Publix Super Markets Inc. wants to renovate its Mandarin store at northwest San Jose Boulevard and Interstate 295 at an estimated cost of $1.2 million.
Elkins Construction LLC of Jacksonville is the contractor for the renovation. Jacobs of Orlando is the architect.
The Lakeland-based company is asking the city for approval to renovate the almost 65,000-square-foot store, one of its largest, on 5.83 acres at 10500 San Jose Blvd.
Most Publix stores are 40,000 to 60,000 square feet.
The store was built in 1988 as an Albertsons grocery store, which closed in 2005. Publix renovated it and opened there in 2006.
It has since remodeled the store.
Publix operates the supermarket and pharmacy and a separate Publix Liquors there. It previously featured an Aprons Cooking School and adjacent community room on the south end, behind the liquor store.
Publix closed the cooking school in summer 2023 but continues to offer videos and recipes online.
Plans do not indicate whether the Aprons school or adjacent community room will be renovated for other use.
Publix spokesperson Hannah Herring said Aug. 28 that the space "will be left for future business consideration, but not a cooking school."
The store renovations will include adding a self-checkout corral and reducing the number of full-service checkout stands from nine to six. The adjacent customer service center will be remodeled.
Plans show new coolers and freezers; updated restrooms; and renovated deli, bakery, produce, floral, meat and seafood departments.
The liquor store also is being renovated.
Publix typically keeps its stores open during renovations.
Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons sold the property in 2005 to a Clearwater investor who then sold it in 2006 to 375 Woodcliff Drive Company LLC of DeWitt, New York.
Publix is next to a Target store.
Aprons Cooking School
The GroceryDive.com industry news site reported Aug. 4, 2023, that Publix ceased operations of its in-store Aprons Cooking School locations on July 31, 2023, but would continue its online cooking classes, citing an email confirmation by a spokesperson for the grocer.
The site said the Aprons Cooking School operated at 11 Publix stores in Georgia, Virginia and Florida. Classes sold out on a first-come, first-served basis and featured demonstrations from Publix Aprons chefs.
Publix also discontinued its full-service catering, which included delivery service and setup. “Over the past several years, our customers’ needs have evolved. They’re learning to cook through online classes and ordering our wide variety of catering platters for pickup and delivery to host their own events,” the spokesperson said.
Publix continues to offer appetizers, sandwich platters, deli meats, desserts and more for in-store pickup or delivery through Instacart, the grocer’s spokesperson said.
The Aprons Cooking School’s virtual classes and recipes are free and available online.
ApronsCookingSchool.Publix.com says: “If you’re looking to raise your culinary cred, our talented chefs are here to educate and inspire.”
There are four seasons of videos and recipes available.
“Cook along with an expert Publix Aprons chef to make delicious dishes and learn valuable techniques and tips to use in the kitchen,” it says, allowing people to click on a video to watch the episodes and find the full recipes.
Examples of the 20 Season Four selections include recipes in the categories of Italian Summer, Upscale Diner Foods, Father’s Day Grilling, Food Holiday: France, Seafood Fundamentals, Berry Explosion and When Life Gives You Lemons.
More than 60 videos and recipes are available online from the first four seasons.
Publix projects
Among its recent projects, Publix is:
• Demolishing and rebuilding its store at the Deerwood Village shopping center. Herring said Publix does not have a closing date for the store yet.
• Preparing to open its rebuilt store in Harbour Place Shopping Center. Herring said the opening is expected in the fourth quarter, which is September-December.
• Renovating in Duval Station Centre in North Jacksonville and Cobblestone Crossing in the Fort Caroline area of East Arlington.
• Preparing to clear land in the Nocatee West shopping center for a store.
• Preparing plans for a store in the St. Johns County master-planned community of Silverleaf.
The Shelby Report of the Southeast supermarket trade publication reported in June that Publix Super Markets Inc. leads with 35.7% of the grocery market share in the North Florida/South Georgia region, followed by Walmart Inc., at 26.6%, and Winn-Dixie at almost 17%.