No longer a food desert—Irondale lands new grocery store
ByKatiana Banks
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Get ready Irondale, the grocery store chain you already know and love is moving in! Keep reading to find out when and where.
What’s headed your way?
It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s Publix! That’s right Irondale, a brand-new Publix is headed to your side of town!
The city of Irondale has been somewhat of a food desert for 15 years with the closings of Walmart and Food World in 2007. The closest grocery stores have been Walmart on Crestwood Boulevard and Publix on Montclair Road, but those stores are out of the way for many Irondale residents. Now, they’ll have a store closer to home. The site for the new store is less than two miles from Mayor Stewart’s home!
“It would be awesome for the community because we have a store where we don’t have to leave the community to go shop.”
Mayor Stewart of Irondale
Why Irondale?
Wondering how Publix made its way to Irondale? Well, it’s pretty simple. Irondale boomed. Residential areas in Irondale have increased tremendously bringing more people and money to the community. As Mayor Stewart stated, “grocery stores like to be around where people live.”
“Irondale did not seek Publix. Publix sought Irondale. They did their homework and determined that would be a great location to add another store to this area because of the demographics that’s around it.”
James Stewart, Mayor of Irondale
In addition to providing easier food access, this new grocery store will provide jobs and additional revenue to the city of Irondale.
When will Publix open?
The new Publix will be located on the corner of Grants Mill Road and Old Leeds Road. Don’t try looking for it yet though. Currently, the location is only trees and a few condemned homes. Site work is slated to begin in October of this year and last 8-12 months. Once completed, the real fun (aka the store’s construction) will begin. Construction is estimated to take 6-8 months so expect to start shopping spring of 2023.
Are you as excited for the new Publix as we are? Let us know at @BhamNow on social media.
