Publix shoppers in the Upstate can expect two changes soon: new grocery stores are coming to Duncan and Powdersville, and the chain is eliminating the 10-item limit at its express checkout lanes.
Upstate South Carolina will soon be getting new Publix grocery stores at the corner of Highway 29 and Pine Ridge in Duncan and off 3518 Highway 153 in Powdersville. Publix opened a new location of its Florida-based grocery chain in Mauldin on Sept. 17, 2025.
Duncan, SC, getting new Publix
Duncan is getting a Publix grocery store at the corner of Highway 29 and Pine Ridge.
The Town of Duncan announced the news in a Facebook post earlier this year.
"We are excited to welcome another business to our growing community and provide residents with even more shopping and convenience options close to home," according to the post. "Exciting times are ahead as Duncan continues to grow, thrive, and attract new opportunities for our citizens and visitors alike."
The store is expected to open in the summer of 2027.
Publix opening soon in Powdersville
Nearly four years after the Powdersville Bi-Lo closed, a new grocery store will anchor a shopping center at the site.
Officials broke ground Feb. 12 at the site of a new Powdersville Publix. The new grocery store will be located at 3518 Highway 153.
The store is scheduled to open in mid- to early 2027.
The new Publix will include a pharmacy.
Powdersville Plaza is located at the intersection of Highway 81 and Highway 153. It is a neighborhood shopping center approximately 100,000 square feet and is home to Choi’s Cleaners, The UPS Store, King Wok, Los Amigos, Primary Care, and Ken Shuler, along with recent additions such as Marble Slab Creamery and Great American Cookies, according to a news release.
“We are excited to continue our growth in the Upstate with another location for customers to experience the Publix difference,” said Jared Glover, media relations manager for Publix, in a Sept. 23, 2024, news release. “We look forward to welcoming our new customers soon.”
The Publix will replace the former 50,000-square-foot Bi-Lo grocery store.
Publix in Mauldin opened at The Shops at Arden Woods
Publix opened a new location of its Florida-based grocery chain in Mauldin on Sept. 17, 2025.
Located at The Shops at Arden Woods, the new Publix store occupies more than 48,000 square feet and is situated at the southwest corner of the property, 1311 Fork Shoals Road.
The store also features a Publix signature deli, floral department, and pharmacy. It is store number 2100 within the Publix brand.
Publix removed 10-item limit in express checkout lane
Soon, Publix shoppers in South Carolina will no longer need to count the items in their cart before using the express checkout lane.
The Florida-based grocery chain has removed the 10-item limit for its express lanes, the company confirmed in an emailed statement to USA TODAY.
"To better serve our customers and improve checkout efficiency, we recently updated our express lane process to provide associates with greater flexibility in managing customer flow," the company said in the statement. "Rather than adhering to a specific item limit, our focus is on reducing wait times and ensuring customers can be served as efficiently as possible."
The company added that it is currently rolling out the change to all its stores.
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Publix's decision sparks debate among shoppers
Publix's decision has sparked debate online about whether this is a good or bad move for shoppers.
"An express lane with no item limit is just another checkout lane," one user wrote on Reddit.
"They got rid of the express lane at my store. It stands there empty, like a ghost observing the self-checkout machines," another user wrote, with a third user expressing the opinion that self-checkout will take the place of express checkout lanes.
"I actually kinda like this," one user wrote on the Reddit thread, expressing that express lanes are meant for "quick orders" and noting that "8 different bags of dog food is gonna take way longer than 15 cans of vegetables" to scan.
Publix currently operates more than 1,400 locations across Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Kentucky.
Greenville Content Editor Jose Franco and reporters Travis Rose and Terry Benjamin contributed to this article.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at [email protected].