Grocery store sign causes stir in county

By Keith Murden & Matt Aiken / The Nugget    ----------     While on the site of the much anticipated aquatic center groundbreaking, State Senator Steve Gooch took a moment to address another, perhaps even more anticipated project on Friday.
“We just heard recently a Publix food store is going to be opening up in Dahlonega,” said Gooch to applause from the crowd at Pinetree Way. “Isn’t that a blessing?”
The buzz began last week when a pair of Publix signs popped up near the corner of Highway 400 and 60 near the side entrance to Home Depot.
One sign announced in green letters that a Publix is “Coming Soon,” alongside the words “Where Shopping is a Pleasure” followed by the company’s web address. The second sign indicates there will be a larger “Dahlonega Village” anchored by the grocery store, with additional “shop space available.”
A phone number for Watkins Real Estate Group is listed on the sign, presumably for commercial inquiries.
The Nugget called this number multiple times but has yet to reach an official representative.
Rebecca Mincey, Director of the Lumpkin County Development Authority, informed The Nugget that a joint press release with Watkins Real Estate Group was still being finalized as of press time.
Likewise, Publix representatives still have not officially announced the project to the press.
“While we're always looking for areas in which to grow, we don't have any information to share at this time,” stated Publix media relations manager Nicole Maristany Krauss. “Please check in with Publix.com for up-to-date information on store openings.”
The Nugget’s follow-up calls and emails about the sign received no response.
It was Gooch, who was one of the guest speakers at the aquatic center event, who offered the first public comment on the news. And he also noted that the reaction on social media has been predictably mixed.
“You know, social media is known for its negative comments,” he said. “I’m already seeing people saying, ‘Well, it’s too far out of town,’ or ‘Their prices are too high, I’ll continue to go to Ingles.’ So you can’t please everybody, you know. But thank God we’re getting a grocery store.”
Meanwhile, County Chairman Chris Dockery said he’s happy to hear of the approaching development as well.
“I think it’s an excellent thing for our community,” he said. “We appreciate the stores we have in Lumpkin County, but we always welcome more. We’re excited to see Publix coming here, and we think it’ll be a great relationship.”