Publix Super Market at The Shops at Pear Orchard opens Tuesday, September 23rd at 7:00 AM at 1311 Pear Orchard Road, Elizabethtown, KY 42701 — and it’s the biggest grocery story Hardin County has seen in years.

After more than a year of construction, rumors, and “when is it opening” posts in every local Facebook group, Elizabethtown finally has its first Publix. The Florida-based grocer built its reputation on “Where Shopping Is a Pleasure,” and now Etown residents get to find out what that actually means.

Publix Elizabethtown: Store Details

The new store sits at the corner of Pear Orchard Road and Ring Road, one of the fastest-growing commercial corridors in Elizabethtown. The location includes:

• A full-size Publix grocery store — produce, meat, seafood, bakery, deli, and Publix’s famous sub sandwiches
• Publix Pharmacy, with drive-thru service for prescriptions
• Publix Liquors, a standalone liquor store next door offering beer, wine, and spirits

Doors open at 7:00 AM on September 23rd, and if past Publix grand openings anywhere in the Southeast are any indication, expect a full parking lot, giveaways, and a line before sunrise.

Why This Location Matters

Pear Orchard and Ring Road isn’t a random spot. It’s positioned to catch traffic from residential growth on the east and south sides of Elizabethtown, along with the ripple effect of the BlueOval SK Battery Park development, which has been pulling new residents, contractors, and families into Hardin County for the past few years. Retailers don’t build 55,000-square-foot stores on speculation — Publix’s site selection team saw rooftops, income growth, and traffic counts that told them this market could support another major grocery anchor.

How a New Publix Could Shape the Local Economy

A grocery anchor of this size does more than sell groceries. Here’s what it typically triggers in a market like Elizabethtown:

New jobs. Publix stores this size typically employ well over 100 people at launch — cashiers, stockers, pharmacy staff, deli and bakery associates, and store leadership. That’s new payroll flowing into the local economy immediately.

Spillover development. Grocery anchors pull in outparcel tenants — coffee shops, quick-service restaurants, and specialty retail — that want to sit next to the traffic a Publix generates. Expect the surrounding shopping center to fill in over the next 12–24 months.

Rising property interest nearby. Homebuyers and investors pay attention to grocery access. A new Publix within a short drive can be a real selling point for listings on Elizabethtown’s east side, and it’s the kind of amenity buyers ask about during showings.

Higher local tax revenue. Sales tax and property tax from a store of this size add real dollars to city and county budgets over time.

Publix vs. Kroger in Elizabethtown: Does This Change the Balance of Power?

Kroger has been the default grocery option in Elizabethtown for decades, and the recent Kroger Marketplace opening on Ring Road shows Kroger isn’t standing still either. But Publix’s arrival is the first time Etown shoppers have had a true head-to-head choice between two full-service national grocery chains in the same part of town.

A few things are worth watching:

Customer service positioning. Publix has built a national reputation on service — associates who walk you to the item instead of pointing, employee-ownership culture, and consistently high customer satisfaction scores. That’s a different value proposition than Kroger’s scale-and-price model, and it gives Etown shoppers a genuine choice rather than a single default.

Category-specific competition. Publix Liquors puts it in direct competition with existing local liquor stores, not just Kroger’s wine and spirits sections. The pharmacy adds another pressure point against Kroger Pharmacy and other local pharmacies.

Loyalty will split, not flip. Realistically, Kroger isn’t losing its dominance overnight — it has deeper market penetration, more locations, and a fuel rewards program many Etown families are locked into. What’s more likely is a split: some households make Publix their primary stop, most others become dual-shoppers, picking up subs and specialty items at Publix while still doing bulk trips at Kroger.

Pressure to improve. Competition tends to raise the floor for everyone. If Publix pulls share on customer experience, expect Kroger to respond with store updates, staffing, or promotions in the Etown market to hold onto its base.

What This Means If You’re Buying or Selling a Home Near Pear Orchard Road

For anyone watching the Elizabethtown real estate market, a new grocery anchor like this is a signal worth paying attention to. Access to a Publix — plus the pharmacy and liquor store in the same lot — adds convenience value to homes and neighborhoods within a short drive of Pear Orchard and Ring Road. If you’re evaluating a listing on the east side of Etown, or thinking about where to buy with long-term resale value in mind, proximity to this corridor is now part of that conversation.

Bottom Line

The Publix opening at 1311 Pear Orchard Road on September 23rd at 7:00 AM isn’t just a new place to grab groceries — it’s a marker of how fast Elizabethtown is growing, and a real test of whether Kroger’s long-standing dominance in this market can hold against a national competitor with a loyal following of its own. Either way, Etown shoppers win: more options, more competition, and more reason for national retailers to keep investing in this town.

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Publix Elizabethtown, KY: Frequently Asked Questions

Everything shoppers, homebuyers, and locals are asking about the new Publix at The Shops at Pear Orchard.

When does the new Publix in Elizabethtown, KY open?

The new Publix at The Shops at Pear Orchard opens Tuesday, September 23rd at 7:00 AM.

Where is the new Publix in Elizabethtown located?

The store is located at 1311 Pear Orchard Road, Elizabethtown, KY 42701, at the northeast corner of Pear Orchard Road and Ring Road.

Does the Elizabethtown Publix have a pharmacy?

Yes. The store includes a Publix Pharmacy with drive-thru service for prescription pickup.

Is there a liquor store at the new Publix?

Yes. An adjacent Publix Liquors store sits next to the main building and offers beer, wine, and spirits.

How big is the new Publix in Elizabethtown?

The grocery store is approximately 55,325 square feet, with an adjacent 3,300-square-foot Publix Liquors location, on a 14-plus acre property.

Will Publix compete with Kroger in Elizabethtown?

Yes. Elizabethtown already has a Kroger Marketplace nearby on Ring Road, so shoppers now have two full-service national grocery chains in the same part of town. Expect Publix to lean on customer service, deli, and bakery to win shoppers, while Kroger leans on scale, fuel rewards, and price.

What is The Shops at Pear Orchard?

The Shops at Pear Orchard is the retail development anchored by the new Publix. It’s expected to bring additional restaurant and retail outparcels to the corner of Pear Orchard Road and Ring Road over the next couple of years.

Will there be a grand opening event?

Publix grand openings typically include a ribbon-cutting just before the 7:00 AM doors-open time, plus in-store specials on opening day. Arrive early if you want to be part of the first wave.

How does a new Publix affect home values near Pear Orchard Road?

New grocery anchors like this typically add convenience value to nearby neighborhoods. Homes within a short drive of a major grocery, pharmacy, and liquor store tend to be more attractive to buyers weighing day-to-day convenience.

Is this Publix’s first location in Elizabethtown?

Yes — this is Elizabethtown’s first Publix, part of a broader wave of Publix expansion across Kentucky since the chain’s 2024 debut in Louisville.