What some called Statesboro’s “worst-kept secret,” ceased to be kept at all Wednesday. The “grocery store” planned for the corner of yet-to-be widened Old Register Road and yet-to-be built Tormenta Way near the Tormenta FC soccer stadium would be a sizeable Publix supermarket.

Pro soccer franchise president and Old Register Road Tax Allocation District lead investor Darin Van Tassell led the teases about “the grocery store” as he kept the focus on Tormenta soccer during the groundbreaking ceremony for the stadium.

“So, it’s about a new league. It’s about having professional players here in town. … All of our games are on ESPN. There are so many cool stories to tell, and yet so many people just really still want to know – about grocery stores,” Van Tassell said two minutes into the ceremony.

“And you’re laughing because you know it’s true,” he added.

Local officials, and even USL League One Senior Vice President Steven Short and stat e Economic Development Deputy Commissioner Kevin Langston then dropped “grocery store” quips into their remarks.

When Van Tassell spoke of it again, he noted the existence of a Facebook page, with more than 4,000 followers, devoted to bringing more grocery options to Statesboro.

He credited Heidi Jeffers, previously Tormenta’s vice president of franchise development, for suggesting a road for retail growth along the tree line north of the proposed stadium several years ago. At first dismissive of the idea, Van Tassell then called Development Authority of Bulloch County CEO Benjy Thompson in a quest to bring a “high-end grocery store” to the location.

“I said, ‘What’s Publix’s number? Let’s get their number; let’s call them.' Five minutes later the call was returned, and I will tell you it only took about two days for that to be sealed and signed and delivered,” Van Tassell  said. “It’s the worst-kept secret around here.”

Not a small store

The supermarket that he described will measure slightly less than 52,000 square feet, up from the original proposal of 41,000. It will occupy a 12.2-acre site north of planned Tormenta Way and south of Veterans Memorial Parkway. The supermarket’s owner will also develop three commercial outparcels there, Van Tassell said.

Watkins Real Estate Group is developing the Publix site, according to documents on file with the city of Statesboro and a statement that Van Tassell had provided in advance.

"Today marks a great day for Statesboro and southeast Georgia, and we're proud to partner with Publix on this development effort," Jay Levy, Watkins Real Estate Group president, said in the statement. "Publix and Watkins have a long-standing relationship and have already proven to be a community catalyst for our region, sparking significant interest and investment throughout the neighborhoods where our projects are located."

No Publix representatives took part in Wednesday’s ceremony.

All in the TAD

The Publix site is within the tax allocation district, or TAD, but will be owned separately from the stadium complex and other portions of the Old Register Road TAD development planned by JGR Development LLC, the ownership group that includes Van Tassell and his wife Netra, among others.

Further envisioned development in tracts totaling about 225 acres includes hotels, a theater, professional office suites and loft apartments. All of this, beginning with the stadium complex and the supermarket, was projected by Van Tassell’s group to involve private investment totaling $160.5 million.

With the prospect of the increased property tax and sales tax revenue, the developers convinced Statesboro City Council to create the tax district, devoting up to $4.75 million in property tax revenues from growth there after Dec. 31, 2018 to public infrastructure work in the district, especially road construction.

The Bulloch County Board of Commissioners and Board of Education also agreed to commit a share of their revenue growth to the TAD. But they required a document by Dec. 31, 2018, showing the grocery store operators’ intent to build the store.

Obtained by the newspaper with an open records request to the city in February, the document that officials said fulfilled that requirement was a Sept. 4 letter from Publix to Watkins Retail Group Vice President Bob Peck.

Officials pleased

County commissioners Chairman Roy Thompson called Wednesday “a great day for Bulloch County” and wasn’t just referring to the stadium.

“It’s like with Publix coming, that is a desire that I’ve heard about for many, many, many years, and it’s coming now to fruition, and for them to come back  to Bulloch County, I think it’s great. …” he said. “Myself and the commissioners are proud that they’re coming back.”

A Publix store briefly operated in a shopping center on Northside Drive East but closed about 20 years ago.

“To be able to have a professional sports team in the city of Statesboro, this is a very big deal. …,” Mayor Jonathan McCollar said, noting first the main reason for Wednesday’s ceremony.

“But as well Publix is finally coming  to the city of Statesboro after years and years of being away, so I’m extremely excited about that…,” he said, “and I think that  this entire development, $160 million-plus, is going to be a long-term investment for the entire  community that is going to provide  jobs and improve the quality of  life for  everyone.”

Timing uncertain

Arrangements needed to five-lane Old Register Road and build Tormenta Way and a connecting extension of Akins Boulevard are now in place, Van Tassell said. But the actual roadwork remains a factor in the timing of getting everything else built.

He expressed hope for completion of the stadium by the start of Tormenta’s season one year from now, but had no prediction of when the grocery store will open.

“When will they be done? When will the stadium be done? … ” he said, posing questions to himself in front of the crowd. “Well, none of that’s going to work, guys, if we don’t get roads finished.”

Herald reporter Al Hackle may be reached at (912) 489-9458.