Gateway Town Center Publix going out quietly

Business

This week is the last for Publix Super Markets Inc. to operate at Gateway Town Center after 20 years in business.

Publix announced in October it would close the location Dec. 28. In November, Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers said its Winn-Dixie brand would move into the space.

The Publix at Gateway Town Center will close, but Winn-Dixie will take over the store in the first quarter of 2020.

Southeastern Grocers spokesman Joe Caldwell said Dec. 23 he expects Winn-Dixie to hold its grand opening there in the first quarter of 2020.

Signs posted on the front doors Monday morning notified shoppers the store would close at 7 p.m. Dec. 28.

Another sign said the store wouldn’t be able to process Western Union, money order, lottery or coin machine transactions after Dec. 27.

Publix spokesman Dwaine Stevens could not be reached for comment Dec. 23.

On Dec. 23, less than a week before its closing, the produce area at the Gateway Publix was fully stocked.

A store associate said Publix wouldn’t be holding clearance sales and would continue to restock basic items throughout the week.

Once the store closes Dec. 28, items would be sent to other Publix locations, he said.

On Dec. 10, City Council unanimously approved a $850,000 taxpayer-backed grant to keep a grocery store at Gateway Town Center in Northwest Jacksonville.