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The basics of the new Publix at Cold Spring Pointe

Address: 5401 Alexandria Pike, Cold Spring, Kentucky.

Building type: Publix will be the anchor store of a 52-acre development called Cold Spring Pointe in Campbell County. The shopping plaza includes a Chick-fil-A, Wawa, Hobby Lobby, and Marshalls. 

Owner/developer: Midland Atlantic Properties.

Size: 48,387 square feet.

Cost: The total cost of Cold Spring Pointe is almost $80 million.

What you need to know: It’s the second of 5 Publix Super Markets coming to Northern Kentucky

The Publix at Cold Spring Pointe was the second one announced in Northern Kentucky and may soon be the second to open its doors.

In 2024, Publix Super Markets announced plans to open five stores across Northern Kentucky at the following locations:

• Near Triple Crown Boulevard and Richwood Road (Boone County), which opened in March 2025.
• At Madison Pike and Harris Pike in Independence (Kenton County).
• In Cold Spring at the southeast corner of Ky. 9/AA Highway and Alexandria Pike (Campbell County).
• At Farmview Commons, which borders Florence and Union, on U.S. Highway 42 (Boone County).
• In the Shoppes at Hebron Pointe at southwest corner of Williams Rd and Worldwide Blvd. (Boone County).

The Publix at Cold Spring Pointe is going up next door to a Publix Liquors, which will sell beer, wine and spirits. It will also include a drive-thru pharmacy.

Publix, a Florida-based company, first made its way into Kentucky in January of 2024 when it opened a 55,701-square-foot store in Louisville. 

Its presence in the area challenges the dominance of supermarket giant Kroger, which has been based in Cincinnati for more than 140 years. 

More grocers, more convenience stores Convenience store wars: Wawa, Sheetz and others are invading UDF’s turf

When will the new Publix open?

An opening date is still unclear. But Publix spokesperson Jared Glover confirmed the store is slated to open this summer.

He added that a hiring event is scheduled from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on April 24-26 at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites at 8 Hampton Lane in Wilder.

After all signs earlier this week seemed to point at Robert Wright being Kentucky’s answer at point guard, the BBN went ahead acquainted themselves with the high-scoring floor general. Banners were hung on houses in Lexington and, in droves, fans followed Wright and posted about him online. It seemed surefire, in part because everyone outside of the bluegrass seemed to think so.

Until they didn’t and, suddenly, it wasn’t. BYU pages began to come out of the woodwork and claim a Wright return to Provo was imminent. The confidence dropped off completely on Kentucky’s front, and what at first seemed like a naer-certainty turned into a toss-up. Of course, Cats fans reacted in anarchy.

But beyond the panic and potential pain of losing arguably the best guard in the portal, Mark Pope may already have the perfect backup plan in place. If Wright ultimately decides elsewhere, previous visitor Zoom Diallo should slot right in as Kentucky’s obvious preference at point guard.

Pope’s Perfect Backup Plan

Diallo not only visited prior to Wright but, for a time, looked like Kentucky’s preferred option. Until Wright was brought on campus alongside No. 1 recruit Tyran Stokes, Diallo was hanging out with Coach Pope at Keeneland. What’s more, the only other major suitor for the guard, in Arizona, just added two players in their backcourt.

Effectively, it seems, the runway if clear for Kentucky to pay Diallo and bring him on board. Wright’s indecision can only hold Pope and his staff hostage for so long; pivoting to “Plan B” isn’t necessarily a bad thing and, in this case, could even be a better outcome for the Wildcats.

Diallo is a textbook SEC guard who is likely to come at a lower financial rate than Wright, too. As far as I’m concerned, Kentucky may as well pull the trigger now.

Pivoting to Diallo to Prioritize the Roster

If Pope and Kentucky are in a bidding war for Wright, what does it look like if the staff waits a few more days to land him? Especially if the price is further raised, Kentucky could miss out on an array of solid complimentary pieces.

Wright played alongside AJ Dybantsa last season at BYU and, in spite of that ultra-exciting combo, the Cougars were a first-round exit in the NCAA Tournament. Not that Wright wouldn’t be a good addition but, if he puts off a decision much longer, Pope could be better off pursuing Diallo before it’s too late.

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One of Kentucky’s top portal targets has arrived in the Bluegrass State.

According to The Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman, Syracuse transfer forward Donnie Freeman made it to Lexington on Tuesday night. Kentucky was quick to reach out to Freeman once he officially entered the portal last week. That led to a Zoom call between the two sides, and now a visit to UK’s campus.

A 6-foot-9 rising junior, Freeman averaged 16.5 points and 7.2 rebounds in 31.3 minutes per outing last season for Syracuse while shooting 47.4 percent from the field. On3 ranks him 20th overall and the fifth-best power forward to enter the portal so far this offseason. Alabama and UConn are also after the talented forward prospect.

A former five-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American, Freeman spent the last two seasons with the Orange under head coach Adrian Autry. Freeman averaged 13.4 points and 7.9 rebounds in 25.5 minutes per contest on 50.4 percent shooting as a true freshman, logging six double-doubles along the way. But both his college seasons have been marred by foot injuries. He’s played just 37 college games — 14 as a freshman, 23 more as a sophomore.

Kentucky has already hosted a couple of top portal guards since the weekend. Washington’s Zoom Diallo and BYU’s Rob Wright III have both been in Lexington over the last several days, as has five-star high school wing Tyran Stokes. Freeman is the fourth known visitor of the portal season so far. Kentucky is still searching for its first new commitment for the 2026-27 roster.

It’s Transfer Portal SZN on KSR+

If you’ve ever been curious about KSR+, our premium sister site, now is the time to try it out. We’re doubling down our efforts to bring you bonus coverage of the Cats and the intel and analysis you can’t get anywhere else. Subscribe now for an inside look at a pivotal offseason for Mark Pope and Kentucky Basketball and Will Stein’s first year at the helm of Kentucky Football, along with access to KSBoard and House of Blue, the most vibrant message board communities in BBN. Join the club right now for 50% off an annual subscription.