More commercial development slated for Columbia County (Savannah, Evans: 2015, neighborhoods)

[Airforceguy]

This project is slated for William Few Pkwy and Columbia Road. It would include a 60,000 sq ft grocery store, plus an additional 50,000 sq ft of retail space for a grand total of 110,000 sq ft. According to the developer it would be "upscale". My guess is that the grocery store might be Publix, since the Kroger Marketplace is being built a few miles down the road.

A rezoning request for a grocery-anchored center with restaurant and retail space at the corner of William Few Parkway and Columbia Road in Evans is going before Columbia County planning commissioners Sept. 3. The wooded 21-acre parcel is adjacent to Patriots Park.
The preliminary zoning plan shows a 60,000-square-foot grocer anchoring the center, which would also include more than 50,000 square feet of retail space and five out-parcels fronting the intersection.
“That is a footprint, which we’ll probably use,” said Oliver Owens, who is representing the out-of-town property owners at the rezoning hearing. Owens, who has a background in construction lending, said he and the owners will likely work with local developers to put together the project.
Owens said it was too early to give names of prospective tenants but that the center would be “upscale” and target a national chain grocery store and a mix of retail and restaurants, one or two of which would be “first class.”
Owens said they would like to start marketing the property after the first of the year. First, he said, the property must be rezoned from residential agricultural to general commercial.
The final rezoning decision will come from the county commission later in September.
Owens said the surrounding area’s growth makes commercial development there feasible.
“It’s got a lot of potential in the future,” he said. “Any time your big box people come in they go by rooftops. You have to have enough rooftops in the area to justify it.”
The same property owners have about 300 acres on the opposite side of William Few Parkway, with long-range plans of developing the land into “upscale housing,” Owens said.

More commercial development slated for Columbia County | The Augusta Chronicle

[cst8670]

Thats actually very possible and it would be a good location for them really, not as good as over near Gate 2 would but its still its a good location.

[Airforceguy]

With all of the residential and commercial growth along William Few Pkwy it needs to be at least 4 lanes.

[cst8670]

I agree but the problem is I dont think they will do it any time soon since it seems to only get packed during the morning and afternoon rush hour, maybe they will consider it after they get done with the widening work on Washington Road out towards Riverwood.

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

This project is slated for William Few Pkwy and Columbia Road. It would include a 60,000 sq ft grocery store, plus an additional 50,000 sq ft of retail space for a grand total of 110,000 sq ft. According to the developer it would be "upscale". My guess is that the grocery store might be Publix, since the Kroger Marketplace is being built a few miles down the road.


More commercial development slated for Columbia County | The Augusta Chronicle

Sixty thousand square feet would be a large Publix store indeed. If the conceptual site plan features the grocery tenant with a pharmacy drive through, it would most likely be Publix.

I do not think Food Lion #2143, 5157 Columbia Road, Grovetown, Georgia 30813-5206, would last if Publix opens.

[Airforceguy]

Carolina Knight, at this point I really don't see how Food Lion can stay in business. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Food Lion pulled out of the market in 5 years.

[Carolina Knight]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

Carolina Knight, at this point I really don't see how Food Lion can stay in business. I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Food Lion pulled out of the market in 5 years.

The same could be said for Bi-Lo. Both chains are struggling in the Central Savannah River Area against Kroger, Publix, and Walmart, chains that are in growth mode.

[nortonguy]

This property more than likely would have a Grovetown address instead of Evans.. It's outside the city limits of Grovetown, but I believe the neighborhoods have a Grovetown address.

William Few Parkway is pretty dead after rush hour and the only commercial development at the moment is the Kroger shopping center. This property is all the way on the other end of William Few near the intersection of Columbia road.

[cst8670]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

Sixty thousand square feet would be a large Publix store indeed. If the conceptual site plan features the grocery tenant with a pharmacy drive through, it would most likely be Publix.

I do not think Food Lion #2143, 5157 Columbia Road, Grovetown, Georgia 30813-5206, would last if Publix opens.

I will be shocked if either of the two Food Lion survive after the Krogers opens.

[cst8670]

Originally Posted by Carolina Knight

The same could be said for Bi-Lo. Both chains are struggling in the Central Savannah River Area against Kroger, Publix, and Walmart, chains that are in growth mode.

Bi-Lo is probably even in a worse position because right now the parent company Food Lion is merging with another big company and combined they might be able to recover down the road.
Bi-Lo though just sold all its stores in Tennessee and pulled out of there not to mention they are having alot of issues with employee morale being in the toilet since they fired alot of their full timers to switch over to running more of their stores with part timers.