Workers were unloading tools and equipment Monday in preparation for the start of the construction of the new Publix store in Pell City.
“We’re just moving on the job today,” said Bob Cansler, superintendent for the general contractor, Benning Construction Company of Atlanta.
Cansler sat in his truck talking on his cell phone to a company official about the construction trailer that was scheduled to arrive at the Publix site Monday. A handful of workers unloaded tools from a truck in preparation for start of the project.
“We hope to start some footings later on this week,” Cansler said. “We’ll start setting up trailers tomorrow.”
He said they will bring equipment in this week to dig the foundation, but surveyors are needed to mark the corners of the store first.
“I think the turnover date is mid-August,” Cansler said.
He said their company has built other Publix stores.
“We’re building one in Chelsea right now,” Cansler said. “We’re fixing to start one in Columbus, Ga., and another one in South Carolina.”
He said those are not the only projects the mid-size Benning Construction Company does.
“We do just about anything,” Cansler said. “It’s kind of challenging to find work in today’s economy. We do have a long-standing relationship with Publix.”
He said the Publix store in Pell City is much like others they have built, except this store is located next to small retail shops on one side of the site.
The 45,600 square feet Publix Super Market will anchor the 13-acre South Park Shopping Center, which will have an additional 24,000 square feet of shop space, and three out-parcels that front U.S. 231.
A new Bojangle’s restaurant is locating at one of the three retail out-parcels that front U.S. 231.
Publix is at the back of the 13-acre development, between U.S. 231 and Hardwick Road.
The front of the Publix Super Market store will face U.S. 231.
Cansler said there is a lot of local interest in the Publix store.
He said initially they will have 10-15 workers, but as the project progressives, as many as 35-40 people could work on the new store.
Local developer Bill Ellison is owner of the South Park Shopping Center.
Contact David Atchison at datchison@dailyhome.com.
