Indialantic is a little closer to having its own Publix as the buildings once occupying the land are razed and construction on the new store is set to begin next month.
The grand opening should take place right around this time next year.
“We hope it may even be sooner,” said Matthew Williams of Melbourne-based Matthew Development, the real-estate investment firm facilitating construction. “It’s a unique prototype, so basically it’s specially designed to fit the community.”
Publix Media and Public Relations Manager Dwaine Stevens said the store will be “uniquely designed.”
“We look forward to serving this community in the immediate future,” Stevens said. “This location will be approximately 25,000 square feet.”
The design of each Publix prototype store varies but can include a café, expanded deli and bakery options, more prepared food items, and a cooking school. While Publix is hesitant to release too many details, Williams said he knows the Indialantic location will offer a café with prepared foods – as well as outdoor seating.
With 1,218 store locations (800 in Florida), Publix currently employs over 200,000 people. In 2018 retail sales reached $36.1 billion, a 4.4 percent increase from 2017.