Publix says S.C. GreenWise Market locations have “space constraints”

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Publix Super Markets Inc. said it is closing both GreenWise Market locations in South Carolina, including one in Lexington, because they are too small.

The Lexington store, located at 5336 Sunset Blvd., and the other S.C. location in Mount Pleasant will remain open until 7 p.m. on Aug. 29.

“We have made the difficult decision to close both GreenWise Market locations in South Carolina,” Publix spokeswoman Maria Brous said via email. “Both locations were acquisitions that fit our needs at the time of opening; however, as our concept has evolved, the locations have space constraints that will not fit our current vision for GreenWise Markets. We have shared this information with our GreenWise associates, and we are offering to relocate associates to neighboring Publix locations.”

The S.C. stores are approximately 21,000 square feet, Brous said.

GreenWise Market locations in Florida, Alabama and Georgia will remain open, and a GreenWise Market is still slated to open in South Florida later this year, she said.

Publix relaunched the specialty offshoot of its organic food brand in 2018 with its 29,000-square-foot Tallahassee, Fla., location, followed by the Mount Pleasant store in March 2019. The Lexington store opened in December 2019 in 135,000-square-foot retail center at Sunset Boulevard and Saluda Springs Road.

GreenWise Market features organic and specialty products, prepared foods, imported cheeses and sausage made in-store. Many stores include a drink bar where shoppers can purchase kombucha on tap, smoothies, locally roasted coffee and craft beer.

Three Publix GreenWise stores opened in 2007, ranging from 36,000 to 39,000 square feet, according to grocerydive.com. The concept was since downsized and Publix was dropped from the store name.