Publix

[Boomer136]

If one is going to a garden store it sort of presupposes you are not walking or taking PT. So many great nurseries and even the UF center by the airport for soil testing, advice, and supplies.

[spenser1058]

No link yet 'cuz I'm on the iPhone but the Sentinel is reporting the Walgreens in the old FNB/Valencia building will open in May. Definitely no pharmacy - just a 7-Eleven with cosmetics but at least it's finally more retail in the core.

[JFW657]

11 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

No link yet 'cuz I'm on the iPhone but the Sentinel is reporting the Walgreens in the old FNB/Valencia building will open in May. Definitely no pharmacy - just a 7-Eleven with cosmetics but at least it's finally more retail in the core.

They probably figure that's not the best location in the world to keep a bunch of prescription narcotic drugs stored.

[spenser1058]

A little bit more on the new concept Publix, this time in Hogtown (aka Gainesville).

From FOX35:

http://www.fox35orlando.com/news/local-news/252607272-story

 

[spenser1058]

Isn't it disheartening that everyone but us seems to be getting these?

[prahaboheme]

Spenser, what other cities are getting the new concept? I could see this concept doing well in North Quarter / Ivanhoe or possibly at Lynx Central Station (especially when UCF is a factor).

[spenser1058]

Downtown St. Pete also just got one. Supposedly, there are several more in the works but I haven't seen anything for us yet. The 5-year redo for Paramount comes up next year - I hope maybe they'll incorporate some of the changes into that.

[spenser1058]

Just like our neon signs and HankStrong's beloved brise, another rapidly disappearing part of our commercial art are the mosaics which were often painted outside the front of many local Publii. Some were commissioned by founder Mr. George himself.

Here are the latest two to disappear (one of which was by far the most unique of the ones I've seen - more skin than I'd expect from Publix' Baptist-leaning sensibilities!), from the Lakeland Ledger:

http://www.theledger.com/news/20170604/twin-mosaics-at-former-lakeland-publix-disappear-under-paint

Edited June 5, 2017 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Publix moved up two spots in the latest Fortune 500 rankings, to #85. It remains the highest ranked Florida-based company.

Much like our ill-fated banks, the largest of which all fell prey to out of state holding companies, Florida retailers have rarely made an impact nationwide. Publix remains the shining exception (even if they are only up to 7 states so far.)

 

[spenser1058]

With amazon purchasing Whole Foods and Jeff Bezos being unconventional in deciding exactly what he wants to do with it, it will be interesting to see how it affects Publix, central Florida's #1 grocer:

From the NY Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/16/business/whole-foods-walmart-amazon-grocery-stores.html?hpw&rref=business&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well

Personally, I'm intrigued by amazon's current experiment with sensors allowing you to buy and pay by use of your amazon app which may or may not ever make it to Whole Foods.

 

Edited June 17, 2017 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

This from Bloomberg is probably the best description I've seen so far about the short-term results of an amazon-Whole Foods combination:

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-06-19/four-easy-ingredients-to-make-an-amazon-whole-foods-souffle?cmpid=socialflow-facebook-business&utm_content=business&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social

[spenser1058]

CNN (among others) is reporting that we may have a bidding war on Whole Foods. It makes sense chiefly because so many players stand to lose by amazon getting such a large footprint in the brick and mortar grocery biz.

http://money.cnn.com/2017/06/19/investing/whole-foods-amazon-bidding-war/index.html

This may take a while to play out.

[spenser1058]

The Lakeland Ledger, Publix' hometown paper, had some great insight on how the amazon-Whole Foods acquisition might affect Publix:

http://www.theledger.com/news/20170621/how-amazon-deal-might-affect-publix

I also liked how the article noted other grocers might need to grow to have the resources to compete in e-commerce. Interestingly, privately-owned Publix might benefit from avoiding that trend:

“Publix can sit back and watch other competitors get bigger by buying subpar grocers and going further into debt by doing it,” he said. “That plan has worked out quite nicely for Publix in the past.”

Strategy is going to be crucial for the largest Florida-based company.

[spenser1058]

Enquiring minds want to know: PubSubs or Wawa Hoagies

The Palm Beach Post takes on the controversy:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/local/sub-warfare-wawa-worthy-publix-sandwich-throne/pxOtniakeCUsZCS6Ri5S5H/

[dcluley98]

8 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

Enquiring minds want to know: PubSubs or Wawa Hoagies

The Palm Beach Post takes on the controversy:

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/local/sub-warfare-wawa-worthy-publix-sandwich-throne/pxOtniakeCUsZCS6Ri5S5H/

Fake news!

