Another Publix coming to Warner Robins (Macon, Zebulon: shopping center, moving, land)

[Airforceguy]

It looks like a deal is in the works to annex the land by the new Ga. 94/Ga. 247 interchange to make way for a new Publix anchored shopping center.

Warner Robins Mayor Randy Toms came to the Houston County Commission meeting Tuesday to talk about the development.

Commission Chairman Tommy Stalnaker said he invited Toms because Stalnaker wanted to clear up "erroneous" comments about the project on social media.

According to Stalnaker, some people had been blaming conflict between the city and county with stalling the project. Both Stalnaker and Toms said that wasn't true.

"There is no conflict between Warner Robins and Houston County," Stalnaker said.

After the meeting, Toms said he expects that at its next meeting, the City Council may vote on a deal that would allow the project to go forward.

"This project needs to get moving," Toms said. "The community of Bonaire is an important part of our area."

The project is a shopping center anchored by a Publix grocery store that would go on the southeast corner of Ga. 247 and the new section of Ga. 96. It has been stalled by a dispute over sewage services.

Publix wants that service from Warner Robins, but the lot is not in the city. The developer told council members he is willing for it to be annexed, but it cannot be annexed at present because it is not contiguous to the city limits.

Read more here: Warner Robins may have a deal on Bonaire development | The Telegraph

Warner Robins may have a deal on Bonaire development | The Telegraph

[midgeorgiaman]

Rumor has it that the store on Tom Hill in Macon will close when the 96 store opens. That the original plan was to open a store on Hartley Bridge and when that fell through they went after the 96 store. I haven't seen anything in writing just heard that in conversation. Who knows if it is legit, but thought it was interesting.

[Airforceguy]

That would be interesting if Publix closed their Tom Hill Sr Rd store. I would think they would want to keep it open since its in North Macon.

[midgeorgiaman]

Originally Posted by Airforceguy

That would be interesting if Publix closed their Tom Hill Sr Rd store. I would think they would want to keep it open since its in North Macon.

True but there is a bigger Publix on Bass Road that is by far the busier North Macon store. It may just be a rumor. I did always find it interesting that North Macon had 2 stores so near one another though. That is the only reason I thought this might be legit. I do not work for Publix though so...who knows.

[Airforceguy]

Originally Posted by midgeorgiaman

True but there is a bigger Publix on Bass Road that is by far the busier North Macon store. It may just be a rumor. I did always find it interesting that North Macon had 2 stores so near one another though. That is the only reason I thought this might be legit. I do not work for Publix though so...who knows.

You have a good point. To be honest, I always wondered why Publix never built a store on Zebulon Road near 475. Especially when you consider all of the growth happening near 475.