What's this all about?

This idea started off as a joke a week ago, with a challenge from my wife to "create a web site that will leverage support to finally get a Publix grocery store in Mobile."  Now that our neighborhood Spring Hill Bruno's is slated for closing on May 17, 2009 (see posts below), this seemed like an opportune time to reach out to the community in hopes of establishing a critical mass that may be useful in courting a grocer like Publix to occupy the soon-to-be empty retail space.

From a retail standpoint---particularly a retailer like Publix---utilizing the (old) space of a previous business is fraught with difficulty, and in some extreme cases can actually be more costly than building new retail space.  This couldn't be more true in today's economic climate where commercial construction costs are lower as compared to the previous five years.  From Publix's point of view, this means that they would have to make certain concessions for their "normal" store plans in order to utilize the existing space, ultimately resulting in a shopping experience for their customers that is somewhat diminished from the Publix norm.

Having shopped at Publix for more than twenty years, I can honestly say that even their older stores, and those that have been incorporated into existing commercial space, are pretty darn nice.  Their employees are courteous, attentive, and helpful.  Their stocks are always plentiful.  Their perishable foods are actually NOT expired while sitting on the shelf (not to point fingers).  Their meat, poultry, seafood, and deli are excellent.  Their bakery is wonderful.  Their fried chicken is out of this world.  In addition, the general shopping experience is on any given day much better than most grocery stores... in fact, it's the best in my opinion.  

I love Mobile, but I really miss being able to purchase all of my groceries in one store!  Until recently, we often made a four-store rotation to get all of our food-stuffs... to Bruno's for some necessities, down to Naman's for Boars Head deli meat and cheese, back over to Wal-Mart for some box and canned goods, and down to Fresh Market for produce and poultry.  So why hasn't Publix taken an interest in Mobile?  T-Town has Publix stores, so do the folks over in B-Ham and up in Huntsville.  Even the citizens of Montgomery have a Publix.  Lately, Publix has started to push into southwest Alabama with stores in Orange Beach and now Fairhope.  Why should Mobile be left out?  Come on Publix... we have a nice little space for you right in the heart of Spring Hill.