New Harris Teeter, Publix half a mile apart

You probably saw yesterday's story about Marsh Properties planning a $190 million mixed-use development on South Boulevard, anchored by a new Harris Teeter. That proposed grocery store is about half a mile from the Publix on South Boulevard currently under construction.



The Publix store at South Boulevard and Iverson Way is set to open in late 2015, and the Harris Teeter would open a year later.

This isn't the only place Harris Teeter and Publix have stores planned in close proximity. Publix either has or will soon have stores open less than a mile from Harris Teeter stores in Mint Hill, Matthews, Ballantyne, Steele Creek and Huntersville.

In many cases, that's because Publix bought BI-LO stores that were already near Harris Teeters, and is reopening them under its own name. By late 2015, Florida-based Publix plans to have 14 stores open in the Charlotte region.

And while we're talking about stores opening near each other, don't forget Whole Foods is planning a new store on Providence Road in the new Waverly development that's practically across the street from a Harris Teeter.

So, what do you think? Are all these new, high-end grocery stores too close? Are we in danger of overbuilding, or do you think Charlotte's population growth - such as the explosion of South End apartments - will support all these stores?

Publix's planned stores

Proposed new Sedgefield Harris Teeter