The much-anticipated Publix store in Newberry opened this morning around sunrise, with a ribbon-cutting, balloon arch, giant shopping cart and reusable bags that were handed out to the first 1,000 shoppers. 

“We are excited to welcome customers to their Market at Newberry Farms Publix,” Hannah Herring, Publix media relations manager, said in a release. “We look forward to showcasing our quality products and introducing new and existing customers to our wonderful team of friendly associates.” 

The new store, located at 24100 W. Newberry Rd., is 54,964 square feet, with all of Publix’s traditional departments, as well as a liquor department, delivery and a pharmacy drive-through window. 

Since the store’s coming was announced in 2023, it has been rumored to be the largest in the county. Herring said though the Newberry Publix is a large store, there are several in Gainesville around the same size, and the store at Butler Plaza West on SW Archer Road actually holds the record for largest in the county, at 67,000 square feet. 

Officials broke ground on the new store at the start of 2024 as part of a nine-acre plot bought by Carolina Holdings and expected to house another 7,700 square feet of retail space in addition to the grocery store. 

Newberry officials have noted that Publix vets communities carefully before building a new store, leading to an expectation that the new location may be followed by other businesses that trust Publix’s judgment on Newberry’s growth trajectory. 

“The brand new Publix in Newberry is absolutely gorgeous,” Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe wrote to Mainstreet. “It is a wonderful addition to our community, and we are all so very excited to welcome them to their new Panther home!”