Site Preparation Begins On Phenix City Shopping Complex

PHENIX CITY, AL: Construction equipment has rolled onto a 22-acre site in South Phenix City near the intersection of two of east Alabama's busiest roadways and began the first steps of construction to a new shopping complex in Phenix City that will be anchored by a new grocer to the local market.

A project named the Villages at Crosswinds is set to open either late this year or early 2019. The project is a joint venture located on 22-acres of land between U.S. Highway 431 and Alabama Highway 165 near the campus of Chattahoochee Valley Community College. The new dynamic shopping complex will include several new retailers to the area with two already confirming their presences in the shopping complex.

The center will be anchored by a nearly 40,000-square-foot Alabama-based grocery store called Renfroe's Market. Renfroe's is a new chain to enter the market. The Montgomery, Alabama based supermarket is more than 35-years old. The chain opened its first location under the name McGehee Road Super Foods in the capitol city of Alabama. In 2008, the chain opened its second location in the cit of Dadeville, Alabama located in Tallapoosa County north of Auburn. In 2014, the chain was able to expand to the Chantilly Corners area of Montgomery with its largest location. The chain now looks to enter the Phenix City market in the coming months. The family owned supermarket is one that prides itself on a unique shopping experience.

In addition to the new Renfroe's Supermarket opening on U.S. Highway 431 a new pizzeria is on tap for the center as well. Marco's Pizza has announced that it will locate a new location in the shopping center. Marco's has a very visible presences in the Columbus and Phenix City market currently There is one location in North Phenix City at the intersection of Riverchase Drive and Summerville Road near the Publix Supermarket.

No other retailers have announced their arrival with the new shopping complex as of yet. However, the area has a lot of selling points to include nearly 30,000 vehicles that travel the roadway daily. The U.S. 431 corridor in Phenix City is also the main route to the Florida beaches of Panama City, Destin, and Fort Walton Beach. The shopping complex will include outparcel spaces as well as other space in the shopping center itself.

The Villages at Crosswinds will include more than 75,000 square feet of new retail space. The project has been in the works through a combined effort between Phenix City officials and developers. A project years in the making that was first revealed in December of 2016 at a Phenix City city council meeting. The future of the development does hope to lure in new business to the area to include a possible hotel chain, gas station, as well as fast food restaurants.

Construction equipment has began clearing away trees from the worksite and preparing the land for construction. The first new retailers are expected to be open by late this year or early next year. This project is just one of many in the works for Phenix City and the 431 south corridor is proving to be growing area of Phenix City as new apartments and retail have sprung up along the roadway over the past year showing that even more development may be in the works for the near future of south Phenix City.