Publix opens second GreenWise store

The second GreenWise Market, a small-format retail concept of Publix Super Markets, opened its doors today in Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Focusing on specialty, natural and organic food, the the 21,500-square-foot store anchors Mount Pleasant’s Indigo Square shopping center and is first of two locations slated for South Carolina. In February, Publix said it plans to build a GreenWise store in Lexington, S.C., which will anchor the Lexington Marketplace retail center. An opening date has not yet been set for the store.

“We’re excited to bring the simple, yet sophisticated, environment and high-quality, unique products of GreenWise Market to the Mount Pleasant community,” Publix President Kevin Murphy said in a statement. “GreenWise Market is more than a store. It’s a gathering place where our customers can discover local items, indulge in a decadent treat or find the items they need to support their healthy lifestyle.”

The first GreenWise Market, a 29,000-square-foot store, opened on Oct. 4 in Tallahassee, Fla. Another eight locations, including the Lexington store, are upcoming.

Expected to open this year are GreenWise stores in Lakeland and Boca Raton, Fla., and in Mountain Brook, Ala. Publix previously said the Mountain Brook location is due to open this summer, Publix said. For that store, Publix will convert an acquired Western Market supermarket. No opening dates have been announced for the three stores.

Related:5 things to know about Publix's new GreenWise Market

The other GreenWise locations will be opened in Fort Lauderdale, Odessa and Nocatee (Ponte Vedra Beach), Fla., and in Marietta, Ga. Opening timetables are yet to be determined, Publix said.

Sized at around 25,000 square feet, GreenWise Markets are aimed at customers focused on healthy lifestyles and “foodies” looking to indulge, according to Publix. Along with a beverage bar serving kombucha, locally roasted coffee, tea, wine, local beer and smoothies, the format offers house-made products like smoked meats and sausages, store-prepared meals and grab-and-go food (made with antibiotic-free meats and organic cheeses and including vegan options); gourmet treats; body care products; natural vitamins and supplements; bulk items; and a selection of local and unique products.

GreenWise Markets are aimed at customers focused on healthy lifestyles as well as “foodies” looking to indulge in fine wines, cheeses and gourmet treats.

Customers also can enroll in GreenWise Market Rewards, a loyalty program that provides personalized offers and digital coupons. The rewards can be redeemed only at GreenWise stores.

“Lexington is the ideal market for GreenWise to continue its entry into the Carolina, particularly along this primary retail corridor of one of South Carolina’s fastest-growing markets,” said Darrell Palasciano, a leasing agent for the Lexington Marketplace with The Shopping Center Group (TSCG). The store is expected to open within a year after construction commences, according to TSCG.

Publix added that it will continue to seek sites for more GreenWise stores across its Southeastern trade area. Currently, the retailer operates 1,215 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.