Publix approved in Freeport

**Here4Good** · 08-28-2009, 05:54 AM

According to the Freeport City Council, the new Publix is official. This is from WZEP:

"It�s official, a new Publix is set to come to Freeport. At last night�s Freeport Council meeting, Planning Director Latilda Henninger said a specialty retail supermarket is being planned for Highway 331 south of Highway 20 near Joe Campbell and Old Jolly Bay Roads. The project is on 13.8 acres and Freeport Planning, Engineering and the Fire Department have all signed off. Henninger reported the Planning Board also gave approval.

Henninger asked project engineer Jim Weeks if they can now announce the name, he said yes, it will be a Publix Supermarket. According to Weeks, the company wants to move in by the first quarter of 2011. The outparcels will have separate development orders and the current project is for the Publix and the two adjoining buildings. The Council approved the project.

"

**wrobert** · 08-28-2009, 06:35 AM

Originally Posted by Here4Good

According to the Freeport City Council, the new Publix is official. This is from WZEP:

"It�s official, a new Publix is set to come to Freeport. At last night�s Freeport Council meeting, Planning Director Latilda Henninger said a specialty retail supermarket is being planned for Highway 331 south of Highway 20 near Joe Campbell and Old Jolly Bay Roads. The project is on 13.8 acres and Freeport Planning, Engineering and the Fire Department have all signed off. Henninger reported the Planning Board also gave approval.

Henninger asked project engineer Jim Weeks if they can now announce the name, he said yes, it will be a Publix Supermarket. According to Weeks, the company wants to move in by the first quarter of 2011. The outparcels will have separate development orders and the current project is for the Publix and the two adjoining buildings. The Council approved the project.

"

Sushi is getting closer.

**kurt** · 08-28-2009, 06:50 AM

That will be a very busy location for them, especially in season. Wal Mart and fast food joints are surely soon to follow, along with giant glass-encased, one-million-watt beach junk emporiums.

**Here4Good** · 08-28-2009, 06:57 AM

That location is practically at the 20/331 intersection, all the 'experts' were thinking it would be farther north.

Should be busy!

**wrobert** · 08-28-2009, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by kurt

That will be a very busy location for them, especially in season. Wal Mart and fast food joints are surely soon to follow, along with giant glass-encased, one-million-watt beach junk emporiums.

Lots of entry level jobs. A place for teenagers to learn to count change. And I will not have to drive as far to get my beach junk.

**Smiling JOe** · 08-28-2009, 07:46 AM

They chose that location because it has a separate entrance to the back of the property, which is accessed off of Hwy 20. It will be more centrally located in this particular location.

**Smiling JOe** · 08-28-2009, 07:48 AM

Kurt, you may not be far off. With employers in Freeport receiving up to a 40% tax credit for employee wages paid, I think we will see Freeport grow rather rapidly after the gates open a little bit.

**30abob** · 08-28-2009, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by wrobert

Lots of entry level jobs. A place for teenagers to learn to count change...

Count change? Yeah right... that'll be the day! Seriously, some of my most humorous stories involve my experiences with mathematically challenged fast food workers.

**beachmouse** · 08-28-2009, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by wrobert

Lots of entry level jobs. A place for teenagers to learn to count change. And I will not have to drive as far to get my beach junk.

If you're going to be a retail worker, Publix is actually a pretty darn good company to work for. They're good about promoting talent from within, have most excellent employee stock and bonus programs, and a benefits package that many smaller retailers can't or wouldn't think of matching.

**Smiling JOe** · 08-28-2009, 08:21 AM

beachmouse, that is exactly what I hear. Publix is in the top 100 of best companies for which to work. They don't pay much in the way of starting wages, but their plan seems to be to hire young high school kids, and grow them into life-time employees who grow into management roles. The longer they stay, the more stock they receive, and they really take pride in their work. It is a great business model, IMO.

**Bobby J** · 08-28-2009, 08:31 AM

I say Congrats to Freeport!!!!!! This is huge!

**avalon** · 08-28-2009, 10:37 AM

I, for one, will not miss shopping at Kelly's Supermarket ! Will the Publix have a pharmacy?

**Here4Good** · 08-28-2009, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by Amy@Avalon

I, for one, will not miss shopping at Kelly's Supermarket ! Will the Publix have a pharmacy?

When we lived in FP, I drove to the Winn Dixie in Bluewater Bay. It's not bad. I shopped at Kelly's exactly twice, and that was enough.

