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Publix to buy pair of Western Market stores

Birmingham, Ala.-based grocer slated to shut down

Russell Redman

January 5, 2019

2 Min Read
Western Market
Western Market

Publix Super Markets Inc. is acquiring the leases for two Western Market stores from Birmingham, Ala.-based Western Supermarkets, which is discontinuing operations.

Publix said Friday that it plans to convert the Western Market in Mountain Brook, Ala., into a GreenWise Market, the Lakeland, Fla.-based retailer’s natural, organic and specialty food format. The Western Market in Vestavia Hills, Ala., is slated to be demolished and rebuilt as a 35,000-square-foot Publix supermarket.

“Publix is always seeking locations where we can serve our customers and offer an exceptional shopping experience. This acquisition allows us to expand our presence in the Birmingham area, and we are very excited to bring one of our GreenWise Markets to this region,” Publix CEO Todd Jones said in a statement.

The acquisition of the stores is expected to close in March, according to Publix. The opening date for the Vestavia Hills store, located at 3350 Morgan Dr., hasn’t yet been determined. Publix said the Mountain Brook store, located at 1000 Jemison La., would be the seventh GreenWise Market and is due to open by the third quarter.

The first GreenWise location, a 29,000-square-foot store in Tallahassee, Fla., opened Oct. 4. This year, GreenWise stores are slated to open in Boca Raton, Fla.; Mount Pleasant, S.C.; and Lakeland, Fla. Other GreenWise locations are planned for Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Marietta, Ga., but opening dates have not been announced.

Related:Publix adds sixth GreenWise Market location

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Overall, Publix operates 1,211 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.

The more than 200 affected Western Market employees are being offered jobs at Publix, which said it will provide them with details on how to apply for employment.

“Western Market has been serving Alabama for 70 years,” Western Supermarkets CEO Ken Hubbard stated. “I am happy to know our spirit of service, dedication to our people and community involvement will continue through Publix. I believe this is the best grocer to serve our loyal customers into the future.”

Currently, Western Supermarkets operates four Western Market stores in the Birmingham area.  The company said Friday that it plans to close its store on Highland Avenue in Birmingham in the coming weeks and sell its store in the city’s East Lake area.

Western Market stores are scheduled to begin an inventory liquidation sale Jan. 30. Next week, on Jan. 9, the chain plans a 20%-off sale for its wine inventory.

“When I became involved in ownership in 1987, our goal was to maintain Western as Birmingham’s leading independent grocer. With the help of the loyal and talented people on the Western team, we’ve achieved that goal,” commented Hubbard, who started with the company in 1960 as a bagger. “We’ve taken Western as far as we can.  It’s time to exit the business that has been my life’s work.”

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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