[spenser1058]

The Palm Beach Post notes that Publix is fighting Amazon delivery by carpet-bombing its home turf with stores. So far, the strategy seems to be working:

http://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/business/supermarket-wars-publix-growth-routs-rivals-eyes-amazon-competition/gdzQZiYfgYdUsSEzMsMRVL/amp.html

[spenser1058]

An interesting milestone for our Publix at the Paramount: business has been growing steadily since it opened in 2008, but I was just there and EVERY register was open and had a line (including customer service). 

Of course, the hurricane panickers and the lunchtime crowd made it even busier than normal but it's interesting to see given that we were told there was no way downtown would support a grocery store. 

I'm just intrigued what the 10-year refurb next year might bring given all that's afoot in the supermarket business.

[HankStrong]

On ‎6‎/‎5‎/‎2017 at 2:34 PM, spenser1058 said:

HankStrong's beloved brise,

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Hisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

[spenser1058]

Publix at the Paramount is open again! Some of the shelves are still.sparse (makes it look like Walmart) and the sliced mushrooms left are still gnarly (just like Winn Dixie!) They promise we'll be back to Publix  standards by Thursday. Meanwhile, the associates were all as friendly as can be. Lots of eye candy out and about heading to WoB - it's easy to see UCF is out 'til Monday!

 

 

 

[prahaboheme]

 Whole Foods 365 Market opened near my apt (in SantaMonica). I finally went and thought about how well this concept would work in downtown Orlando to give Publix some healthy competition. Given Amazon's expansion into Orlando with the fulfillment center in Lake Nona, perhaps they are positioning themselves to also expand the 365 concept. 365 is essentially WF answer to Trader Joe's.

Trader Joes has seemed less bullish in their Orlando expansion, focusing on the wealthy suburbs (for now). Perhaps 365 could fill this gap downtown.

If the rumors are true that CVS is looking at downtown location due to Walgreens, it's only a matter of time before another grocer  moves in on Publix in the core (I'm not considering Earthfare - Lucerne the core).

As we've discussed here before, retail tends to follows retail. 

Edited September 13, 2017 by prahaboheme

[spenser1058]

Thank you.

Edited September 21, 2017 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

So now there's a musical about Publix and Mr. George - who knew? Wonder if it will come to DPAC?

http://www.theledger.com/news/20180120/musical-honoring-publix-founder-to-debut-at-chamber-event

From the Lakeland Ledger

[spenser1058]

Glad to see Publix has gotten with the program on this. Publix is an awesome grocer and one of Central Florida's true success stories.

However, their roots in uber-conservative Polk County often leave their politics lost in the '50's even as they solicit customers in the South's most progressive urban areas.

Here in Florida, we are #1 in new transmissions of the HIV virus in the US. Publix, as a Florida-based company, should be working diligently to curb that. Denying PrEP coverage to their associates ain't the way to get that done.

A special tip of the hat to FL Rep Carlos Guillermo Smith for working with Publix lobbyists and officials in Tallahassee almost as soon as the story broke to get this turned around.

http://www.towleroad.com/2018/02/publix-prep-2/

From Towle Road

Edited February 7, 2018 by spenser1058

[spenser1058]

Construction has begun on the first on-campus Publix at USF in lovely Temple Terrace. It's a smaller store, ostensibly geared toward college students.

Could there be one in our future for UCF's Alafaya or downtown campuses?

http://amp.fox13news.com/news/local-news/construction-for-on-campus-publix-begins-at-usf

From Fox13

[spenser1058]

Well, it's not exactly Amazon GO yet, but Publix continues to stick its toe in the digital water.

You could already use digital coupons and order your Pub Sub online (Instacart would even deliver it).

The latest idea is e-receipts that download to your Publix.com account. It eliminates the mile-long parapet receipt and even stores it in case you need it in the future.

Also, stores in the Tampa Bay Area are experimenting with telemedicine access to a doctor for a flat $45 fee (or with insurance.)

http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/The-next-step-in-telemedicine-Seeing-the-doctor-while-you-shop-at-Publix_165896599

From the Tampa Bay Times

Slowly but surely, the often-reticent chain is moving into the 21st century. It's kind of ironic given that Mr. George was on the cutting edge of innovations like automatic doors and a/c in the stores back in the beginning.