At year end, Publix will close its store at Atlantic Station. The grocer informed employees Monday of their plans which reportedly caught many off guard. Thankfully, the store will reportedly close after Christmas, but before New Years, potentially as soon as December 27.
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| Photo via Sing Oil Blog |
The Atlantic Station Publix is rather unique in many ways, some of which likely contributed to the grocer's decision to close the store. The store is 30,312 square feet, small by Publix standards, with an atypical layout to boot. Additionally, the store's primary customer parking was in a deck below the store, accessed primarily by a pair of elevators. This is not unheard of in the grocery world, but ultimately limits customer purchasing to a degree, given the "hassle" it creates.
Unlike rival Kroger, which has seemingly been closing more stores than it's opened or planning to open, Publix has for the most part continued to both add new stores and replace older stores with new, larger stores nearby.
Most Publix stores of today are, like Kroger, bigger than they were 20 years ago. Publix has added far more prepared food departments and other enhancements to its stores, with most now measuring at least 48,387 square feet and some, like the so-called "Clublix" store in Buckhead, measuring 54,965 square feet.
In September, Publix opened a new store in Braselton that replaced an older and smaller store in an adjacent center. The grocer has also been confirmed as an anchor tenant for Lulah Hills (the redevelopment of North DeKalb Mall), where it will replace the existing but "old" store at Shamrock Plaza.
The grocer was also announced in October to be anchoring the new Woodstock Mill District project in Woodstock where Publix will return to the market with a 46,791 square foot store. We say return as Publix previously closed its smaller format store at Shops at Buckhead Crossing (1430 Towne Lake Parkway). The 28,800 square foot store was later occupied by Tuesday Morning, but today, after Publix finally released its leasehold on the space, is occupied by Sprouts Farmers Market.
The leasehold could come into play in Atlantic Station. It's unclear where in their lease the grocer was or if they had term remaining on any existing lease. If they were mid-lease, they could continue paying "dead rent" to box out any prospective rival grocer from backfilling their space. (Both Publix and Kroger have done similar things in metro Atlanta and elsewhere in years past.)
Publix's decision to close at Atlantic Station is especially surprising when you consider that the company ultimately did not open their planned store at phase two of The Interlock on nearby Northside Drive. After Publix pulled out of the project, the landlord ultimately pivoted to discount grocer Lidl, which opened their new store this past October. (A Kroger that was planned at Northside Drive & 17th Street, essentially behind IKEA, was later abandoned with Kroger selling their land for multifamily development.)
Following Publix's closure, there will still be a Target at Atlantic Station for many, but certainly not all, grocery needs. The next closest Publix stores will be at The Plaza Midtown (1.5 miles away) and Howell Mill Village (2.5 miles away).
If you're a retail nerd or just super curious about the Atlantic Station Publix, we highly recommend checking out this blog post for easily one of the most fascinating and thorough critiques of the store.
Are you surprised to see Publix close at Atlantic Station? If you live nearby, where do you do the majority of your grocery shopping? What would you most like to see open in place of Publix at Atlantic Station?
Please share your thoughts below.
46 comments:
I appreciate your writing skills. Your article was informative and easy to follow. Thank you.
I don't live near Atlantic Station and actually only went one time. It just wasn't that appealing especially the parking hassle. I so wished it was close to a Marta train stop. Thanks for including the link to the blog post about the Publix. Very interesting.
Let’s see if the city throws more subsidy money at Savi to get them to open an Azalea here
It's the right sq ft to be another off-price retailer...Marshalls, Ross, maybe Burlington (TJMaxx already has Midtown location).
Publix closely watches demographic data in planning and executing stores. They closed a location after going to the great expense of completely gutting and rebuilding a store on highway 78 in Gwinnett. This store was only open for a few years. Looking back now, Publix was right about the prospects for the area. Demographics are indeed destiny.
Don't be mad at Publix, be mad at the city of Atlanta, who demanded that lower income residents be subsidized and included in the Atlantic Station project. Maybe the city can open another one of their free grocery stores on the Publix site.
Most EVERYONE in the surrounding condo/apartment complexes and high rises walk to snd do MOST of all their grocery shopping here at Publix.This will be a HUGE loss to the community. Daily shopping by walking is a big buying incentive. Driving for groceries is not as healthy,or convenient. And the store's associates are neighborhood freinds. We hate to see them go. If we have to drive for groceries,we'll bypass other publixs for liddl and Kroger.
I sure hope it's not replaced by a retail store. That Publix is the only viable grocery store within walking distance for Atlantic Station residents.
I don't think Atlantic Station counts as a food desert.
Should add a Traders Joes
Trader Joes
Literally just moved here for the walkable shopping you ha eto be kidding this is awful!!!!!!!
Atlantic Station was thriving when North American Properties owned and managed it years ago. They used to host concerts and fireworks and big events. Ever since it was sold to the new owner, it has being going downhill quickly. I suspect more tenants will be leaving when their leases end. It’s just a poorly managed property with lots of loiterers and not enough shoppers. I live in Loring Heights (next door) and go to Atlantic Station maybe once a year. Each time I go, I swear I won’t be back.
Lidl and Aldi might be low-cost grocery options, though I've never seen them in an upscale outdoor mall. Sprouts could be a contender...it's the right size and general level of shopping center they may locate in. Plus they have very few in-town locations.
Incredibly unsurprising. This is exactly the type of store Publix has been closing for the past 5+ years. I would not be shocked if in a few years, there is a new Publix in the area that meets their current format requirements.
