Publix Plans Store Closures and New Openings

Publix opened its 10th Kentucky store in Florence on Oct. 7 and has 16 more Kentucky stores planned, including one in Independence set to open Oct. 28. Construction has also begun on a planned 50,000-square-foot Publix in the Cadia Village Matthews development in North Carolina, expected to open in late 2027 with about 150 employees. The company plans to close seven stores by year-end—four in Florida, two in Georgia and one in South Carolina—with some locations expected to be rebuilt. The closures come amid modest profit growth and economic pressures; analysts have also cited stronger grocery competition and the possible effect of GLP-1 medications on food purchases.