We’re getting a Publix!
Not a big deal, you say. But it is a big deal for our little town of Monroe, GA.
Monroe was, and partly still is, a small, quiet rural town in GA. We’re about 45 miles outside the city limits of Atlanta. Which means, in Atlanta traffic terms, we’re about half a day’s drive from the ATL, depending on which highway you take and how many ladders and mattresses are laying on the asphalt.
With a population of around 14,000 or so we are probably considered a small town. We are the county seat for Walton County. Our historic courthouse, built in 1883, overlooks Broad Street, lined with great oaks that we decorate with beautiful white lights at Christmas time. Our downtown area is bustling with mom and pop boutiques, pizza parlors and an ice cream shop (where dogs are welcomed, too!).
We have a sprinkling of old Southern mansions here and there, and quaint little row houses lined up and down the main drag alongside multiple vintage antique shops.
The community is active with outdoor events throughout the year, such as the local farmer’s market, the living Nativity Scene at Christmas, car shows and Friday Night Concerts on the Square.
But what we don’t have are the modern shops, restaurants, malls and entertainment venues of the larger cities. In order to attend a concert, have a nice meal at a trendy watering hole or purchase the latest fashion other than Walmart specials, we must hop in the car and navigate what I call the Gwinnett Autobahn, (otherwise known as Hwy 316 to the locals) and head to Hotlanta. Or maybe head the other direction towards Athens, GA (Go Dawgs!) for a scaled-down version of big city life.
When news of a Publix grocery store coming to our town hit, it got mixed reviews. Some Monroe residents were ecstatic over the thought of having a quality brand grocery within minutes of their home, eliminating the need to drive twenty minutes to the nearest store. Others lamented the news, reluctant to trade the historic quaint nostalgia for the hustle and bustle of modern-day shopping, and all that comes with it.
After Publix will come the other big name stores for our shopping pleasure. Well-known nationwide chains are sure to follow Publix lead and soon will be gobbling up our precious rural real estate, spitting out sprawling asphalt parking lots and traffic. Lots and lots of traffic.
I’m not sure I’m going to like that.
They say “change is inevitable”. My dad used to tell me the only thing I could ever count on in life is change. That doesn’t mean I have to like it. I just have to accept it.
So if the day ever comes that growth and development take over my little small town to the point that it bothers me, I guess I’ll pull up stakes and move further out to the country.
Then I’ll drive twenty minutes to the nearest Publix.
For Trying Out Loud 
It IS a big deal to get a Publix! Congratulations!
My youngest son lives in a suburb of Atlanta and loves it there. He is a director in the film and TV industry and moved up from Florida a few years back. He bought a charming home in the area. I visited him before the pandemic and there were Publix’s in his area. I don’t know what I’d do without my nearby Publix. Yay for you!
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