In the past few days, multiple outlets have reported that Publix is "closing stores" in 2026 due to lagging sales. Should shoppers be concerned?
Publix sales were up in the second quarter, but probably not as much as the company would like. In their quarterly sales report, the grocer said total sales were $15.7 billion for the 13 weeks ended June 27, up just 1% from $15.6 billion year over year. However, comparable-store sales dropped 0.5 percent.
Net earnings climbed 20.5%, to $1.7 billion, reversing the 21.5% decline the Lakeland-based grocery chain reported in the first quarter. For the first six months of the year, sales increased 1.5% to $31.9 billion from $31.4 billion.
Publix leaders said slower sales growth was due to changes in Medicare
drug pricing from the Inflation Reduction Act, which reduced drug prices for 10 medications and decreased sales. They also cited “economic conditions impacting consumer spending.”
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Other grocery chains have also reported slower sales as shoppers fighting rising prices move to discount stores such as Aldi or warehouse retailers such as Costco, Sam's Club, or BJ's. The rising popularity of GLP-1 diet medications may also have allowed some shoppers to cut back on their grocery needs.
But the four Florida stores that multiple news and grocery industry sites listed as "closing" actually closed months ago. The four stores listed are:
- 5577 Park Street N., St. Petersburg
- 8250 Mills Drive, Miami
- 828 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach
- 4711 Babcock St. NE, Palm Bay
Three of the four shuttered because they are being rebuilt, according to Publix spokesperson Lindsay Willis, and the other closed a week before Publix opened a larger store a few miles away.
This also means the loss of three more of the hand-painted tile mosaics that used to decorate the fronts of older Publix stores around the state.
For the last several years, Publix — which operates more than 1,440 stores across eight states, with around 900 of them in Florida, has been opening dozens of new and redesigned or rebuilt stores across the state with a new, more customer-friendly design.
Publix has opened 16 stores in Florida so far just this year, out of 26 new stores across several southern states. Five more are scheduled to open in the next few weeks, including one in Bradenton on Oct. 22.
Why does Publix close stores?
"There are many factors that go into the decision to close a store," Willis said in an email. "Many times, it’s simply so that we can rebuild a new one in its place that will meet the needs of customers now and into the future."
Grocery stores may also close because population growth or changing traffic patterns make another location more attractive, or because the company can get a better real estate deal elsewhere.
This is not to say that a Publix closing, even temporarily with a new, shinier one on the way, can't have an impact to the local community. Building a Publix from the ground up, whether it is a new store or a replacement for a demolished one, can take 12 to 18 months, according to the Miami Herald.
Suddenly, the familiar store that used to be nearby, maybe even within walking distance, is no longer an option. That can be very disruptive, especially to nearby retirement communities or in lower-income areas where people rely on public transit to shop.
And it's not just grocery shopping that becomes more of a hassle; the Publix may also have been the area's only convenient pharmacy.
Here's a look at which Florida Publix stores closed this year, and why.
Miami Publix closed in January, another tile mural lost
A Publix at the Palms at Town & Country Mall in Kendall, in southwest Miami, closed Saturday, Jan. 17, after nearly 41 years in business. Green banners outside said, “Adding a fresh coat to our freshness.”
The store is being rebuilt, Willis confirmed, although she did not provide an estimated date.
St. Petersburg Publix closed in March
The location in Eagles Park Retail Center at 5577 Park St. N in St. Petersburg closed on Saturday, March 7.
While this left the local community without a Publix within walking distance, the building was leased in a shopping center that was already "gutted by vacancies," according to the Tampa Bay Times.
A new $11 million, 55,454-square-foot store with the company's new design opened at 6605 38th Avenue N. days later, on March 12, 2.8 miles away. The original building at that location, previously a renovated Albertsons, was demolished in 2024 for the rebuild.
Palm Bay Publix closed in July
After nearly five decades in business, the Publix at Palm Bay Center, 4711 Babcock St. NE, closed on Saturday, July 11, so the aging store could be demolished for a new building.
The Orlando Business Journal called the project a “multimillion-dollar demolition and reconstruction.”
West Palm Beach Publix closed in September
The Publix in the Southdale Shopping Center at 828 Southern Blvd, West Palm Beach, which services several neighborhoods in the city's south side, closed on Saturday, Sept. 26. Signs around the store said the location was closing “to build a new store on-site.”
In 2021, BET Investments, which owns the shopping center, filed plans with the city to tear down the 45,675-square-foot store and replace it with one 10,000 square feet larger.
The store opened in 1959 and was remodeled in the 1970s and 1990s.
More grocery chains expand across Florida
Publix is also facing competition as more chains expand to meet Florida's growing population.
The discount grocery chain Aldi is still rolling out its aggressive expansion across Florida, with more than 330 locations now and more coming.
Winn-Dixie is also expanding its redesigned store concept, most recently with an Aug. 15 opening in Keystone Heights.
Sprouts Farmers Market and Trader Joe's have also announced Florida growth plans.
Contributing: Andrew Marra, Palm Beach Post
C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Is Publix closing Florida stores due to sales slump? What's happening
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