Is Publix moving to Richland Mall? Here's what they have to say about the rumor

Psst! You know that rumor? The one about a certain grocery store in Forest Acres moving from one end of Forest Drive to another?

It goes like this: Because Lowe’s Food Store is moving into the old BiLo location on Forest, the Publix in Trenholm Plaza has decided to move to Richland Mall, across from Kroger. Oh, and part of Richland Mall will be demolished so that Publix can build a bigger and better store.

That rumor. Is. Just. A. Rumor.

We asked all of the important people. Keith Linder, City Engineer for Forest Acres, says that no plans have been filed for such a move which would involve demolition and new construction permits.

Joe Walker, leasing manager for Richland Mall, says there have been no calls to his office concerning such a move.

[As an aside, Walker added that while the mall has the strong support of the City of Forest Acres and the surrounding community, part of the problem in jump-starting development at the mall is the multiple-owner situation. Walker says that Richland Mall has over 700,000 square feet of enclosed space that is divided by three owners. At the moment, the mall is home to Barnes & Noble Bookstore and Belk.]

And at the mothership, Kim Reynolds, the Media and Community Relations Manager for Publix Super Markets in Charlotte, responded to an email inquiry, writing, “I can confirm that this is simply a rumor. Publix at Trenholm Plaza is not moving.”

So there.

Let’s speculate, instead, on when construction will begin on Cardinal Crossing and what sort of retail will end up there.