Publix opening hailed as a 'milestone' for NocateeBack to News

NOCATEE - Now that a Publix supermarket has opened in the Nocatee Town Center and other community amenities are available, Nocatee developers are hopeful they'll see more residents move into the sparsely populated development this spring.

Roughly 30,000 residents are expected to live in the evolving community west of Ponte Vedra Beach when it is completely built out in the next 20 years, officials said.

"We are excited to see what unfolds the next couple of months," said Chris Pilinko, project director for Nocatee. "There's somewhere between 1,100 and 1,300 [residents] right now."

In recent months, despite the ailing real estate market, Nocatee residents began seeing the lifestyle they bought into in 2006 in some cases, including the water park, greenway trails, community park and phase one of the town center, the central area for business, shopping and cultural activities.

"The opening of the water park and Publix is a real milestone for the overall development in Nocatee," Pilinko said. "That's a big deal for us, they can live it instead of just hearing about it. They are now feeling like they can live the Nocatee lifestyle they bought into when they purchased their homes."

Northeast Florida's largest Publix supermarket at 54,000 square feet, the latest and largest amenity to open in the community was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday.

"It went very well; there was quite a bit of traffic and the parking lot was full pretty much all day," Pilinko said. "We were really happy with it and I know Publix was as well."

The store features a pharmacy, bakery, deli, floral and fresh seafood. About 90 people will be employed at the grocery store.

Jacksonville-based Regency Centers, a national operator and developer of grocery-anchored and community shopping centers, built and is leasing the first phase of the 21-acre retail center with 70,000 square feet of space, including the grocery store.

Hair Cuttery, Yama Sushi, Luxy nails, Cedars dry cleaners and Publix liquors have signed leasing agreements, said Patrick McKinley, Regency Centers' senior leasing agent.

"They will probably be open in anywhere between two and four months," he said.

Of the eight spaces available, five have been leased, McKinley said.

Like the center, the community's other amenities that have emerged in recent months are off Crosswater Parkway, the main roadway in Nocatee.

Meanwhile, Pilinko said builders are reporting that the openings have generated more foot traffic in the neighborhoods.

"The feedback we are hearing is that they are thrilled to have grocery shopping on site," he said.