Publix is soon opening a second new Florida location, the company announced on its website.
Unlike the renovated Clearwater Publix opening the week before, the Publix in west St. Petersburg will be all new but both will feature the Lakeland-based chain’s updated shopper-friendly style. The doors will whoosh open on March 12, after a ribbon cutting.
The 55,454 square-foot store will include many of the new design features Publix has introduced to other new renovated locations in the last year or so such as wider lanes, self-checkout lanes, expanded deli options like burrito bowls and fresh baked pizza, a salad bar and hot food buffet, and larger displays in the bakery, meat and seafood departments.
The St. Petersburg Publix will also have a pharmacy, a seating area and an adjacent Publix Liquors store, spokesperson Lindsey Willis said in an email.
The previous building, a renovated Albertsons, was demolished in 2024, TBNWeekly.com reported. Publix also will be closing a nearby location in Eagles Park Retail Center at 5577 Park St. N. on Saturday, March 7.
Publix Supermarkets has opened or reopened dozens of stores in 2025, many of them in Florida, featuring amenities such as olive bars, popcorn stands, Pours beverage bars, expanded service for online ordering, delivery and curbside pickup.
When is the new Florida Publix opening?
The new St. Petersburg Publix is opening at 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, Willis said. There will be a short ribbon-cutting ceremony just before that.
Where is the new Florida Publix opening?
The new Publix is at 6605 38th Ave North in St. Petersburg.
When is the next Publix opening?
The renovated Clearwater Publix is reopening at 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
Will the giant Publix shopping cart be at the grand opening?
Maybe! The massive 11’9” tall, 14’ long and more than 7.5’ wide Publix shopping cart can often be seen cruising around the area whenever a Publix opens.
The cart, built on top of a Volkswagen Sand Rail, has a driver sitting underneath and can reach speeds up to 45 mph.
More grocery chains expanding in Florida
Publix isn’t the only chain making big changes.
In 2025, discount grocery chain Aldi opened about 60 locations in the Sunshine State, many of them converted Winn-Dixie locations from Aldi’s brief acquisition of that company in 2024-2025. It was part of a push for the chain to open 225 new stores nationwide in 2025, the most they’ve ever opened in a single year. This year, the company is shooting for 180 new stores.
The newly renamed The Winn-Dixie Company is refocusing its efforts on its home state with plans for community-friendly redesigns.
Meanwhile Trader Joe’s, a more upscale grocery destination, opened a location in Daytona Beach in November and another in Melbourne on Dec. 3.
Where can I find a Publix near me in Florida?
As of Dec. 15, there were 908 Publix locations in Florida, more than four times as many as any other state, according to data site ScrapeHero. You can find one near you at publix.com/locations.
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Publix opening 2nd store in Florida in a week, here’s where
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
