Publix Super Markets is coming to the BullStreet District
December 3, 2025
The BullStreet District, known as the region’s largest urban redevelopment project, announced that national supermarket retailer Publix Super Markets will open its next downtown Columbia, South Carolina location in the BullStreet District. Located next to REI Co-Op, at Bull Street and Colonial Drive, the new store will enhance walkable access to groceries and everyday essentials for thousands of people who live, work and visit downtown Columbia.
“The addition of Publix to the BullStreet District is another big step in the transformation of BullStreet into a destination that serves the entire region,” said Robert Hughes, president of Hughes Development Corporation, the master developer behind the transformation of the historic 181-acre South Carolina State Hospital site in downtown Columbia. “Having a major supermarket within walking distance is the essence of our vision to make BullStreet a truly vibrant, walkable community.”
The new 50,325 square foot Publix will not only serve the more than 1,000 residents living in the BullStreet District, but also thousands more within walking distance, either in the surrounding neighborhoods or in new developments planned in the area over the next few years.
“This is great news not just for those who call BullStreet home, but for the entire heart of our city,” said Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann. “With so many of Columbia’s densest neighborhoods surrounding this district, this announcement brings real relief to what has long been a grocery desert in our capital city. We haven’t seen a major supermarket invest in downtown since 2004, when Publix opened in the historic Confederate printing plant on Gervais Street. Today’s news marks a major step forward as we continue building a Columbia where every resident has access to the essentials they need close to home.”
“This has been the number one request of Columbia residents for BullStreet since its inception,” said City Councilman Tyler Bailey, head of the city’s BullStreet Commission. “It is exciting to see BullStreet take shape and meet the needs of the Columbia
community, especially given the lack of access to grocery stores for many of the surrounding neighborhoods. They have long advocated for a grocery store in this area and now we’ll have one.”
Publix joins a growing list of local and national businesses who now call the BullStreet District home, including Segra Park, REI Co-Op, Starbucks, Scout Motors, Pvolve Columbia, Tupelo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar, Methodical Coffee, and Publico Kitchen and Tap. Additionally, several projects are underway, including Columbia’s first food hall: Gather COLA, Coastal Crust, Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar, and the University of South Carolina’s Health Sciences Campus.
“We are thrilled to continue our growth across Columbia with a new location in the BullStreet Distrct,” said Jared Glover, media relations manager for Publix Super Markets. “We look forward to welcoming customers to their new Publix and providing them with the premier service and quality products they know and love.”
Publix was founded in 1930 and is the largest employee-owned company in the United States. Publix has more than 1,400 stores across eight states in the Southeast, including more than 70 locations in South Carolina.
Groundbreaking for the new Publix is slated for Summer 2026.
The Publix development will be coupled with additional shop space, which will bring the total retail square footage in the BullStreet District to over 190,000 square feet. With high visibility, walkability and the addition of Publix, BullStreet offers ample opportunities for restaurants and retailers to grow and thrive. For leasing details or to schedule a tour, contact [email protected] or 1-844-BULLSTREET (1-844-285-5787).
About the BullStreet District
Known as the largest urban redevelopment project on the East Coast, the BullStreet District is an active transformation of the historic,181-acre South Carolina State Hospital campus into a vibrant, mixed-use lifestyle district that reflects the authenticity of downtown Columbia, S.C. BullStreet is a city-within-a-city, located one mile from the S.C. State House and anchored by the award-winning stadium, Segra Park, home of the Columbia Fireflies Minor League Baseball team. The district is home to an array of local and national businesses, including REI Co-Op, Starbucks, Capgemini, Founders Federal Credit Union, Pvolve Columbia, Methodical Coffee, Tupleo Honey Southern Kitchen & Bar and Publico Kitchen and Tap. Development is underway on several exciting projects, including “The Lawn,” which will be the district’s central outdoor gathering space, surrounded by retail, dining and workspaces, as well as the new University of South Carolina’s Health Sciences Campus. To learn more, visit http://www.bullstreetsc.com or follow @BullStreetSC and #BullStreetSC on Facebook, Instagram and X.
About Publix Super Markets
Publix Super Markets, the largest employee-owned company in the U.S. with more than 260,000 associates, currently operates 1,428 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky. For 28 consecutive years, the company has been recognized by Fortune as a great place to work. In addition, Publix’s dedication to superior quality and customer service is recognized among the top in the grocery business. For more information, visit the company’s newsroom at corporate.publix.com/newsroom.
