DURHAM, NC – The idea of a Publix coming to north Durham has been a hotly-debated issue for roughly a decade. Now, the grocery store is mere months away from opening, according to the developer, and will host a job fair this weekend.
As far back as 2017, WRAL was reporting on tense public comments at City Council meetings, as some residents strongly favored a Publix at the intersection of Guess and Latta Roads, eager for more options and economic opportunity, and others fiercely opposed it, concerned about traffic and environmental implications.
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Austin Williams is a partner with Crosland Southeast, which ultimately achieved rezoning of the site and has been working to make the vision of “Latta Park” a reality.
“Rezoning was difficult,” he told WRAL. “We were the fourth developer to try and rezone it. That process in and of itself was nearly three years. COVID happened. Financing got tough. Interest rates shot up. There were just a lot of challenges along the way.”
Construction progress is apparent, prompting some viewers to inquire with us when the grocery store and surrounding stores were set to open, so we went to Williams for that information.
He says the Publix should be open by spring.
A Publix spokesperson declined to provide an exact date, just saying the opening would be “soon.”
In the adjacent storefronts, Williams says Chipotle will occupy one, and a dental office will occupy another.
“Folks around here, they want local,” he said. “And beyond Chipotle, that’s what they’re going to get. “We are working on leases with three exciting local Durham restaurants, Durham-based restaurants. We have not signed the leases, so I’m dying to tell you about them but I can’t.”
Williams says the site will also include a 1.6 acre public park, to include a pollinator garden, as well as public art sculptures, solar panels on the roofs of the stores, retention ponds, and a designated food truck area.
Williams believes his team has addressed any potential traffic issues, making improvements and widening nearby roads.
Next to the Publix site, another developer is building townhomes. Once complete, Williams believes it will be a positive addition to the area.
“I think this will be a gathering space,” he said. “We’ve certainly designed the park so that it’s not just designed for shoppers.”
The Publix job fair will take place Friday through Sunday, as the grocery store looks to hire 140 full-time and part-time positions.
When: Friday, Feb. 20 – Sunday, Feb. 22
· 9 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Where: Hilton Durham
3800 Hillsborough Rd. Durham, NC 27703
Publix suggests interested applicants fill out this application in advance: apply.publix.jobs.