This week, Florida-based supermarket chain Publix confirmed an aggressive expansion campaign that defies all the economic contraction trends currently affecting the country. While many retailers are scaling back their operations, this type of supermarket seems to be stepping on the gas… at least in South Carolina and Florida.
Publix openings in December 2025
This month alone, Publix has officially confirmed the opening of three supercenters at the following addresses:
- Daniel Island, South Carolina (162 Seven Farms Drive).
- Aiken, South Carolina (1535 Silver Bluff Road).
- Jacksonville, Florida (9964 Old Baymeadows Road).
The Daniel Island Publix opened on December 3. It has an area of more than 50,000 square feet and represents the highest standard of luxury for the supermarket chain. The Aiken Publix opened three days later and also has approximately 47,000 square feet of retail space.
The Publix supermarket in Jacksonville, FL will open on December 11. However, it’s not all good news; to the sadness of many residents of Atlanta, Georgia, the iconic Atlantic Station store will close its doors permanently on December 27, so we’ll be able to do our Christmas dinner shopping there one last time.
Publix from its beginnings
The long history of the Publix 3930 supermarket chain began with a man named George Jenkins, who has gone down in corporate history simply as “Mr. George.” At that time, Jenkins was an ambitious young man who ran a Piggly Wiggly store in Winter Haven, Florida. He had many innovative ideas up his sleeve, so he traveled to Atlanta to meet with the owner of his chain of stores and propose improvements to the business.
However, he was left disappointed, as the chain owner did not even grant him an audience. According to corporate legend, the businessman was too busy playing golf to care about a simple small-town manager. Deeply insulted but equally motivated, Jenkins returned to Florida and made a radical decision: he quit his job, took his savings of $1,300 (a fortune during the Great Depression) and started his own store.
He was ambitious, but he wasn’t going to let his former boss get away with it. To add insult to injury, he opened his first store right next door to his former boss. Jenkins chose the name “Publix” after seeing it on a bankrupt movie theater chain. It sounded great—almost majestic—so he decided to take the name. He did well, but soon left the small grocery stores behind and decided to build his “dreamland,” a veritable palace of food that was much larger.
When we think of supermarkets in the 1950s, Rivas brings to mind a supermarket other than Publix. It was the first supermarket in the area to have air conditioning, which was crucial for surviving Florida’s brutal heat. It was one of the first to install automatic doors and fluorescent lights that made the products shine like jewels. That spirit of innovation helped the business thrive for decades. What started as a small store next to its competition has ended up becoming an empire of 1,466 stores.
Unlike its national competitors, Publix has remained true to its roots and operates strictly in eight southeastern states.
Publix vibes
The company’s slogan is “where shopping is a pleasure,” and they do everything they can to make that true. The thing that stands out most is the cleanliness. Their terrazzo floors are so polished that anyone would think they were wet. The smell is not industrial disinfectant, but a mixture of freshly baked bread and comforting fried chicken.
But Publix’s real success isn’t the retail space, it’s the people. It’s the largest employee-owned company in the United States. This means that both the person who cuts your ham at the deli counter and the person who rings up your purchase probably own shares in the company. They have a direct financial incentive to be friendly and efficient, and it shows in the way they treat you.
If you’ve never been to a Publix and one has just opened near your home, take the opportunity to check it out… You’re sure to be pleasantly surprised and find a new favorite supermarket!