The long-awaited grocery anchor for Savannah’s downtown eastside is officially in the works. Publix Supermarkets has filed a building permit application with the city to construct a new store at the entrance to Eastern Wharf, confirming a critical piece of the puzzle for the major mixed-use development.
The Signal
“A Publix permit at Eastern Wharf isn’t just a grocery store — it’s the amenity anchor that unlocks the next chapter of downtown Savannah’s east side. Every residential and retail play within a half-mile just got more valuable.” — Ryan Schneider, CCIM, PIER Commercial Real Estate
Why It Matters
This is a game-changer for the livability and investment appeal of downtown Savannah. For years, the lack of a full-service grocery store has been a significant barrier for residents and a point of friction for new residential development. The arrival of a premier brand like Publix validates the growing residential density in and around Eastern Wharf and will serve as a powerful catalyst for the entire district. It immediately makes existing and future for-sale and for-rent residential projects more attractive. For retail property owners, it creates a new center of gravity for daily-needs traffic, likely spurring demand for smaller, service-oriented tenants in the surrounding area.
What Happened
On February 26, 2026, Publix Supermarkets submitted a building permit application to the City of Savannah. The plans detail a 36,374-square-foot grocery store that includes a dedicated parking garage. The location is strategically positioned near the entrance of the sprawling Eastern Wharf mixed-use development, which already includes apartments, hotels, and retail space along 2,000 linear feet of Savannah River frontage. The news quickly spread through local media and social channels, where residents overwhelmingly hailed it as a major win for the downtown community.
Who’s Involved
- Tenant: Publix Supermarkets
- Location: Eastern Wharf, Savannah, GA (E. President St. entrance)
- Store Size: 36,374 sq. ft. + dedicated parking garage
- Municipality: City of Savannah
What to Watch Next
The permit now enters the city’s review and approval process. Watch for the permit to be officially issued — that’s the trigger for construction to begin. We will also be monitoring for the announcement of an official construction timeline and projected opening date from Publix. This development will likely be one of the most closely watched construction projects in downtown Savannah over the next 18–24 months.
A new grocery anchor reshuffles the deck for downtown real estate.
- Own property on the eastside? Your value proposition just changed.
- Considering a retail or residential play downtown? You need to understand this new traffic pattern.
Contact Ryan Schneider, CCIM at PIER Commercial Real Estate — ryan@piercommercial.com | 912-239-6298 | www.piercommercial.com