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Publix Looks Like Eventual Occupier of Old Kmart Property, Still Not Official Though

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A snapshot of elevation plans submitted to Boone Planning and Inspections that depict a Publix at the old Kmart property on Blowing Rock Road.

By Jesse Wood

While there is still no official word on what is going to happen at the old Kmart property, it looks as though Publix Super Markets will eventually occupy that space.

Building elevation plans submitted to the Boone Planning and Inspections office on Oct. 30 depict a “Publix Food and Pharmacy.” The applicant for civil plans and building elevation plans is Publix North Carolina LP of Lakeland, Fla.

According to the plans, the old Kmart building, which is 86,440 feet in size, on the seven-acre property would be torn down to make way for a new building with gross square footage of 49,533. It would also have 248 parking spaces.

The redevelopment is estimated to cost $9 million.

Jane Shook, a development coordinator with the town’s inspection department, said that the town has not granted any permits nor has the N.C. Department of Transportation, which is recommending that a new intersection with a pedestrian signal be installed at the intersection of Postal Street and Blowing Rock Road, for this proposed development.

Kmart closed down in September 2014. Months before the “everything-must-go” sale last summer, a group purchased the property for $6,975,000 in June.

Equity Resource Partners III LLC of Georgia, Granite Falls Land & Investment of North Carolina, Watson Commercial Development Inc. of North Carolina and Robert Carroll Carver of North Carolina purchased the property.

The three former companies list either Ron Turner Jr. of Davidson-based Piedmont Land Development or Jeff Watson of Piedmont Land Development as registered agents on corporation forms filed with the N.C. Secretary of State.

Both have declined to comment on what will occupy that space since purchasing the property last year.