Third Lexington Publix under construction in Chevy Chase neighborhood
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- Publix began construction on its third Lexington store in Chevy Chase on Sept. 2.
- The new location replaces a former Kroger and includes two levels of underground parking.
- The 40,000-square-foot store will employ 140 and match local architectural style.
The forthcoming Publix in Lexington’s Chevy Chase neighborhood is under construction.
Demolition began at the site at 344 Romany Road Sept. 2, according to a notice sent to neighbors from the development company, North Carolina-based Harris Development Partners.
At the end of August, fencing went up around the entire property with some parking and sidewalk access blocked. Publix doesn’t share store opening dates until about a month before, but it may take up to two years for construction to conclude, developers said.
In an Aug. 20 email to residents from WIMCO Corp., construction partners on the build, Development Manager Fuller Ramsey said, “We understand that a project of this size will have a significant impact on your day-to-day lives throughout the course of construction. Our mission is to work with the community to make the construction process as seamless as possible while we work to bring you a sorely missed community grocery store.”
That construction work is making way for two levels of underground parking. Then, the Publix store will be built above where about 140 people will be employed.
The Romany Road Publix location is different from Lexington’s two other stores. It will be smaller, just about 40,000 square feet, and the exterior will look different compared to the chain’s other big-box stores, but offer shoppers the same departments, products and services.
At a June 10 meeting with residents at Cathedral of Christ the King, neighbors were shown early renderings of the store by the construction and development teams. Ramps and some stairs led to the entrance of the store that had an exposed brick exterior look in an attempt to match the neighborhood’s character, the construction and development teams said.
Plans for the Chevy Chase Publix were initially announced in December 2023. It will be Lexington’s third Publix location.
The Romany Road spot was formerly a Kroger. It closed in 2015.
For several years, the independent Laurel Grocers planned a store there, but plans fell through and the buildings were left vacant in 2018. Another plan for the spot was announced in 2020 for a bar and restaurant on top of the renovated building, but the developers didn’t receive planning or zoning approval.
On Aug. 13, the Florida-based supermarket chain said it had put in motion plans for a new location in Georgetown, about 30 minutes north of Lexington in Scott County. The Publix at Elkhorn Village Center will operate on the southwest corner of Frankfort Road and McClelland Circle, and will employ approximately 150 people.
The first Central Kentucky Publix opened in Lexington on March 5 in the Citation Point shopping center on Stockton Way off Georgetown Road and Citation Boulevard. On June 4, Lexington’s second Publix opened in the Fountains of Palomar shopping center on Fountainblue Lane off Harrodsburg Road and Man o’ War Boulevard.
Publix opened its second Louisville location Sept. 3 on Ballardsville Road in Marshall Commons, a shopping center in Norton Commons.
The chain opened its first Kentucky location in Louisville on Jan. 10, 2024.
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