offered shoppers complimentary samples as they walked through the store.
[RELATED: Publix Adds Alabama Supermarket To Growing Portfolio]
In other related news, Branch Properties acquired 9.7 acres of land in Hinesville, Georgia, to build the Flemington Village retail development, featuring a 46,791-square-foot Publix store. The center broke ground this month and is slated for completion in 2025.
In addition to Flemington Village, Branch is also developing five other Publix-anchored shopping centers across the Southeast, including Rockfish Village in Fayetteville, North Carolina; Triple Crown Shopping Center in Richwood, Kentucky; Braselton Village in Braselton, Georgia; One Nexton in Summerville, South Carolina; and the recently completed Summerhill Station in Atlanta, Georgia.