87 years of Publix

A look at the architectural evolution of one of the largest grocery chains in the United States.

Publix in Downtown Fort Lauderdale at 601 South Andrews Avenue.

Publix opened this 29,431-square-foot store on the ground floor of Downtown Orlando’s Paramount at Lake Eola tower in 2008.

Pictured above, the third Publix GreenWise Market opened November 6, 2008, in Tampa’s Hyde Park.The first GreenWise Market opened on September 27, 2007 in Palm Beach Gardens. GreenWise Markets were created to increase awareness of nutrition; it focuses on organic and natural items. These stores are similar to the Whole Foods Market chain.

In December 2016, Publix opened its first in-store Starbucks location in the Orlando area. In May 2017, the grocery store chain opened a similar location in Gainesville on the site of the city’s first McDonald’s restaurant. This urban 30,000-square-foot model features includes an in-store Starbucks and a parking lot behind the building with spaces for 70 cars, 30 scooters/motorcycles and 30 bikes.

A rendering of a proposed Greenwise Market along West Gaines Street in Tallahassee. This location is anticipated to be completed in 2018.

In 2002, Publix completed construction on a new suburban 320,862-square-foot corporate headquarters in Lakeland. As of 2017, Publix employees 188,000. (Courtesy of The Beck Group)</i>

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Davis is a certified senior planner and graduate of Florida A&M University. He is the author of the award winning books “Reclaiming Jacksonville,” “Cohen Brothers: The Big Store” and “Images of Modern America: Jacksonville.” Davis has served with various organizations committed to improving urban communities, including the American Planning Association and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. A 2013 Next City Vanguard, Davis is the co-founder of Metro Jacksonville.com and ModernCities.com — two websites dedicated to promoting fiscally sustainable communities — and Transform Jax, a tactical urbanist group. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com