AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. – Harris Teeter celebrated its grand reopening on Amelia Island Thursday, marking the end of renovations and providing much-needed grocery access to local residents who have faced limited shopping options.
The store’s reopening comes at a crucial time for the island community, which has been navigating a temporary food desert after multiple grocery stores closed simultaneously for renovations and conversions.
The renovated Harris Teeter features significant upgrades, including an in-store bar and expanded food offerings. Shoppers were greeted with a festive atmosphere, complete with live guitar music and various food samples, including fresh sushi and hatch chili cod.
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“I love it. I love Harris Teeter anyway,” Lynette Haddock said. “I think everything is going to work out even with the stores closing. They are going to come back even better.”
The reopening provides relief to Amelia Island residents who have been facing a challenging situation.
The Publix on Sadler Road closed in April for a complete rebuild and isn’t expected to reopen until fall 2026. Adding to the grocery void, the local Winn-Dixie is scheduled to close at the end of July for conversion into an Aldi, a process expected to take six to eight months.
During the simultaneous closures, residents had to travel 15 to 20 minutes off the island to reach the nearest grocery store. The Harris Teeter reopening reduces that journey to just minutes.
