Quick Summary
- On Oct. 6, 2026, the Dumfries Town Council unanimously approved three permits tied to a planned grocery store on Old Stage Coach Road, InsideNoVa reported.
- The permits cover a drive-thru pharmacy, beer and wine sales, and a sign plan. The site was rezoned for commercial use in September.
- Plans call for a 50,325-square-foot grocery store, about 6,700 square feet of other retail, outdoor dining and parking.
- The grocer has not been named as of Oct. 18, 2026. Local reporting points to Publix as a possibility, but nothing is confirmed.
- No opening date has been announced, and construction has not started.
In this post: What the council approved | The site and the plan | The Publix question | What it means for Dumfries residents and buyers | FAQ | Sources and reporting limits
What the council approved
Dumfries has been talking about getting a full-service grocery store inside town limits for years, and this month it took a concrete step. At its Tuesday, Oct. 6 meeting, the Town Council voted unanimously to approve three conditional use permits for a grocery-anchored project from Bridgeline Development, a North Carolina developer, according to InsideNoVa.
The three permits allow a drive-thru pharmacy, allow beer and wine sales, and approve a comprehensive sign plan for the center. Each passed 7-0, and no one spoke at the public hearings, Potomac Local reported.
The votes had been expected a month earlier. On Sept. 15 the council rezoned the property 7-0, but the meeting was adjourned before the permits came up, so they carried over to October, as Potomac Local recapped. Town leaders described the approval as progress, and Mayor Derrick Wood said the focus now shifts from “approval to execution.”
The site and the plan
The project sits at 17439 and 17471 Old Stage Coach Road, on about 15 acres near Richmond Highway (Route 1) and Potomac Shores Parkway. The land has been used as an auto salvage yard and a construction staging area, and the developer’s attorney told the council it needs significant redevelopment. The September rezoning changed it from limited industrial to general business.
Here is what the plans include, per InsideNoVa’s reporting:
- A 50,325-square-foot grocery store
- A drive-thru pharmacy
- About 6,700 square feet of additional retail space
- An outdoor dining area
- Parking and site improvements
The developer also said the sign plan adds “Dumfries Marketplace” branding, so the center may carry the town’s name.
By the numbers: A 50,325-square-foot grocery store and about 6,700 square feet of other retail on roughly 15.33 acres. Three permits approved Oct. 6, 2026, each by a 7-0 vote. (Sources: InsideNoVa, Oct. 7, 2026; Potomac Local, Oct. 14, 2026)
The Publix question
The name on the building is still unknown. Bridgeline’s attorney told the council the grocer would be announced in the future and did not give a date, saying the developer had been waiting on the rezoning and permits first. Potomac Local, reporting on the same meeting, said the name remains confidential. As of Oct. 18, 2026, no grocer had been publicly named in the reporting reviewed for this post.
The Publix talk comes from the developer’s track record. InsideNoVa, citing the Washington Business Journal, noted that Bridgeline has developed Publix stores and that 50,325 square feet matches Publix stores in several states, including the one under construction at Ashland Square outside Manassas. That is a reasonable clue, not a confirmation. Until the developer or the grocer announces it, treat it as a possibility.
What it means for Dumfries residents and buyers
A few practical takeaways if you live in or near Dumfries, or are thinking about buying here:
- Errands may get shorter. If the store is built, residents near Old Stage Coach Road, Route 1 and Potomac Shores would have a full-size grocery store and pharmacy in town, rather than driving to Woodbridge or Stafford for a big shopping trip.
- Approval is not construction. Permits clear the way, but site plan review, permitting, engineering, infrastructure work and construction are still ahead, as Mayor Derrick Wood noted after the vote. Potomac Local reported that construction has not started and that a stormwater fix near a retaining wall is still being designed. No opening date has been set, so don’t plan around one yet.
- Expect activity on the corridor. Redeveloping a former salvage yard at a busy gateway means construction traffic at some point. If you commute through that stretch of Route 1, keep an eye out for site work notices.
- Nearby homeowners: if you live close to the site and have questions about lighting, signage or traffic access, the Town of Dumfries planning office is the place to ask, and future site plans are typically public.
For a broader look at the town, including Montclair and Potomac Shores, see my Dumfries area guide. The grocery project is also listed on my Dumfries development tracker, along with Route 1 widening, the Potomac Shores VRE station and other town projects.
FAQ
Is a Publix coming to Dumfries?
Not confirmed. The developer, Bridgeline Development, has built Publix stores before, and the planned store size matches Publix stores elsewhere, according to InsideNoVa citing the Washington Business Journal. The developer told the council it will name the grocer later. As of Oct. 18, 2026, no grocer had been publicly named.
Where will the grocery store be?
At 17439 and 17471 Old Stage Coach Road, on a roughly 15-acre site near Richmond Highway (Route 1) and Potomac Shores Parkway.
What did the Town Council approve?
On Oct. 6, 2026, the council unanimously approved three conditional use permits: a drive-thru pharmacy, beer and wine sales, and a sign plan. The site was rezoned from limited industrial to general business on Sept. 15.
When will the store open?
No opening date has been announced. Potomac Local reported on Oct. 14, 2026, that construction had not started and that site plan review, permitting and engineering are still ahead.
Sources and reporting limits
- InsideNoVa, “Dumfries Town Council approves permits for grocer-anchored development,” Oct. 7, 2026 (also carried by WTOP).
- InsideNoVa, “Is a Publix coming to Dumfries? Council to consider new grocer-anchored development,” Oct. 5, 2026.
- Potomac Local, “Dumfries puts the grocery permits back on the table Tuesday,” Oct. 5, 2026.
- Potomac Local, “Dumfries clears last local permits for Old Stagecoach grocery project,” Oct. 14, 2026, updated Oct. 15, 2026 (vote counts, acreage, construction status).
- Reporting limits: The Town of Dumfries online meeting calendar did not show posted agendas or minutes for this meeting when checked on Oct. 12, 2026, and the town website did not load when rechecked on Oct. 18, 2026, so details rely on local news reports, including Potomac Local’s summary of the Oct. 6 agenda packet. The grocer’s identity and any construction schedule were not confirmed as of Oct. 18, 2026.
Have questions about living in Dumfries or buying near Potomac Shores or Montclair? I’m happy to talk it through. Reach out to Nikki anytime.