Publix scouts Rock Hill location

(Publix under construction in Tega Cay, photo courtesy Mike K.) 

With two Publix stores already under construction just south of Charlotte, in Tega Cay and Indian Land respectively, a third store may be heading to Rock Hill.  Still remaining south of the N.C.-S.C. border, this store would be along Herlong Ave as developers scout a location.  Publix notes that Rock Hill is underserved by upmarket grocers--the city only has one Harris Teeter store, which Publix considers to be its most formidable competitor, and they have one Earth Fare store.  What is most significant about this news is the seriousness of Publix decision to expand in the South Carolina side of the Charlotte market, eventually prompting a potential move into the North Carolina side and into the city of Charlotte itself.  As for the two stores currently under construction, both the Tega Cay store (at 45,000 sq. ft.) and the Indian Land store (at 50,000 sq. ft.) should open before the end of this year. 

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Before & After: Harris Teeter/Earth Fare, Rock Hill

Grocerying has a post from 2006 citing the Harris Teeter near downtown Rock Hill, South Carolina closing. Well now we finally have a photo of the new and thriving Earth Fare that replaced it.

Super Bi-Lo - Rock Hill, South Carolina; Matthews, NC

This is the first Super Bi-Lo in the Charlotte market, about 25 minutes south of Charlotte in Rock Hill. The store replaces the old Rock Hill Mall on Cherry Road. This store opened in November, and it is 63,000 square feet, nearly double the size of a standard Bi-Lo store. The former Bi-Lo store across the street on Cherry Road is now vacant and it is unknown at this time as to what will fill that spot. Another Bi-Lo, on Main Street in Rock Hill, is also being converted to the Super format. Additionally, a Super Bi-Lo is slated to open in Matthews, NC (at Weddington and McKee Roads) this year as well (photographed below). This is significant too because Bi-Lo is bolstering its image in the Harris-Teeter-saturated suburban south Charlotte market, where Bi-Lo only really has one other store on Elm Lane. Additionally, this marks Bi-Lo's return to Matthews since closing their store on Independence Blvd next to the old K-mart back in the 1990s. Read more about Rock Hill's Bi-Lo store in the press release here (and see how a Super Bi-Lo differs from a regular Bi-Lo).
Have any of you been to a Super Bi-Lo store? Leave comments...

To Note: Greensboro had a Super Bi-Lo (and Knoxville too) at one time, but this was before they implemented the current prototype Super Bi-Lo store.

Changes coming to Rock Hill's grocerying scene

[Photo Credit: Rock Hill Herald]
More good news for Rock Hill's Cherry Road area. First there was the announcement of a Super Bi-Lo store coming to the former Rock Hill Mall, which has been vacant and abandoned for years. Now, the former Harris Teeter on Cherry Road could become an Earth Fare store, bringing organics and variety to the market. Additionally, Compare Foods - which focuses on the international and Latino market - is coming to the old Winn-Dixie. It's a good thing to see these boxes being filled!

Harris Teeter - Winthrop Commons, Rock Hill

(Picture via Rock Hill Herald)

This Harris Teeter store opened in the early 1960s in Winthrop Commons, near downtown Rock Hill, and served the namesake college nearby and the surrounding area for 40+ years until it closed its doors a few weeks ago. The store was 25,000 square feet, and Harris Teeter had cited that the reason for closing the store was because they wouldn't have enough room to expand it to offer all of their services. The Harris Teeter store on Celenase Road will remain open and expand to encompass about 45,000 square feet, and this will be the only Harris Teeter in Rock Hill now.