The opening date for the new Publix at Thompson Nursery has been set for June 18, according to the grocer’s website.
Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets Inc.’s website shows the new store will have a footprint of 50,325 square feet, and will include a pharmacy and liquor store.
Winter Haven has the second most Publix stores in Polk County
The store will be at 8710 W. Lake Ruby Drive in Winter Haven. It is the second of five new Publix locations expected to open in Polk County this year. The Thompson Nursery location will follow the recent opening of another Winter Haven location on April 30 at The Shoppes at Country Club at 4267 Dundee Road.
That store was the fourth Publix store to begin operation in Winter Haven, which was the city where the chain’s original store opened in 1930. The other locations are:
Another store in a tiny unincorporated sliver of Havendale Boulevard between Winter Haven and Auburndale appears to be in the final stages. The Publix at Mariana Acres, a 55,000-square-foot prototype, is being built at Jersey Road and Havendale Boulevard. It will replace the current store at 606 Havendale Blvd. in south Auburndale.
A sign in front of the property in early April said “Coming Q1 2026,” but an opening date has yet to be announced.
Outside of the Winter Haven area, at least two other stores are under construction in Polk County or they will be soon:
In all, there are more than 30 Publix stores in Polk County with the most in Lakeland and the second most in Winter Haven. The county has additional Publix stores in Lake Wales, Haines City, Davenport, Auburndale, Bartow, Polk City, Fort Meade and Mulberry.
Lakeland is the headquarters for Publix Super Markets Inc, as well as where the grocer operates manufacturing and logistical facilities.
Publix is the largest employee-owned company in the U.S.
Publix Super Markets Inc. is the largest employee-owned company in the United States with 260,000 employees, its website said. The grocery chain operates 1,434 stores in eight Southeastern states.
Publix also operates 10 distribution centers, with seven in Florida and one each in Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. It has 10 manufacturing facilities in Georgia and Florida and 33 warehouses.
In 2025, its retail sales topped $62.7 billion. Publix is on the top 10 list of largest-volume supermarket chains in the U.S.
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Publix sets opening date for 2nd new store of the year in Polk County
Reporting by Paul Nutcher, Lakeland Ledger / The Ledger
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