Publix still coming to GB
Shopping center making progress, but slowly
BY VICI PAPAJOHN Gulf Breeze News vici@gulfbreezenews.com

Amidst rampant rumors of a Publix pull-out, officials at both the city and development firm Moulton Properties remain adamant that nothing has changed Publix will be opening in the Sea Shell Collections Shopping Center on Highway 98 sometime in early 2008.

"I think people are seeing that we do not have dumpsters on site, and they think we have stalled," explains Mary Moulton, Vice President of Moulton Properties. "But the truth is that there are many options available for disposing of the concrete and we are crushing it to help prepare a base for the project."

Moulton assures that the recycling of the concrete slabs is eco-friendly as it avoids dumping the massive amounts of debris into landfills, and only appears to be a slower alternative.

"We are already in the permitting process for the Publix store and for the shopping center stores," Moulton details. "There is a multi-level process of meeting the standards for the anchor store, the city and the county. We are well on our way."

"The Moultons have worked with the city to set the property back and to meet landscaping and design standards," City Manager Edwin "Buz" Eddy clarifies. "As far as we know, nothing has changed and we are on track for a Publix supermarket."

Publix officials did not return calls.