A Publix-anchored retail center has broken ground in Matthews, and the store is set to open in the fourth quarter of 2027. If you are buying in Matthews, it is good news to know about, and it is not a promise about your home's price.

Quick Answer: Pappas Properties broke ground on the retail village at Cadia Village Matthews, an 84-acre mixed-use campus, and the roughly 50,000-square-foot Publix is set to open in the fourth quarter of 2027, according to REBusiness Online on October 6, 2026. Jennifer Ledford of The Ledford Group at eXp Realty tells Matthews buyers to treat it as a convenience to watch, not as a reason to pay more for a home.

I'm Jennifer Ledford with The Ledford Group at eXp Realty. I work with buyers and sellers in Matthews, Stallings, Marvin, Weddington, South Park, and across the Charlotte Metro. Buyers ask me what is changing in Matthews. This is a clear, dated answer.

What is being built at Cadia Village in Matthews?

REBusiness Online reported on October 6, 2026, that Pappas Properties broke ground on the retail center at Cadia Village Matthews. The reported details:

- A Publix of about 50,000 square feet, with a full-service pharmacy and drive-thru

- About 150 associates once the store is open

- An opening in the fourth quarter of 2027

- Other planned tenants including medical offices, a bank branch, fast-casual and sit-down restaurants, and neighborhood shops and services

- Single-family homes and townhomes under construction by David Weekley Homes on the campus

- Choate Construction building the retail village

The earlier lease announcement, reported in July 2025, described the development as an 82-acre master-planned community. The October report uses 84 acres. I'm using the newer figure and noting the difference.

None of the reports I read gave the exact cross streets, so I won't guess. Ask me for the address if you are looking at a specific home.

What does this mean if I am buying in Matthews?

Here is my read, and it is my opinion, not a fact. A new grocery store and shops can make daily errands easier for the homes nearby. It can also bring more traffic and construction. Nobody can tell you today what it does to prices.

What I can say is what to check before you decide.

Measure it yourself. For any home you like, use a map to find the drive time to the site and then drive it at 5:30 on a weekday and on a Saturday morning.

Ask about construction. The retail center is only starting. Homes on the campus are also under construction. If you are buying close by, ask the seller and the builder about the schedule.

Look at sold homes. Ask me for homes that closed near the address in the last 30 days. That tells you more than a headline.

How does Matthews compare with its neighbors for growth?

Matthews' mayor, John Higdon, told WSOC that about 90% of the town's land is already developed, and that more than 2,000 housing development requests were withdrawn or denied in the last five years. He said traffic is the top concern. WSOC's report did not show a publication date that I could confirm, so treat that as background.

The same report said Matthews grew about 4.5% from 2020, while Indian Trail, Stallings, and Monroe added more than 20,000 residents combined. This is why I tell buyers that Matthews is a different kind of market from the faster-growing towns around it.

What does everyday life in Matthews look like now?

Downtown Matthews has independent shops and galleries. The Matthews Community Farmers Market is on Saturday mornings on Trade Street. Squirrel Lake Park has a lake with fishing, a disc golf course, and a walking trail. Sycamore Commons has a grocery and other shops. A Publix at Cadia Village would give some residents another option.

Hours and seasons change, so check before you go.

What should a buyer do next?

If Matthews is on your list, visit the area on a weekday and a Saturday. Pick the roads you would use. Then tell me your budget and your must-haves, and I will build a list that fits.

You sign a buyer agency agreement and I give you full representation. I tell you when a price is too high, even when you love the house.

You can reach me at 704-607-6996.

Frequently asked questions

When will the Publix at Cadia Village in Matthews open? It is set to open in the fourth quarter of 2027, according to REBusiness Online on October 6, 2026. Construction schedules can change.

How big is the Publix planned for Matthews? It is about 50,000 square feet with a full-service pharmacy and drive-thru, and it is expected to employ roughly 150 associates.

Will the new Publix raise home values in Matthews? No one can say yet. A new store adds convenience, and it can add traffic. Compare recent sold homes near the address you are considering.

Is new construction happening at Cadia Village? Yes. REBusiness Online reported that David Weekley Homes is building single-family homes and townhomes on the campus.

About Jennifer Ledford: Jennifer Ledford is a licensed real estate agent with The Ledford Group at eXp Realty LLC, serving buyers and sellers across Mecklenburg, Union, Stanly, and York Counties since 2016. She is among the top 3% of 18,000+ agents in the Charlotte Metro, an eXp ICON, and has guided 250+ clients through some of the most significant transactions of their lives. Reach her at 704-607-6996 or https://the-ledford-group.com.

Jennifer Ledford | 📞 704-607-6996 | 🌐 https://the-ledford-group.com