I use this grocery store everyday.. I live in Atlantic Station. I can’t believe they’d close this store.. so many people rely on having it within walking distance. Yes, it’s small but it has what you need, and the nearby Target isn’t even a close substitution. This really sucks. I hope they replace it with something the area needs.
What?! I can't believe it! While the parking situation for the store is not great, the store still is a very important location for Georgia Tech students who live on campus and in Home Park. For students who don't have a car, Georgia Tech has a shuttle which runs to this store on weekends. Now I wonder if the failed attempt to open a Publix at The Interlock was intended to be a direct replacement for #1010.
Publix exiting the hood all over ATL. New strategy for them.
The City of Atlanta should open a government grocery store here like NYC. Problem solved.
A Trader Joe’s would be perfect
Chile, when Atlantic Station first opened, it was actin’ like it was the new crown jewel of Atlanta. But baby, it didn’t take long before reality came knockin’. A few headline-making incidents (involving weapons) and that ridiculous “who-designed-this?” parking deck had folks sayin’, “Mm-mm, I’ll shop somewhere else.”
And those first restaurants? Fox Sports Grill, Dolce...honey, they were basically the early-2000s version of today’s “look cute, order hookah, and pretend we’re fancy” spots. Cute for a minute, but that shine faded quicker than a summer tan.
Publix over there? Whew, bless its heart. Probably lost half its inventory to folks who thought “self-checkout” meant “self-service and self-priced.” And Dillard’s? Even the Dior girl was spillin’ tea about how bad the shrink is.
It’s a shame, truly. But… this is Atlanta. Everything glitters at first, but not everything can survive the hood drama that is always within a few blocks of anywhere.
Yes, their plan was to demand that and then wait 20 years for Publix to leave.
Target will close then they’ll open there
Why are you addressing this to the country of Chile? Hmmm…..
That’s funny 😆
I do not understand people who say parking for this Publix is a hassle. Maybe compared to standalone stores that have their own huge parking lots, but even then, parking in the garage under the Publix area is almost never as busy as the rest of the garage. Two hours free parking is plenty for a grocery trip. The elevators are slow as cold molasses, but they do work. If anything, the lack of available carts is a bigger problem than parking, IMO.
This Publix is by no means my favorite, but sometimes it's the most convenient and has saved me a ton of time going to a different location. For those who live on that side of I-75, this is a big loss. I hope another grocery store takes its place. Maybe Aldi or Trader Joe's.
Oh man, a Sprouts nearby would be AMAZING. Their produce always beats the big guys.
I walk over to Publix all the time to shop. Target does not have the selection Publix had on groceries. I would like yo see another grocery store go in like Whole Foods, sprouts or something like that. I haven’t shopped at Lile yet to see how it compares.
Publix studies the market and demographics of the area. Assume the lease was for 20 years, the sales volume may not be able to make the numbers.
As a result they elected to close the store.
Years ago, Publix has a store at Holcomb Bridge and Alpharetta and it was closed.
I am sure the associates will be able to get a new position at other stores.
8:51: You're like one of those people who tries to sound smart, but actually isn't. Has nothing to do with the city of Atlanta and lower income residents. Since you're not an insider with knowledge of why they closed, maybe just say how you will miss Publix, or that you the store was dirty or something. Leave business speculation to the experts.
Not enough shoppers, is that a development problem or a retailer-can-charge-what-they-want problem? Trick question! It's both, because as the landlord raises the rents, so too must go the prices.
1:52: I like you're style!!
1:19: did you have ChatGPT use what you thought was a "hood" filter?
Well theres a huge minority census at Atlantic Station who won't shop Target (if they are socially responsible anyway) and this will likely start annurban blight trend in Atlantic Station over time. If a grocery store in a densely populated area doesn't stay, it's a very bad indicator. The housing crash is coming soon so you're gonna see an economic disaster.
I think this would make a great hookah lounge as there’s not one at Atlantic station. We the residents of Atlantic station want and demand a nice hookah lounge
People who won't shop at Target because of the DEI issue, shouldn't be shopping at Publix either. I won't go political with the post, but Target got rid of something due to pressure that Publix never bothered with to start.
And Kroger bothered with it but never carried it at all, then Albertsons had it but it was complicated. Now its all Winn Dixie, but I won’t say.
The humanity census is social media.
Your apartment is.
I was shocked to learn this week about the store closing. I live in Home Park, and having the Publix within walking distance has been amazing and a huge marketing feature, plus it’s convenient to stop on the way home for all of us who live nearby. That parking you describe as “a hassle” is a godsend on rainy, cold days. I expect it’s just the end of the store lifecycle for them. Without that Publix, I have no other reason to shop at Atlantic station. Other Long-time stores in the development will probably soon follow, and Atlantic Station will go the way of Underground.
Ha! Awesome!!🤩
Every now and then I read the comments on the blog to see if they're still racist. Yep.
To 12-3-2025 at 8:45 AM:
Sorry you are unable to unload that overpriced condo you are now stuck with. Here's hoping you'll be replacing the glass windows in your car for the last time!
💯
This economic downturn is going to make the Great Depression look like a Tea party. What will they call it? The Biggly Depression.
Oh good idea, Piggly Wiggly!! Put it.
It’s so convenient to swing by there when shopping at Target or Ikea. I hope they have a wonderful holiday in this location and I’m sure we’ll get something great in it’s place!
You’re correct. There aren’t enough shoppers. A top notch management company is desperately needed to turn the Atlantic Station experience around.
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