LOCAL NEWS · GROCERY

 By Marie Clements, The Woodbridge Gazette

For years, Publix fans in our area have had to drive south to the Stafford location — or settle for a taste of those famous Pub Subs on vacation. That wait is almost over. Publix Super Markets has signed a lease for its first Northern Virginia location right here in Prince William County, and if you live along Spriggs Road or anywhere in the Montclair, Hope Hill, or Woodbridge corridor, this one is for you.

The new store will anchor Ashland Square, a development at the northwest corner of Dumfries Road and Spriggs Roads — a spot that has sat largely vacant for years. It will carry a Manassas mailing address but make no mistake: this is a Prince William County store, and neighbors along Spriggs Road will be among its closest customers.

At 50,325 square feet, the store is a full-size Publix — roomy, well-lit, and stocked with the kind of prepared foods, fresh bakery, and impeccably organized produce sections that have earned the chain a near-cult following across the South. Publix has committed to hiring approximately 150 local associates when the store opens.

"We are excited to continue our growth across Virginia with a new location in Manassas," Publix spokesperson Jared Glover told the Prince William Times. "We look forward to making grocery shopping a pleasure for our new customers soon."

That word — pleasure — is something Publix takes seriously. The employee-owned company, founded in Winter Haven, Florida in 1930, has been recognized by Fortune magazine as one of the best places to work for 27 consecutive years. It is the largest employee-owned company in the United States, with more than 260,000 associates across eight states.

Its Virginia expansion has been methodical. Publix entered the state in 2017 by acquiring 10 former Martin's stores in the Richmond area, then spent the following years building a presence across the Richmond and Hampton Roads markets. It crossed into the D.C. region in December 2020 with its Stafford County store at Embrey Mill Town Center — and it's been eyeing Northern Virginia ever since.

The Prince William location is one of three new Virginia stores Publix has announced, alongside stores in Winchester and Stephens City. All three are expected to open in late 2026 or early 2027, supported by Publix's 2.2-million-square-foot distribution center near Greensboro, North Carolina.

For Woodbridge, the arrival of Publix signals something bigger than a grocery store. It's a vote of confidence in this community — a recognition that Prince William County's growth, its buying power, and its residents deserve the same caliber of retail that Fairfax and Arlington have long enjoyed. The long-vacant lot at Dumfries and Spriggs is about to become something worth the short drive.

No firm opening date has been set. We'll keep you posted as construction gets underway.

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 📍 Ashland Square, corner of Dumfries Road & Spriggs Road, Manassas/Montclair area

🗓 Expected opening: Late 2026 or early 2027

👥 ~150 local jobs

Photo: Pexels