As the supermarket industry heats up in Jacksonville with new players checking in, Publix Super Markets Inc. has been a updating its Jacksonville stores and has filed to renovate its 10th since January 2013.
Constructions costs alone total $8.2 million.
“The investments are simple. We want to continue providing the best environment for our customers’ shopping experiences, their needs and Publix associates’ working environment,” said Dwaine Stevens, Publix media and community relations manager.
“Refreshing, remodeling and rebuilding is a necessary strategy to assure we continue to meet the needs and demands of our customers,” he said.
The 10th is in review for 6001 Argyle Forest Blvd. at project cost of $575,000. McIntyre Elwell & Strammer General Contractors Inc. is the contractor.
In the past 15 months, Publix has announced or completed 10 Jacksonville projects that include renovations at stores along Old Baymeadows Road, Duval Station Road, Normandy Boulevard, Roosevelt Boulevard, Deerwood Lake Parkway, Merrill Road, Beach Boulevard and two along Argyle Forest Boulevard, as well as a reconstruction at Monument Road.
Those are just the recent ones in Jacksonville. They come after several others, including the 2009 reconstruction at 5858 Atlantic Blvd. and 2875 University Blvd. W. and the 2007 renovation to open at 7117 Merrill Road. In all, Publix has surpassed a $13 million Jacksonville investment and there are more being remodeled in the Beaches and neighboring counties.
The 10 latest projects are:
• 6001 Argyle Forest Blvd., No 45, 50,944 square feet, $575,000.
• 9518 Argyle Forest Blvd., 40,786 square feet, $550,000.
• 7749 Normandy Blvd., 45,170 square feet, plus a pharmacy remodel, totaling $710,000.
• 4320 Deerwood Lake Parkway, 43,840 square feet, $780,830.
• 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., 50,944 square feet, $325,000.
• 9100 Merrill Road, 50,327 square feet, $517,838.
• 12620 Beach Blvd., 51,420 square feet, $400,000.
• 731 Duval Station Road, 46,634 square feet, $550,000.
• 9964 Old Baymeadows Road, 46,778 square feet, $350,000.
• 2771 Monument Road, demolition of the existing store and construction of a 53,865-square-foot store, $3.4 million.
The publix.com site shows almost 30 Publix stores in Duval County.
Lakeland-based Publix was ranked by Consumer Reports as the No. 3 supermarket chain in the country in consumer satisfaction. The survey was published in the May edition.
It came in behind Rochester, N.Y-based Wegmans as No. 1 and Trader Joe’s, which plans to open its first area store in Jacksonville Beach, as No. 2.
Trader Joe’s is an example of the new competition entering the market.
Northeast Florida grocery newcomers include Earth Fare, GFS Marketplace and Patel Brothers, which all plan to open their first Jacksonville stores in Southside, while Trader Joe’s will open in Jacksonville Beach and is speculated to be looking at more areas for additional stores.
Another newcomer is Aldi, which plans stores in Middleburg and St. Augustine and is expected to open more in the area. The Sprouts Farmers Markets Inc. chain has been reviewing the market.
Freshfields Farm recently opened in South Jacksonville.
Those new players join the expanding Rowe’s IGA Supermarkets chain; The Fresh Market growth; Walmart Supercenters and Walmart Neighborhood Markets; as well as the established Winn-Dixie, Native Sun, Whole Foods, Save-A-Lot and SuperTarget stores, among others.
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