LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Publix has announced plans for a supermarket in eastern Jefferson County, a move that would mark its foray into Kentucky.
The Lakeland, Florida-based company has signed a lease for a 55,702-square-foot grocery store at Terra Crossing Boulevard and Old Henry Road in Jefferson County and an adjacent liquor store.
"We're excited to come to Louisville," said Maria Brous with Publix media and community relations. "It's a natural progression for us to come to Kentucky."
The new Publix in Louisville is expected to open in late-2023, but an official grand opening date hasn't been determined, as it depends on permits and construction.
The new store will bring a lot of new jobs too.
"We look at each store, and the approximate number for associate count is 150 in each store," Brous said. "There is a possibility there will be associates that will transfer from our existing market area."
Publix would expand its operations to eight states with the Kentucky store and compete directly with supermarket giant Kroger in the Louisville area. Publix has more than 1,280 stores in Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Virginia and Alabama.
"We believe that the customer benefits from competition. Competition makes everyone better," Brous said. (Kroger is) no stranger to us. We compete with them in other markets, and we look forward going head-to-head with them in Kentucky."
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