Publix is expanding in Kentucky again. What to know about latest store plans
Publix is rapidly growing its footprint in the Bluegrass State, with a newly announced Nicholasville location adding to a wave of stores planned across Central Kentucky. The Florida-based grocer is also reshaping the U.S. 27 corridor as part of a broader retail boom.
Here’s what to know from our latest reporting:
- Publix has signed a lease for a new 54,964-square-foot store at the Stonedale development in Nicholasville, at the northwest corner of Nicholasville Road and Brannon Road, with about 150 employees and an adjacent Publix Liquors, the company announced Monday.
- Kentucky now has six Publix locations with additional stores planned through 2027 in Lexington, Central Kentucky, Northern Kentucky, the Louisville area and Western Kentucky, a rundown of Publix’s Kentucky expansion shows.
- The first Kentucky Publix opened in Louisville in January 2024, ending 94 years in which the chain operated only in the Southeast before its Bluegrass debut.
- Since the first Lexington Publix opened in March 2025, the chain has donated 789,823 pounds of produce to God’s Pantry Food Bank, part of its community giving in Kentucky.
- Lexington-area Publix stores include amenities like the Pours Cafe — serving coffee, smoothies, draft beer and wine — along with made-to-order pizza and pasta stations and in-store popcorn in flavors including caramel, dill pickle and Oreo, a look at the chain’s perks details.
- The Stonedale development sits along a rapidly changing U.S. 27 corridor, where Kroger is leaving Brannon Crossing after 20 years to build a 129,309-square-foot Marketplace store at the new Rose Garland Place, breaking ground in June.
- Nearby, the Keene Landing development off the Nicholasville Bypass will add an Aldi and Cattlemen’s Roadhouse in July, with a Wawa expected at 1281 Keene Road in 2027.
The summary points above are based on the reporting of Herald-Leader journalists. The roundup was produced with the assistance of AI. Herald-Leader reporters and an editor reviewed this story for accuracy. You can read more about our AI policy here.