Publix still eyeing summer opening

Jan. 26—After going vertical with the buildings a few months ago, the future Publix shopping center dubbed Lakeside Commons is taking shape as the weeks roll along.

The Sembler Company, the Florida-based firm overseeing the retail development, still says Milledgeville's newest grocery store option will be ready for shoppers this summer.

"Construction at Lakeside Commons is moving along nicely," Sembler Senior VP Josh Beyer said. "I do not have a specific opening to share yet, but we still expect it to be early this summer."

That's sticking to the timeline stated by the company since the project was formally announced at the end of 2022. Work began about a year ago and has moved along at a good pace ever since.

Once completed, the nine-acre shopping center located near the intersection of U.S. Highway 441 and Log Cabin Road will be anchored by a 48,000-square foot Publix Super Market that will be in direct competition with the nearby Kroger. Included in the development is a 10-space retail strip that is now easily recognizable as well. A brochure on the Sembler website identifies cellphone service brand T-Mobile as one of the tenants. A nail salon called Nail Dior was on previous versions of the brochure, but is not on the latest. Beyer said the company should be ready to make other tenant announcements come early April.