Photos: Big box in urban environments

[Aessotariq]

One of my favorite hobbies is to see how retailers who are used to building in suburban conditions adapt to the confines of the urban environment.

What I tend to look for and observe are the types of storefronts they set up, land use and efficiency, aesthetics, how they accommodate parking needs, what types of vertical transportation devices they implement (elevators, escalators, etc.), pedestrian-friendliness, and the overall experience. I've been archiving photos of what I might call "dense big-box", and these will be tracked here.

[Aessotariq]

PUBLIX: EMBRACER OF THE URBAN MARKET CONCEPT

Kudos goes out to Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets for the incredible strides they have made in urban markets. These stores have been extremely successful in the areas they serve. Here is a small sample, with more to come:

Publix on the Bay - Miami Beach

The most famous and unique urban Publix is Publix on the Bay in Miami Beach. The store is located in a quiet residential neighborhood and warehouse district. This three-story building is comprised of a ground-floor supermarket and two levels of parking above it. Parking entrances and exits are on the sides of the building, away from the front, reducing pedestrian and vehicle conflicts. A inclined people-mover brings shopping carts to the parking levels.

This store was featured in a photo tour, and you can see more pictures here:

Publix at Surfside

In this Publix store in the beachside town of Surfside (north of Miami Beach), the grocery store itself is situated on the second floor. The ground floor is a parking garage. You can enter the store either by riding the people-mover ramp or taking the elevator. The parking garage entrance is in the back of the store.

Entrance and exit is via ramp or elevator. The wheels of the shopping carts are tongue-and-groove style with rubber feet, specifically designed to grab the conveyor belt and hold it in place.

An elevator is also available as an alternative to the ramp.

Publix store in Coral Gables

The next incarnation of Publix store is a mixed-use development in Coral Gables. The building,called Douglas Grand, is an L-shaped building comprising a Publix on the ground floor, and the upper floors containing offices, parking, and residences.

Several other stores worth mention in the Miami-Dade area: there are two urban stores in the Brickell area and a suburban-style store with roof-top parking in Miami Shores. Under construction is a third Publix in Brickell, which will be part of the Mary Brickell Village project. Broward and Palm Beach have seen urban stores as well, with a store in downtown Fort Lauderdale and one in CityPlace in West Palm Beach... Photos to follow.

More retailers to follow, as well.

[Florida]

I like the Publix that captures the corner with the nice rounded entry. Great pictures.

[prahaboheme]

Orlando's first urban Publix will be on Central Ave downtown in this building:

picture by orlandoskyscrapers.com

This baby breaks ground in November I believe.

[Aessotariq]

^ Great project. I'm glad to see more of this kind of stuff in other parts of the state. I can't stand parking lots and wasted space.

I just remembered another project that will feature a Publix: the new Fifth and Alton on South Beach:

[prahaboheme]

So that makes three urban Publix's in Miami Beach?

[Aessotariq]

Yeah, south of the Haulover Inlet there are two completed "urban" Publix stores, one suburban-style store in North Beach (6800 block), a suburban-style store with that 1960s-70s deco design just north of Lincoln Road, and one future "urban" store for the Fifth and Alton site (5th St and Alton Road, site has been cleared).

[Urban_Legend]

^^I love that 5th and Alton project. Publix is the generally the most aesthetically pleasing grocer down here. I don't have any pics of the one in Cityplace, but it's nice. It has multiple entrances, for street and parking access.

[Aessotariq]

Publix at City Place West Palm Beach

Here are my Publix pics from my last trip...

Corner Entrance

Storefront

Parking lot side (in the back)

[Aessotariq]

Publix at Las Olas - downtown Fort Lauderdale

This store is located downtown, one block west of the Broward County Courthouse.

Lobby and mezzanine

People-mover ramps to parking

[Aessotariq]

DADELAND STATION

Before you think this is just a Publix thread , this is Dadeland Station in the Kendall area. An experiment in suburban density, it takes the traditional suburban strip and stacks it vertically. It's also a transit-oriented development, located across from the Dadeland North Metrorail station. There are three retail levels and six parking levels. It amazes me to think how much space this would take up in a typical suburban layout.

Thomasville Furniture

Parking area across from retail area

[Florida]

I hope you don't mind Aessotariq... but I have to use one of these great pictures to demonstrate to one of my fellow Tallahasseeans that a Publix is well suited for a downtown.