Publix Eyes Blairsville, but County Land Deal Falls Through

The prospect of a Publix Super Market, renowned for its bakery, exceptional customer service, and nostalgic holiday commercials, setting up shop in Union County has stirred both excitement and skepticism among locals. According to an interview with WJRB, Union County Commissioner Harold Collins revealed that Publix approached the county earlier this year to purchase approximately 20 acres of county-owned land at the Farmers Market for a potential store. However, Collins declined the offer.

“I didn’t want to sell that spot of land to put it right there,” Collins told WJRB on Friday. He emphasized that his decision was not a rejection of Publix itself, quickly adding, “I don’t have any problem with Publix being here. They’ve just got to find another spot of land to put it on.”

The possibility of Publix—a symbol of growth and economic development—coming to Blairsville has sparked a lively debate among Union County citizens online. Social media platforms and local forums have buzzed with opinions, with some residents eager for the convenience and quality Publix promises, while others question the feasibility of another grocery store in the area.

Collins himself expressed reservations about the practical implications of a new Publix. “You know we don’t hardly have the labor to fill what we’ve got,” he said in the WJRB interview. “So you may be pulling people from Ingles or Save-A-Lot to work at Publix. Where are you going to get the employees to fill them other spots? I don’t know if it would be a win-win.”

The commissioner also noted that he has yet to visit the relatively new Aldi store in the area, though his wife occasionally shops there, highlighting the existing competition among grocery chains in Union County.

As the debate continues, residents are left wondering whether Publix will find another suitable location in Blairsville and how its potential arrival might reshape the local economy and workforce. For now, the Farmers Market land remains untouched, and Publix’s plans for Union County remain uncertain.

This article is based on information from an interview conducted by WJRB.