Big News for Southside: Johnson’s Giant Foods Coming to Town

Southside, AL — After years of planning and persistence, the City of Southside has officially announced that Johnson’s Giant Foods will be opening a new location in town.

City officials confirmed that a lease-to-own agreement and tax abatement deal have been approved, paving the way for Johnson’s to move into the former Burton’s grocery building. This comes after nearly three years of behind-the-scenes efforts to bring a full-service grocery store to Southside.

Initial talks with Johnson’s began years ago, but the high cost of new construction stalled the project. That changed earlier this year when the potential closing of Burton’s reopened the door. City leaders quickly reconnected with Mack Johnson and his team, and the pieces began to fall into place.

On June 10, the Southside City Council authorized the purchase of the Burton’s property. Two weeks later, on June 24, the Council approved the incentive package and lease-to-purchase plan, marking a major step forward for the project.

“This is a big win for Southside,” city officials said in a statement. “Not only will it maintain access to groceries in our community, but it will also support local jobs and generate new revenue to improve city services and infrastructure.”

The city thanked Johnson’s leadership for their commitment and investment, calling the project a “strong example of what happens when relationships, timing, and shared vision come together.”

Johnson’s Giant Foods is expected to begin preparations for the new store in the coming weeks.