**klauricella** · 08-28-2009, 11:37 AM

YAY sooo excited!!!

**beachmouse** · 08-28-2009, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Here4Good

When we lived in FP, I drove to the Winn Dixie in Bluewater Bay. It's not bad. I shopped at Kelly's exactly twice, and that was enough.

You and most of Freeport. Every time I've been over there, it seems like 75% of the license plates in the parking lot are from Walton County.

**lms47** · 08-28-2009, 04:49 PM

WONDERFUL NEWS!!! After living here 9 years, I will finally have a decent place to shop for groceries.

**DuneAHH** · 08-29-2009, 08:16 AM

standing by on tenterhooks...

waiting for the symphony to tune up and start playing in defense of the small town grocery falling to the big bad corporate boogie monster...

but wait...

could it be that some small retailers are firmly at the root of their own demise? that some big box retailers bring much desired services, cleanliness, products and professionalism to locales that haven't previously experienced this from some of the Mom & Pop's?

I'm just sayin'.

**Bobby J** · 08-29-2009, 11:29 AM

Originally Posted by Dune-AHH

standing by on tenterhooks...

waiting for the symphony to tune up and start playing in defense of the small town grocery falling to the big bad corporate boogie monster...

but wait...

could it be that some small retailers are firmly at the root of their own demise? that some big box retailers bring much desired services, cleanliness, products and professionalism to locales that haven't previously experienced this from some of the Mom & Pop's?

I'm just sayin'.

A classic example would be "For the health of it". They continue to thrive and GROW all while being slowly surrounded by "big bad corporate boogie monster". Why? Well run, clean and excellent customer service!

**DuneAHH** · 08-30-2009, 06:37 AM

Originally Posted by Bobby J

A classic example would be "For the health of it". They continue to thrive and GROW all while being slowly surrounded by "big bad corporate boogie monster". Why? Well run, clean and excellent customer service!

Excellent example of doing it right.

**avalon** · 08-30-2009, 08:15 AM

I would gladly support a small grocery that had decent products and a clean store. Not the case with Kelly's. They have tried to update some of the product lines ( they have Pepperidge Farms now), but the freezers and coolers are "down" so often that it is truly scary. I stick to the non-perishables!

**wrobert** · 08-30-2009, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

Kurt, you may not be far off. With employers in Freeport receiving up to a 40% tax credit for employee wages paid, I think we will see Freeport grow rather rapidly after the gates open a little bit.

If you are talking about the Enterprise credit it can be squeezed to 45% depending on where the employee lives. Also it is a credit against sales tax collections, but a grocery store will certainly generate enough sales tax to get the maximum I believe. The Publix in south Walton should be getting about 20-25% I believe, as most businesses in Walton County that generate new employees and go to the trouble of the paperwork, which is really not that much. I have done it a couple of times over the last seven years. It is very helpful when trying to start a business and being able to afford new people. I doubt many of the restaurants in the county know much about it though. I was told that I was one of the few truly small businesses that ever asked or took advantage of the program in this area. But all the major corporations maximized the programs.

**Smiling JOe** · 08-30-2009, 10:48 AM

wrobert, yes, I am referring to the Enterprise Zone credit. I knew it ranged from 20%-40% credit on payroll, depending on where the employee lived, but was unaware that it went as high as 45%, and was unaware that it also covered businesses in South Walton. Thanks for the extra info.

With payroll for big box stores being one of the greatest expenses, I would think a 40-45% savings on payroll expense would be a huge draw to the Freeport area, and that is why I believe that Freeport will draw more businesses, big and small, in the future.

**localnative** · 09-10-2009, 09:02 AM

Hammock Bay residence and all Freeport residence will love this new opportunity for a "real grocery shopping experience" - kelly's is a last minute option if I have to pick something small up and I'm lucky if they have what I'm looking for. At least they started carrying organic milk!

The new Publix down near hwy 393 is GREAT! But, having one even closer will definitely benefit this small, quiet town. Every town has to grow up eventually! With an excellent planner like Latilda - Freeport can grow into a nice community for those who like to be off the beaten path but still close enough to the beaches and 30-A and east Destin.

Publix is an excellent company! They do it right! Although I have to say that I agree with one of the threads above about "For the Health of It," they also do it right and I'm so glad we have a great store like that around!! Variety is nice!