Publix has been tapped as the anchor tenant for The Village at Seven Pines, a new development from Regency Centers Corp. planned for J. Turner Butler Boulevard and Kernan Boulevard.
The project, which combines 182,000 square feet of retail with Regency’s new corporate headquarters, is designed as a multi-use destination.
Regency expects construction will begin in early 2026 and welcome its first retailers in 2027, according to a news release.
Patrick McKinley, Regency’s senior market officer and senior vice president, said Publix was a natural choice to lead the lineup.
“We have a great working relationship with Publix on many notable projects throughout the Southeast,” McKinley said. “They were the perfect fit to anchor the project and serve the surrounding community.”
As part of the development, Regency also will relocate its corporate headquarters to the site, consolidating 260 employees into a new three-story office space integrated directly into the retail environment.
McKinley said the move reflects Regency’s belief in placemaking and building deeper connections between its people, tenants and customers.
“We work in the best markets, with the top local experts, to create dynamic, community centric destinations,” he said. “We get to exist as a part of the project with our new headquarters, and we couldn’t be more excited.”
The relocation and construction activity are expected to generate hundreds of jobs, adding to the broader economic impact of the development, he added.
The Village at Seven Pines will feature a Southern Industrial architectural theme designed to balance modern polish with a welcoming, community-oriented feel.
Regency’s leasing team is aiming for a diverse tenant mix across dining, health and wellness, soft goods and personal services.
McKinley emphasized that the company is intentional about curating spaces that bring together local favorites and national retailers, citing East San Marco as a recent example of that approach.
The location, just off JTB and I-295, will position the project to serve both the nearby Seven Pines community and a broader regional customer base within a 20-minute drive.
The announcement comes as Jacksonville’s retail sector continues to evolve with several high-profile projects reshaping consumer destinations across the metro area. East San Marco, another Regency project anchored by Publix, has become a popular urban hub by blending local restaurants with national tenants.
Another example, Durbin Park in St. Johns County, has established itself as one of the region’s largest mixed-use destinations, drawing both commuters and new residents moving south of Jacksonville.
And in Nocatee, town center expansion has kept pace with rapid population growth, providing a suburban model of mixed dining, grocery and lifestyle options.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Publix to anchor Regency Centers’ new Village at Seven Pines development in Jacksonville
Reporting by Alexandria Mansfield, Jacksonville Florida Times-Union / Florida Times-Union
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
