FOLEY — The new Publix located along the Foley Beach Express is open to the public.

In the early morning hours of June 18, locals were already lined up in front of the building to experience the new store, which is part of a new shopping center called The Village at Foley Crossroads. The first 1,000 customers received a free reusable bag and were treated to a variety of food samples from within the store.

It is the second Publix to open in Foley, with the first being within four miles on South McKenzie Street. The new Publix and shopping center is part of a project that was approved by Foley City Council in August 2023 with city officials saying the intent is to help both visitors and residents avoid having to drive through the congestion that Alabama 59 faces on a daily basis, especially during peak tourist season in the spring and summer, while also creating job opportunities and revenue for the city.

"We are very excited to have Publix open on the Beach Express," Foley Mayor Ralph Hellmich told GCM. "It provides another resource for our citizens in East Foley to shop. It is a great example of the type of public/private partnerships that Foley does to encourage and support new and old businesses. We are the Forward City."

The new Publix is the first business to open at The Village at Foley Crossroads, and other businesses may come in the near future, but it is not known at this time what establishments will open there.