The History of Publix: From Florida to North Carolina

When George Jenkins opened the first Publix in 1930, he didn’t immediately focus on expansion or where he would be opening the next store. His goal was to run a better store than anyone else in town. So he focused on his customers and how he could make their shopping experience a pleasant one. After five years, he decided it was the right time to open his second location.

He continued to look for ways to not only meet his customers’ expectations, but exceed them. This led him to make the decision of closing his first two stores to open his dream store, the first Publix Super Market, in 1940. This revolutionary grocery store was unlike any other store of its time. With its marble counter tops, air conditioning, fluorescent lighting, electric eye doors and terrazzo floors, Mr. George’s supermarket quickly became THE place to be.

Publix stores continued to open throughout the state of Florida, expanding from central and southwest Florida, to the southeast coast in the 1960s, and the northern part of the state in the 1970s. In 1991, we crossed the line into Georgia, and we’ve been expanding ever since. Today we operate in a total of six states, and Virginia has been added to that list!

To check out some memorable moments and cool stores from around the Southeast region, please see below.

Do you remember any of these notable moments? We’d love to hear from you.

1930 ― First store opens in Winter Haven, FL.

1959 ― First Miami store opens, #46.

1963 ― Miami Distribution Center and office opens.

1971 ― Jacksonville stores open on Mar. 30 (#162 & #163) and another store opens Oct. 5 (#165).

1974 ― Jacksonville Distribution Center and office opens.

1991 ­― First Georgia store opens on Nov. 20 (#412, Savannah), which was assigned to the Jacksonville Division.

1992 ― First official Atlanta Division store opens, #33, 3605 Sandy Plains Road, Marietta, Ga. (Nov. 12).

1993 ― Our first South Carolina store opens, #449, Mt. Pleasant (Dec. 6).

1996 ― Our first Alabama store opens, #573, Owens Cross Roads (July 31).

2002 ― First two Tennessee stores opened in Nashville area — #176 in Franklin and #182 in Hermitage.  (Both opened on Oct. 2).

2014 ― First Charlotte Division store opens in Charlotte, NC (Store #1442).

2017 ― First Virginia store will open!

Unique Publix Super Markets Across the Southeast

Miami Beach, Florida

Riverview, Florida

Alpharetta, Georgia

Jacksonville, Florida

Atlanta, Georgia

Ballantyne, NC