Publix said to be eyeing Cornelius, Huntersville

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Publix is considering a site in Cornelius and one in Huntersville to possibly open stores there, officials with the north Mecklenburg County towns told The Mecklenburg Times. If that’s true, those stores would be in addition to two that the Lakeland, Fla.-based grocery chain has already announced for Charlotte.

David Peete, principal planner for Huntersville, said Tuesday that Publix has been in contact with the town about possibly opening a store. He emphasized, though, that, as far as he knew, a deal has not been finalized.

A Cornelius commissioner — who asked not to be named, because, according to the commissioner, Publix has not yet signed a lease — said Tuesday that the grocery chain is considering opening a store at the intersection of Jetton Road and Catawba Avenue. He declined further comment.

Publix declined to say Tuesday whether it plans to open the two rumored stores. Maria Brous, Publix spokeswoman, said the company hasn’t signed any leases for Cornelius or Huntersville space.

Matthews-based Harris Teeter already has a store near the intersection of Jetton Road and Catawba Avenue.

It’s not clear where the Huntersville store would open, but, according to sources, the rumored location is at Prosperity Church Road, near Interstate 485. Sources say Boca Raton, Fla.-based Halvorsen Holdings is the developer for the Huntersville and Cornelius Publix stores. Halvorsen declined to comment.

In September, Publix announced plans for a Ballantyne store, its first in Charlotte. Then, in December, Publix announced that it would be opened a second Charlotte store, in South End. The two will open in 2014, Publix said.

Peete said the area that Publix is looking at in Huntersville is “underserved” by grocery stores.

“We’re aware that they’re a new player in the market,” he said, “and we’re hopeful something happens with them.”

In October, Publix opened two South Carolina stores, in Fort Mill and Indian Land,.

If Publix opens the stores it is suspected to be planning in Cornelius and Huntersville, it would appear that the company’s strategy involves building near Harris Teeters: The Ballantyne, South End, Indian Land and Fort Mill Publix stores are all within 2.5 miles of Harris Teeters.

Last week, a spokeswoman for Harris Teeter told The Mecklenburg Times that it is renovating eight Charlotte-area stores, including two that just so happen to be in Cornelius and Huntersville.

GUION can be reached at [email protected], (704) 817-1344 or on Twitter at @paytonguion.