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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Publix eyeing Charlotte (again)

Previously we speculated that either Publix or Kroger would enter the Charlotte market through a buyout of Bi-Lo store locations. Now, The Charlotte Business Journal reports that Publix is poised to enter the market through a location just south of Charlotte and the NC/SC state line in Tega Cay. If Publix does pursue this location, it would be the first time a major non-specialty chain grocer entered the market since Lowes Foods did in 2005. It should be noted that this is not the first time Publix has tried to enter the Charlotte market, they previously scouted sites in 1993 and 1994.
The closest Publix stores are currently in the Columbia and Greenville-Spartanburg areas of South Carolina. The effort from Publix to expand in Charlotte may be seen as gutsy, as Harris Teeter continues its reign on its home market, and Food Lion continues to expand its namesake store and Bloom concept store. Read the full article from The Charlotte Business Journal.