ToNeTo Atlanta is pleased to share that after months of rumors, we can now confirm with 100% certainty that Publix Super Markets, Inc., has leased space in Chamblee Plaza! The Lakeland, FL -based grocer will occupy a new roughly 41,000 square foot freestanding building on the north end of the center where Hotel Furniture Outlet is currently located. Grocers Winn-Dixie and later SaveRite had both also previously operated businesses from the box that will be demolished to make way for the new Publix.
The former Himalayas restaurant and market will also be demolished as part of the Publix development. Other former retail and restaurant space to the right of the anchor space will also be demolished. When completed, the new Publix will be flanked by a total of 8,400 square feet in new retail/restaurant space - 6,000 and 2,400 - split between the right and left sides of the grocer.
Publix's entry into the area comes as arch rival Kroger has decided to shutter its nearby store in Cambridge Square shopping center along Johnson Ferry Road. The store, which anchors the center, has been in operation as a Kroger for twenty years and is due to close as of August 1.
Publix currently operates about 200 stores in the Georgia region including nearby stores at Oglethorpe Crossing at the corner of Ashford Dunwoody and Johnson Ferry Roads in Brookhaven, Shallowford Exchange just off I-85 near Regal Cinemas Hollywood 24 and at TOWN Brookhaven just off Peachtree Road in Brookhaven. Publix closed its store at nearby Northeast Plaza along Buford Highway in Brookhaven around 2005. Today, the former Northeast Plaza Publix operates as City Farmers Market.
In addition to the Chamblee Plaza store, Publix has several other new stores in the works for metro Atlanta. On June 17 the company will debut its new "GreenWise Market" banner in Sandy Plains Marketplace in East Cobb. The new roughly 25,000 square foot store is meant to be a more premium version of the company's flagship store, and will include, among other amenities, POURS, an onsite bar with coffee, wine and local craft beer, as well as on-tap kombucha and freshly made açaí bowls and smoothies.
Publix has also inked deals at new shopping centers planned for Dunwoody and Tucker and, according to well placed real estate sources, has at least two other intown Atlanta stores "teed up."
2020 marks the 60th anniversary of Chamblee Plaza, and in many ways the addition of Publix is the jewel that had been missing from the center. The addition of Publix tops off a remarkable return to form of the center which last year saw the openings of TJ Maxx, HomeGoods, Ace Hardware, Rack Room Shoes and Five Below.
In addition to the new openings, longtime tenant Chick-fil-A hopes to be given the green light by the City of Chamblee to "scrape & rebuild" their existing freestanding restaurant in an out-parcel of Chamblee Plaza. The Atlanta-based fast food chain hopes to completely rebuild their nearly 33 year old restaurant as a more modern and efficient location.
Longtime residents will recall that Chamblee Plaza has a long grocery history, having for a time been home to Kroger and Colonial simultaneously, and subsequently the aforementioned grocers, too.
Vince Riggio, Partner with TRINITY, said “Publix was defined as one of the top requests by the community from our realignment meetings with over 300 residents participating.”
Although ToNeTo Atlanta was unable to obtain any renderings of the planned store, we are told it will honor both the early years of Publix and of the center with Mid Century design elements including the grocer's once iconic winged facade.
Despite the ongoing pandemic, Publix, deemed an essential business, has been doing more business now than before, and its recently released sales figures for the first quarter reveal just how well they are doing.
"Publix’s sales for the three months ended March 28, 2020 were $11.2 billion, a 16.1% increase from $9.7 billion in 2019. Comparable store sales for the three months ended March 28, 2020 increased 14.4%. The company estimates its sales for the three months ended March 28, 2020 increased approximately $1 billion or 10.3% due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic."
Plans call for work on the new Publix at Chamblee Plaza to start construction in early 2021 and for the store to open in early 2022.
Are you excited for the addition of Publix to Chamblee Plaza? What are your thoughts on the updated lineup at Chamblee Plaza? What other shops or eateries would you like to see open at Chamblee Plaza?
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