Is Publix coming to the Knoxville area? (Chattanooga, Farragut: sale, home)

[AdamsGirl7]

Hi...I'm new to the site. I was wondering if anyone knows if Publix is coming to the Knox area? I have heard rumors that they are buying KVAT, the parent company of Food City. Is there any truth to this? The folks at Food City say an announcement could be soon. I wonder if this is just a rumor or if someone has some inside info.? Thanks!

[jabogitlu]

I haven't heard anything, but I'll be hoping for it. I mean, we're pretty much toothless, starving hillbillies without them Publix comin' round.

Seriously, I hope not. KVAT is a regionally-based business. The country could do with more of that sort of thing. I believe they were talking about moving their headquarters from Abingdon, VA to Knoxville, TN at one point a year or so ago.

[Scott LF]

No, Publix is not coming to town. Much as I enjoyed shopping at Publix, I have been fine living up here for two years without them.

I enjoy Knoxville for being just like it is. The last thing I want to see is some sort of Florida fingerprint around here. That's because I hate it down there. I said good bye and good riddance.

[Tn405]

Hmmmmmmmmm.....well wishful thinking for some !! But according to Publix they say no. Just as the rumors of Costco coming are also floating. I would be interested to know if the rumor of Cheddars coming to town is true or not.

[hiknapster]

Originally Posted by Scott LF

No, Publix is not coming to town. Much as I enjoyed shopping at Publix, I have been fine living up here for two years without them.

I enjoy Knoxville for being just like it is. The last thing I want to see is some sort of Florida fingerprint around here. That's because I hate it down there. I said good bye and good riddance.

I have to agree with this. Publix has been brought up a lot on this forum and every time it does I kind of cringe. I couldn't figure out why. You're right. I've found grocery stores that I like better. Keep Florida in Florida.

[NJDevil]

Sorry guys, we have not found a supermarket we like better. The new Publix stores sold everything. And their subs can't be beat. They even make great paninis. It's one of the very few things we miss about FL. Publix isn't coming yet because of the economy. But they are opening stores on the outskirts (Nashville) and then going to fill in heading east and south. I believe they will be here in the not so distant future. Never had a bad experience at a Publix, which is more than we can say about Kroger or Food City.

[knoxgarden]

I shopped Publix when I lived in Georgia and really liked it. I'd love to see them up here. I don't care for Food City or Krogers at all. I loved Bi-Lo and hated to see them leave the area. They were the closest to Publix.
Ingles is OK, especially their big, newer stores. Right now, I stick to Super Target and EarthFare with stock-up trips to Ingles.

[Suzanne1945]

Here's my vote for Publix. And, here's why. Granted this is only one example of price comparison--Kroger Goodlife Recipe $18.99; sale price $14.99.
Publix Goodlife Recipe $14.99; sale price $12.99. Need I say 'same weight item.' Just my experience. Oh, cleanliness is another pet peeve of mine. And, I do like the Food City in my area. I've been told by a PBX employee that PBX is buying in TN and stores are opened when within 200 miles of a distribution center.

[BRH]

I've never really gotten what all the fuss is about Publix. I've shopped at them while in Florida before, and I've also stopped at their two new Chattanooga stores, and I just am not impressed. Overall, I found their prices to be consistently much higher across the board than either Krogers or Ingles (my two most often shopped stores). But then again, I think grocery prices are higher on average in Chatt. than Knoxville anyway, so that may account for some of it.

But, still, I really prefer Kroger, Ingles, or Super Target. (And even Wal-Mart if I'm simply looking for cheap, basic items and not looking for specialty stuff). Wal-Mart frustrates me because they don't always have brands and specialty items that I want, but they are certainly cheaper than anyone on the basic, big name brands and items.

Out of the chains that are in the local area (or have been in recent years), I prefer Kroger, Ingles, and Super Target. I don't particularly like Food City, Bi-Lo, or Pulbix, because on average I think they are higher on prices than Kroger and Ingles. I REALLY hate Food City (they are the highest and seem to carry the least specialty brands and items).

Probably my favorite grocery store from other parts of the U.S. that we don't have in this area is H.E.B. (based in Texas). They basically are "THE" grocery chain in Texas and their H.E.B. Plus superstores are the best large supermarkets I've ever seen. I also like Albertson's pretty well too. (In fact, when in Florida, I always shop at Albertson's instead of Publix, because I think it's a better store).

Anyway, just my two cents and preferences. I prefer Kroger and Ingles out of the choices in this area. And my favorite store overall, by far, is the new Kroger Marketplace superstore in Farragut.

[Scott LF]

It's not just the fuss about Publix. It's all about wanting to complain. I have seen this phenomenon before. Back around 1980 we had a major intrusion into south Florida by yankees. All I ever heard was, we don't have "this like new york" we don't have "that like new york". And the biggest insult was they loved to knock down the hometown football team. Enter the next intrusion: Those that decided they were going to float over on a raft.
Mind you, those folks didn't complain, nor if they did I could not tell, as they did not speak English. By and large they were not interested in learning English either. As they had children in the promised land, they grew up learning to speak English, yet the families at home maintained Spanish. Thus brought the bi-lingual revolution. Now, let's connect the dots here, and bear with me. I was BORN and raised in west palm beach. I was born in 1958, thereby growing up in the 60's. It was a life you have read about before: we didn't lock our doors, and we walked to school, because, well, it was a neighborhood school.
My mother shopped at (gasp) Publix. My memory goes back a long way, and I can remember being small enough to sit in that little section of the shopping cart. (referred to as "buggies" around here). Well, time goes by, and I ended up shopping at that very same
Publix as an adult. Ya know what i remember about that beloved Publix? The sidewalk entrance to the store was lined with sitting benches, and full of those peoples, and those very same peoples looked at me like I DID NOT BELONG THERE. Okay, keep it.
How is it now possible... that when I shop at say an Ingles, I can speak with the produce guy, talk about lettuce prices, and be treated like I have lived here my entire life ?!
I can blend in, I can assimilate, for I chose to do so. I feel privileged, honored and blessed to be living here In Knoxville. I do not wish it to change for anything.
p.s. screw the gators.