You’ve been hearing about it for more than two years and the day has finally come. The popular Florida-based supermarket, Publix, has set up shop in Louisville and has now opened its doors.
The first Publix in Kentucky opened at 7 a.m. on Jan. 10 at 2500 Terra Crossing Blvd. in far eastern Jefferson County.
Construction on the nearly 56,000-square-foot supermarket, near the intersection of Old Henry Road and Interstate 264, started in the summer of 2022. Wednesday's debut marks the first in a string of openings in the Bluegrass State, part of a northward push for the fan-favorite supermarket chain.
Here's what to expect from Louisville's newest grocery store.
Yes, there are pub subs and other favorites
Mention Publix to any loyalist of the supermarket chain and you can expect an earful about the company's fresh, made-to-order submarine sandwiches, available at the deli counter.
Publix fans are likely to rave about the grocer's key lime pies, custom cakes, and chicken tenders, which, yes, can go on your sub (It's the grocer's best-selling sub.) All these fan favorites are available at the Louisville location, the first of three planned stores in Jefferson County.
Produce is delivered daily and serviced by the company's Georgia distribution center.
While many items for sale as the same from store to store, Kentucky Publix locations will have some locally sourced produce, meats and other products. Some of the prepared menu items were also cooked up for Kentuckians, leaning into the state's reputation for bourbon.
The grocery store will serve the "Kentucky Sub" (bourbon ham, smoked pulled pork, cheddar cheese and slaw), a honey bourbon salmon burger and the seafood department will feature bourbon-flavored smoked salmon. Over in the liquor section, the store is stocking Maker’s Mark Private Select Bourbon Birthday Cake.
Louisville store unlike most others
The Louisville Publix is unlike most of the supermarket's stores across the southeast, as it offers all the traditional supermarket features — deli, bakery, pharmacy — plus additional offerings, said Publix spokesman Jared Glover.
"There's only one other store like it, in Tampa," he said. "This is us growing. We're keeping our customers in mind."
Take, for example, the "Pours" beverage bar, which offers shoppers a selection of coffee, tea and smoothie drinks, craft sodas, and açai bowls, as well as beers on tap. This concept is newer to Publix, said Joey Riddle, vice president of the Charlotte division.
"We were always looking at what's the best offering that we could have for somebody," he said. "Everybody likes variety. So we put our spin on being able to offer something that we can kind of appeal to far more customers than one singular brand."
The Louisville store also includes expanded made-to-order food bars, including Tex-Mex, pizza and sushi stations, setting it apart from other locations.
The Kentucky supermarket also features a first for the company: its first adjacent liquor store outside the state of Florida.
Riddle — who started with the company as a grocery bagger back in high school — said the Kentucky version of its Publix Liquors will boast a larger bourbon selection than its Sunshine State counterparts.
Kentucky is Publix's eighth state of operation
The expansion to Kentucky was a natural extension for the company, which has a stronghold in the southeast, Publix CEO Todd Jones previously told The Courier Journal.
"We’re pretty calculated in what we do," Jones said in 2022. "Kentucky was a very nice contiguous state for us, from a geographic standpoint."
Kentucky becomes the eighth state to have a Publix, joining a network of more than 1,300 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia.
Publix is working on other Louisville and Kentucky stores
Two other Publix locations are planned for Louisville.
One supermarket is in the works at the northeast corner of Ballardsville Road and Brownsboro Road, 10005 Ballardsville Road. The second future store is located at the northwest corner of Flat Rock Road and Shelbyville Road (near the Shelby County line), at 100 Flat Rock Road.
As of January 2024, there was no opening timeline for the Ballardsville Road location. The Flat Rock Road location is expected to open in late 2024. Publix previously gave a first and second-quarter 2024 opening timelines for the stores, respectively.
All three of the Louisville Publix locations are on the outskirts of Jefferson County, outside of the Interstate 265 loop on the eastern side of the county.
Outside of Jefferson County, the employee-owned company plans to open three supermarkets in Lexington and another inBoone County in Northern Kentucky.
"We're always always looking to expand and grow our footprint, specifically here in Kentucky," Glover said. "We have an entire real estate team that's always out looking at areas where we can expand and grow."
About 150 people were hired to staff the new store, a typical figure for a Publix supermarket, Glover said, adding the company is "always hiring." He declined to share salary ranges, saying that pay ranges vary based on experience and position.
The supermarket is open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Growth & development reporter Matthew Glowicki can be reached at mglowicki@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4000or on Twitter @mattglo.
