by Sean McManus
Staff Writer
The isles are a little tighter, but the sushi looks fresh and parking is not a problem at the new Riverside Publix, which has been open for almost a month.
“We haven’t really had many surprises,” said Steve Wilt, the store’s manager, whose last Publix on Beach Boulevard was 55,000 square feet as opposed to Riverside’s 27,000. “We’ve been getting lots of positive feedback. Customers are ecstatic that we’re here.”
The tighter space, Wilt said, means that the 115-person staff has to work together. “There’s not as much room for error,” said Wilt. “Everything has to go in its proper place.”
Which means bakery chefs are stocking soup cans and the guys in produce have to know where they keep the salami.
In a testament to the upscale neighborhood, Wilt has placed bistro sets outside the entrance so that customers can order a sandwich from the deli at lunch and sit outside. “Right now we’re getting a pretty good-sized lunch crowd,” said Wilt. “I’m not sure how that will change when the other food spots in the shopping center like Papa Johns [Pizza] open.”
Regardless, Wilt said he wants to get another table and some more chairs for the Publix patio.
Wilt said that overall, out of the 140 special requests that they have received so far, most were not of the fancy ilk that one might expect from the residents of Riverside/Avondale.
“The requests have been pretty varied,” Wilt said. “We’re working on getting those in right now.”
Wilt said he is lucky that the parking has just sort of “worked itself out,” adding they were expecting problems, but a general flow of traffic has kept the parking lot civil.
According to Dwaine Stevens, the community affairs manager for Publix in Jacksonville, the Riverside Publix will initially take some business away from other grocery stores located in the vicinity.
“Sure, I’d say the Publix on Roosevelt [Boulevard] may experience a slight decrease in traffic at first while people check out the new one,” he said. “But people always end up going back to the Publix that is closest to them.”
Stevens said that market research showed they would be taking customers away from other supermarkets around Riverside — but not other Publix supermarkets.
However, about half of the customers interviewed this week said they used to shop at the Roosevelt Publix, but that Riverside is closer, so they switched.
“I love everything about this Publix, especially since I can walk to it,” said Flossie Hodges, 92, who has to shop at Publix because her grandson, Jason, works at the Publix warehouse on Beaver Street. “I used to go to Roosevelt but this one is a stone’s throw from the Presbyterian apartments.”
Stephanie Royal, who often makes supply runs for her company downtown, likes the Riverside Publix because of its proximity to her office.
“I live in Avondale and work downtown so it’s perfect,” she said.
According to another Publix shopper, because of its size and neighborhood feel, many residents are referring to this Publix as the “pick-up Publix,” where shoppers can get in and out with minimal time and effort. The closest big supermarket to the Riverside Publix is a Winn-Dixie on McDuff Avenue.
Sue Harker, who is the property manager at Melbourne-based Sembler Company, which is leasing the Riverside property, said Publix will soon have several new neighbors: Starbucks, which opened June 29; China Joy Restaurant and Papa Johns Pizza, which opened last week, Quizno’s Subs, which opens Wednesday; H&R Block, set for July 15; Sushi Cafe, Aug. 25; Nevia’s Hair Care, Sept. 1; Great Clips, a value-priced hair salon, Oct. 1; and Mail Boxes, Etc., set for Nov. 1.