Farragut welcomes Publix
“We’d like to welcome you to your new Publix, the store’s community relations manager Kimberly Reynolds said.
“We have a lot of people standing here to get in,” the mayor said before introducing Town officials who were present. “I’m really excited to have Publix on this corner and our second one in our Town. I think, for everybody who lives out this way and myself, this will be a real convenience.
“And, for the people who live in Lenoir City and Loudon area, we really appreciate your sales tax,” he added, generating laughter. “As you probably know, we live on sales tax here.
“Anyway, this is going to be a busy corner, so hopefully everybody can have a good time today … it’s a beautiful store,” Williams said.
“Thank you for your leadership and partnership in getting us here today,” Reynolds added.
“I just couldn’t be more excited to open up this store for your community and our neighbors and really looking forward to serving you — serving you the way you expect from Publix,” store manager David Kuehl said. “I couldn’t be more happy to be leading this team. We are very excited to show you what we’ve got going on in [the store].”
“We are thrilled to welcome customers to our newest Publix in Farragut,” Publix media relations manager Nicole Krauss said. “Customers, both old and new, will enjoy some of the special features of this brand-new location, and we’re excited to provide our customers with the quality, convenience and service they know and love.”
“We’re delighted to continue growing here in and around East Tennessee, the Knoxville area and Farragut,” she said.
The 48,387-square-foot store offers new features, such as free Wi-Fi in the store and a mezzanine upstairs, which offers an “opportunity to grab lunch, grab dinner,” she said. “Maybe you need to get a quick meeting. You can open up your laptop.
“And this is really unique,” Krauss said about the mezzanine space. “A lot of the newer stores — not every store — have this. It’s just something new and different that I think our customers will enjoy.”
Additionally, the store features a full-service pharmacy with a drive-through window and “this is one of our newer deli concepts,” she said. It is located right near the front door and offers “pub subs,” which is what we’re famous for.
“But, we have a whole variety of food in our deli, from sushi to burrito bowls,” Krauss said. “It’s a one-stop shop … it’s grab and go. It’s easy.”
The store also has an app in which customers can get coupons and other features.
The Publix near Dixie Lee junction is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Sunday. Its pharmacy is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday; from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday; and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday.
The store will have between 130 and 150 associates employed.
“That’s comprised of both part-time and full-time workers,” she added. “One of the unique things about
working for Publix is we are the largest employee-owned grocery store in the country.”
Krauss explained the employees own stock in the company.
“Our associates have skin in the game,” she said and added there are opportunities for advancement.
And, “what’s wonderful for us is that we always seek to be a reflection of the communities that we serve,” Krauss said. “So, when you open up a new store in a new area, it’s not just about serving that community,” she said. “It’s about providing an opportunity for job growth. It’s about
providing opportunities to give back, which we do through our hunger alleviation programs and all different kinds of things.
“Our goal is to embrace the community and really become a part of it,” Krauss said. “And, it’s exciting because here, we’re already part of the community, we’re just furthering that relationship and making it stronger.
