A Harris Teeter has been planned on Lady’s Island for years. What’s the latest?
A major grocery store chain could still build a new store that has been long planned in Beaufort County.
Developers first proposed the Harris Teeter grocery store in a busy commercial area on Lady’s Island several years ago. A suitable design was approved for the half acre site at 169 Sea Island Parkway at the intersection of Sams Point Road and the appropriate permission was granted for a gas station on the site.
The lot and the vacant building where Publix once operated before building a new store across the street are still empty and no work has been started. Charlotte-based Harris Teeter has owned the property since 2016 and has kept alive the possibility of building a store there.
Developers on Monday received another extension from the city of Beaufort’s zoning board for special permission to build a gas station on the site. The special exception is good through April 2021.
Harris Teeter representatives have not given city planners a timetable for building and appear to want to keep options open, said David Prichard, the city’s community and economic development director.
Developer Ted Barnes referred questions to Harris Teeter on Tuesday. A Harris Teeter spokeswoman acknowledged questions about the status of the project Tuesday but could not immediately provide answers.
Plans submitted to the city have shown a 56,000 square-foot grocery store with parking, commercial buildings on outparcels along Sea Island Parkway and a six-pump gas station with a convenience store. The grocery store building was initially oriented on the front of the lot with the rear of the store facing Sea Island Parkway, but more recent site plans move the new building back and preserve some of the many trees.
A Starbucks with outdoor seating and upper-floor wine bar with a balcony were part of plans for the store proposed in 2016.
Publix opened its new store on Lady’s Island in 2014 with other retail stores alongside.
A Walmart Supercenter opened in 2017, giving residents of Lady’s Island and St. Helena Island another grocery option.
