Jacksonville residents will still see a Harris Teeter supermarket rise at Atlantic North, the company confirmed July 13, even as reports this month said Kroger Co. had abandoned wider plans to build scores of Harris Teeter stores across Florida.
Harris Teeter reiterated that the only announced Florida location is the Atlantic North site in Jacksonville and that it intends to open the store in early 2027. The company declined to comment on unannounced potential sites, saying it limits comments to locations where it is either operating or has executed lease agreements.
What this means for the neighborhood
The store is under construction at 11901 Atlantic Blvd., at the northwest corner of Atlantic and Kernan boulevards. Developer Sleiman Enterprises, which owns the shopping center, said construction will continue and that he has been told to press forward with the project.
“I got a deal and they told me to keep working on it,”
The comment came from Toney Sleiman, president of Jacksonville-based Sleiman Enterprises, who spoke July 13 about the development. Company filings and prior announcements indicate the Atlantic North store is expected to add between 100 and 200 jobs when it opens.
Company position and background
In its July 13 statement, Harris Teeter said it remains committed to customers in Florida through its existing Fernandina Beach store and that it routinely evaluates real estate opportunities aligned with long-term goals. The statement added that the Atlantic North location is the only site Harris Teeter has formally announced in Florida.
- Location: 11901 Atlantic Blvd., Atlantic North shopping center
- Developer/Landlord: Sleiman Enterprises
- Projected opening: Early 2027 (company statement)
- Estimated jobs: 100–200 positions
Regional context
The clarification from Harris Teeter followed reporting that parent company Kroger Co. had stepped back from plans to open up to 80 Harris Teeter stores statewide, an outcome tied in published reports to Kroger's broader corporate activity. Harris Teeter President Tammy DeBoer told attendees at a groundbreaking event in April that the company was looking for expansion opportunities across Florida.
For Jacksonville shoppers and nearby residents, the most immediate change is that construction at Atlantic North will continue and the neighborhood can expect a new grocery option with associated traffic, employment and commercial activity when the store opens.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Address | 11901 Atlantic Blvd. |
| Developer | Sleiman Enterprises |
| Opening window | Early 2027 (company) |
| Jobs projected | 100–200 |
City officials were not quoted in the company statement or by the developer. News Block will continue to follow updates on opening timelines, staffing plans and any further announcements from Harris Teeter or Kroger that affect Jacksonville expansion plans.
