Publix broke ground in Newberry on Thursday morning, with a crowd of citizens, local officials and a state representative present to witness and speak about the development. 

The chain store bought the nine-acre plot on the corner of West Newberry Road and County Road 235 in August, and is working with Carolina Holdings to develop a 55,000-square-foot grocery store and 7,700 square feet of retail space. 

The parking was full as citizens and officials gathered for the groundbreaking, including Newberry commissioners, Alachua County Commissioner Anna Prizzia, Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey and U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Gainesville. Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe said he was not surprised by the strong turnout.  

“I think that Publix is one of the best unifying forces in any community,” Marlowe said in an interview. “There isn’t anyone who dislikes Publix, you know?” 

Marlowe has said the new Publix will be the largest in Alachua County, but Carolina Holdings partner Britt Goodson said he cannot confirm that. Goodson said that, while the planned store is large in the context of other Alachua County locations, it may not be the largest. 

Publix media relations did not respond to requests for comment. 

Regardless of whether this Publix will be the largest in the county, it is still a big move for Newberry, where citizens consistently raise concerns about how fast the town is growing. 

Goodson said Newberry’s growth was an obvious factor in Publix’s decision to open a location there. He said Publix is looking for a location “where it’s all headed,” and Newberry caught the chain’s attention. 

Marlowe said Newberry is the fastest-growing city in Alachua County, with more projects on the books than any of the other communities. He said the town’s tax rates, utility rates and small-town feeling make people want to stay.  

“I think that Publix not only sees what Newberry is today, they see what Newberry will be tomorrow,” Marlowe said. “And so they want to build for the future.” 

When completed, the new store would be just around the corner from Hitchcock’s Market, Newberry’s current largest grocery store. The location is minutes from downtown and accessible from a main road, a spot Goodson called “the gateway to the Newberry community.” 

Marlowe and Newberry Commissioner Mark Clark both said Publix will likely bring a tail of smaller stores that trust its vetting process. Clark said the store will be a welcome addition for the town. 

“We need more commercial more than we need the rooftops,” Clark said in an interview. “So I think with this coming it’ll broaden our city’s corridor for the commercial.” 

Goodson said construction should start within about 30 days, and he estimated the store would be complete after about 16 months. 

Cammack said locals have been talking about a Publix for years, and that the new development should give citizens something to be excited about. Even before the development was confirmed to be Publix, the town was abuzz with the rumor. 

“This is going to be a game changer, a turning point for Newberry,” Cammack told Mainstreet, “and it really is a signal of the growth that’s coming and happening, but in a smart way.” 

Cammack said she would be stopping at the next-closest Publix—in Jonesville—to get a Pub Sub on her way to her next appointment.