After opening seven stores in the Richmond region over the past year, Publix opened its first grocery store in Chesterfield. This new Publix grocery store is a complete interior renovation of an existing Martin’s grocery store in the Harbour Pointe Shopping Center off Hull Street Road.
“We were excited to be selected by Publix for this project and they are quickly becoming a dominant player in the Virginia grocery market and we hope to continue our relationship with them,” said Mark Loving, project manager who oversaw the construction of Publix.
The 53,000-square-foot store includes a bakery, a drive-thru pharmacy, deli, grocery, produce, seafood, meat and floral departments. The project also adds amenities such as a pharmacy with on-the-go medical clinic, Starbucks Cafe and event planning space.
The project scope includes re-roofing the existing structure, a complete slab replacement to facilitate new store layout, all-new mechanical, refrigeration and electrical systems and Publix signature epoxy-resin terrazzo floor. This project represents one of the first Publix stores to open in the greater Richmond market.
Like most renovation projects, this one came with unique challenges. Minimizing vibration transfer to the sensitive medical equipment in an adjacent MRI center required very thoughtful and thorough coordination. Heavy construction activities such as saw cutting and jack hammering the existing concrete slab were scheduled at night to prevent disruption to the center’s daily operations. This off-hour work was closely managed to guarantee there was no impact to the project’s overall schedule.
Following their announcement last year of entry into the Virginia market, Publix CEO Ed Crenshaw said, “Being company owners, our associates continue to work diligently to exceed our customers’ expectations, which has allowed Publix to experience continued growth. As we enter new markets and continue to open new stores, our associates prepare for new opportunities which supports our culture of promotion from within. We look forward to providing the great state of Virginia with the high quality service and products that our customers have come to expect and that have earned us recognition throughout the industry.”
Virginia will mark the company’s seventh state of operation. In September 2012, the company announced its long awaited entry into North Carolina opening the first location in February 2014. The company is looking ahead to aggressive growth within the state and in its current operating areas of Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South and North Carolina.
Publix was ranked 21st on Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for 2017 and has made the list every year since it was first published in 1998.