Publix to open in the Vista Wednesday

[The_sandlapper]

Publix counted on to lure private money downtown

By JOHN C. DRAKEand DAWN HINSHAW

Staff Writers

Two years ago, Jim Dickens moved from the suburbs to Columbia

[emerging.me]

NICE! *Great* story. Man, I want to get down there so bad. Sick and tired of the suburbs. I work from home and I'm a people person, so being in the city and around lots of activity appeals to me. My wife works on campus and has to drive from/to Northwest Richland Co. everyday... and although she likes the idea of "escaping" from the area where she works on weekends, it might be worth it for her to give up that traffic on I-26. If the right thing opens up down there, we're outta here.

[Spartan]

I plan on going to the new Publix regularly... it beats driving to Cayce any day

[The_sandlapper]

Spartan do you live in Cola?

[Spartan]

Yeah, I go to USC.

The Publix opened today- from my understanding it was a madhouse. Zero parking available. People had to park accross Gervais St to get in... then they pushed carts accross the road to get back to their car. (Gervais is 6 lanes at Publix)

All the news stations were there... its like Columbia has never seen a Publix before

[emerging.me]

It was CRAZY. I went down to meet some friends at the Russell House today around 1:00ish and I was going to try to stop in on the way... NOT POSSIBLE. There were cars everywhere!!! Maybe this weekend.

Seriously... it *is* like we've never seen a grocery store before. This really is a great statement about how excited people are about urban renewal in Columbia. The parking lot is actually on the small side for a grocery that large, but hopefully it will work once some of the newish excitement wears off.

[emerging.me]

Finally went in on Saturday and checked it out. It's tight! The parking lot was slammed and the lines were long. Really cool in there, but it is on the small side for a Publix -- which is probably fine for that location once the initial excitment wears off. Really cool to see it taking off and doing so well. I spoke to the manager, who used to run the Publix out our way, and he seemed like he was having a *busy* day! Good stuff.

[Spartan]

That sign on Gervais/Huger is really cool- its back lit at night with a green light.

[emerging.me]

Ain't it cool?!?! My wife and I drove by there last night and noticed it for the first time. It's sweet!