Publix begins Richmond rally

Publix Super Markets over the weekend opened its first store in the Richmond, Va., market and will have three stores there by early next month as Virginia’s capital city experiences a high-speed grocery overhaul.

The new store, on Wyndham Forest Drive in Glen Allen, was built from the ground up. Additional Publix stores scheduled to open July 29 (Laburnum Avenue in Richmond) and Aug. 5 (Staples Mill Road in Glen Allen) will be the first of 10 future Publix sites formerly belonging to Ahold’s Martin chain. Publix acquired those stores a year ago when Ahold divested them in advance of its merger with Delhaize. Those sites, including four more Richmond-area stores expected to open this year, have been closed since Publix acquired them.

The Martin’s stores that did not sell in the meantime are on their way out: Two closed this week, and five more will go dark Aug. 2, concluding the brand’s presence in Richmond and throwing thousands of additional customers up for grabs.

Publix has plenty of competition for those shoppers, as Wegmans opened two megastores in Richmond over the last year and Lidl is readying four Richmond-area stores for grand opening July 27.

“We are excited to bring Publix’s premier service, quality and value to customers in greater Richmond and are looking forward to being a part of such a great community,” Kim Reynolds, media and community relations manager for Publix, said in a release detailing last weekend’s opening in Glen Allen.

The 50,000-square-foot store at the newly opened Nuckols Place shopping center is within a three-mile radius of nearly 50,000 shoppers whose average household income is more than $123,000, according to developer Peterson Cos.

The new store resembles the newer units Publix has opened as it expanded from its Florida base into North Carolina in recent years, including a Starbucks counter; an emphasis on deli, bakery and prepared foods; service meat and fish counters; an Aprons Simple Meals cooking demonstration area; and a drive-thru pharmacy. Online ordering and delivery is available through Instacart.

Ahold Delhaize’s Food Lion chain earlier this year said it would commence its Easy Fresh & Affordable renovations throughout its 71 stores in the market.