TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Publix Rebuilding Store

ADVERTISEMENT

By RAY REYES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 9, 2008

PLANT CITY - The Publix at Walden Woods Shopping Center closed Saturday to make way for a bigger and improved grocery store that is expected to open in July.

During the project, the Publix pharmacy will move to a shop in the same plaza, spokeswoman Shannon Patten said. When construction is finished, the pharmacy will be moved back into the new Publix building, 2202 James L. Redman Parkway, Patten said.

Publix closed at 7 p.m. Saturday. The store will be torn down and rebuilt on the same site. Construction has been fast-tracked, Patten said, to avoid inconveniencing customers for an extended period.

Employees at the grocery will work at other Publix stores in the surrounding area during construction, Patten said. When the rebuilt store is completed, the employees will have an option to work at the Walden Woods location or stay at the supermarket where they were reassigned, Patten said.

In November, a contractor for Publix pulled a building permit for the $3.5 million project.

"It's not uncommon for us to do this," Patten said. "You can update only so many times. Sometimes you have to build from scratch."

The new store will boast a total of 45,000 square feet, an upgrade from its original floor plan of 38,000 square feet. A large tile mural outside the store that depicts strawberry fields will not be preserved, Patten said.

Publix opened at Walden Woods in 1985.
Patten said the store will feature the grocery chain's latest architectural and interior design packages.

"It's going to be a beautiful store," Patten said.

Publix has another Plant City store, on Thonotosassa Road south of Interstate 4.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT