Ingle's Markets #70, East Andrew Johnson Highway, Greeneville, Tennessee (Memphis, Elizabethton: 2015, construction)

[Carolina Knight]

The Greeneville Regional Planning Commission recently approved preliminary plans for Ingle's Markets #70, located at 2845 East Andrew Johnson Highway, Greeneville, Tennessee 37745-0957, to reconstruct itself onsite. A new store between 78,000 and 79,000 square feet would be constructed. It would be positioned to face East Andrew Johnson Highway.

New Ingle's Markets stores feature a pharmacy drive through, fuel center and Starbucks.

The original Ingle's Markets #70, located at 1625 East Andrew Johnson Highway, Greeneville, TN 37745-5804, is now Sav-Mor #870. Sav-Mor, the discount grocer entry of Ingle's Markets, has nine stores in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Further reading:
Gregory, Sarah R. "Plans Call for New Ingle's Grocery Store." The Greeneville Sun. 2015-02-11.

[MetropolitanTN]

So this means that Greeneville may have a Starbucks! Awesome!

[jabogitlu]

Lordy lordy, I can just see all the Greene county folks lined up for the Starbucks now.

But seriously, that Ingles was just fine, but I suppose they have to compete with the big flashy Food City that opened on their doorstoop.

[Carolina Knight]

The existing Ingle's Markets #70 opened in 1993 or 1994. Several identical stores throughout the chain have been or will be replaced with new stores, or they are being remodeled and renovated with the removal of the video department and the addition of the pharmacy department and Starbucks.

[Trevor92]

This really surprises me. A building barely over 20 yrs old is being demolished to add about 6,000 sq. ft. to bring it to near 80,000 sq ft. I was at this Ingle's once several years ago and it struck me as a very nice, large store as it was. I'm happy for all the construction workers in Greene County though and Ingle's apparently felt like they needed this to compete with the new Food City and Walmart.

I can't help but to wonder if Ingle's rebuilding and remodeling several stores has to do with Publix building out in North Carolina where Ingle's dominates. Perhaps either a pending buy-out while Ingle's lays the ground work for changes or a decision to compete and invest in the stores.

[jabogitlu]

Yup, saw the same thing in Memphis, where Kroger was rushing to remodel/rebuild many of their older stores. They all see Publix coming.

Although I think the Greeneville Ingles is just fine how it is, it's definitely on the smaller/less "nice" side, when compared to the Boones Creek and Elizabethton Ingles anyway.

[Carolina Knight]

I doubt the existing Ingle's Markets #70 is over 70,000 square feet. Ingle's stores built and opened in 1993 and 1994 are not larger than 52,000 square feet. Ingle's stores built or expanded in recent years are around 80,000 square feet in size.

Ingle's Markets has not been active in opening additional or replacement new stores or expanding existing stores in years. The period of stagnation appears to be ending with Kroger looking to infill in the western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina regions and Publix adding more stores in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Speculation of Ingle's Markets being acquired by Publix or another chain has existed for years. It seems the Ingle family has no interest in selling off the family business.

It would not surprise me to see Publix expand into Memphis, western Tennessee and Mississippi.

[MetropolitanTN]

I, for one, will be happy to see the Starbucks there. I will be going there to satisfy my addiction when I visit my family.

[Blue Ridge]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

I doubt the existing Ingle's Markets #70 is over 70,000 square feet. Ingle's stores built and opened in 1993 and 1994 are not larger than 52,000 square feet. Ingle's stores built or expanded in recent years are around 80,000 square feet in size.

Ingle's Markets has not been active in opening additional or replacement new stores or expanding existing stores in years. The period of stagnation appears to be ending with Kroger looking to infill in the western North Carolina and upstate South Carolina regions and Publix adding more stores in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.

Speculation of Ingle's Markets being acquired by Publix or another chain has existed for years. It seems the Ingle family has no interest in selling off the family business.

It would not surprise me to see Publix expand into Memphis, western Tennessee and Mississippi.

Top Ingles execs sell 105K shares of company stock

In short, a pair of top Ingles executives, including CEO Robert P. Ingle II, sold 105,000 shares of personally held Ingles stock. Ingles stock has been trading at a high price for several months, and it is entirely possible this is simply a strategic investment move. Regardless, it's interesting news at a time when the chain is facing its greatest competition in many years.


I like Ingles' new stores and generally have good experiences shopping there. I hope the citizens of Greeneville enjoy their new store as well as the new Food City. Competition is usually good for the customer.

[Trevor92]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

I doubt the existing Ingle's Markets #70 is over 70,000 square feet. Ingle's stores built and opened in 1993 and 1994 are not larger than 52,000 square feet. Ingle's stores built or expanded in recent years are around 80,000 square feet in size...

That would make more sense than the article (where I got my numbers). It almost seems too big but I'm sure the Starbucks will take up a chunk of space and I do admit the Ingle's I've been to more frequently in Boones Creek and Jonesborough are nice and larger. I'm thinking the new Food City there was just under 50,000 sq ft so they're definitely going bigger!

I do hope both Ingle's and Food City continue to grow into new markets and expand into new areas without selling out. I'm worried that the grocery business will soon be consolidated to a few national competitors. So many metro areas now it's just Walmart, Kroger, and another chain and the multiple local grocers is something I've really enjoyed living in the Tri-Cities over the past few years.