After years of neighborhood debate and a construction timeline that felt like it might never end, the long-awaited Publix at Latta Park in north Durham is finally showing real signs of life. With a three-day job fair on the calendar and visible work ramping back up on-site, the mixed-use project appears to be lining up for a spring opening.
Publix job fair: when, where and who they’re hiring
According to WRAL, Publix is holding a three-day hiring event from Friday through Sunday, Feb. 20–22, at the Hilton Durham at 3800 Hillsborough Rd. Recruiters will be on-site from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day, looking to fill about 140 full- and part-time positions. The company is encouraging candidates to get a head start by submitting an application ahead of time through Publix's hiring portal.
Developer’s update and local leases
Austin Williams, a partner with Crosland Southeast, told WRAL that the rezoning process alone “was nearly three years” and that the Publix “should be open by spring.” Williams also said Crosland is in active lease negotiations with three Durham-based restaurants for nearby storefronts, though he noted that none of those deals has been finalized yet.
What Latta Park will include
Developer Crosland Southeast describes Latta Park as a walkable, park-focused neighborhood anchored by a grocery-anchored retail center. The project outline features plans for public art, a food-truck terrace, multi-use trails and solar panels on store rooftops, all intended to knit together the retail and residential pieces of the development.
Scale, homes and road upgrades
Coverage from the Triangle Business Journal notes that Latta Park will cover roughly 30 acres and include about 176 townhomes. The Publix itself is expected to come in at around 42,000 square feet and anchor about 10 acres of retail space. That reporting also details Crosland’s commitments to multimillion-dollar road improvements, including new turn lanes and sidewalk upgrades, aimed at easing the traffic worries that dominated much of the rezoning debate.
Why this matters to neighbors
The idea of a Publix at Guess and Latta has been a neighborhood flashpoint for years, as residents weighed the upside of a new full-service grocery store against concerns over congestion and environmental impacts. ABC11 first reported the planned Publix location at the intersection back in late 2016, setting off a long stretch of public comment that carried through both the rezoning process and the long construction timeline.
How to apply and next steps
Those who cannot make it to the Hilton for the job fair can still throw their hat in the ring online via Publix's hiring portal, where applicants can register for events or submit an application directly. If the current schedule holds, neighbors should start to see the center’s shops and park spaces coming to life in the spring as Publix opens its doors and nearby tenant spaces begin to fill in.
