Publix opens store in Summerhill, Atlanta — an area previously deemed a food desert

Publix has 150 stores located in metro Atlanta, but its latest 48,000-square-foot store is the first major supermarket chain to open in the Summerhill section of downtown Atlanta in decades, according to reporting by The Atlanta Voice.

The new Publix store will employ up to 150 associates at all levels, and it’s an important opportunity to have a store in this location, according to Brenda Reid, Atlanta native, and the company’s community relations manager for the Atlanta Division.

Reid has opened 200 stores in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee during her career with Publix, but said, “So much didn’t happen here in Summerhill.” 

According to Reid, the once all-Black neighborhood fit the description of a “food desert” after not having a major supermarket within its limits for decades. 

“This Publix is a blessing right about now,” said Jada Smith, a shopper who showed up on opening day. 

The Summerhill store also offers departments for grocery, dairy, frozen food, seafood, meat, and fresh produce, as well as a full-service bakery, deli, and pharmacy with a drive-thru. Along with a pharmacy, the opening includes a Piedmont Urgent Care on the grounds, as well as a lounge on the mezzanine level and free WiFi throughout. The new location will also offer contactless pay options, grocery delivery via Instacart, and pharmacy delivery. 

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The Publix grand opening included a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday morning and brief remarks from Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, as well as other local officials.