Winn-Dixie remodels at Town Center Village and opens a new liquor store

Winn-Dixie opened its new liquor store prototype June 30 that was carved out from its newly remodeled supermarket at Beach Boulevard and St. Johns Bluff Road.

“We think that’ll be something that the customers will really love to shop and enjoy here at the store,” Southeastern Grocers District Manager Greg Stanford said at the introduction of the renovated supermarket and the liquor store.

Winn-Dixie is part of Southeastern Grocers.

The city issued permits April 27 for Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers to build-out a liquor store within space at its Winn-Dixie supermarket at 11380 Beach Blvd. and to renovate the store to accommodate it.

Williams & Rowe Co. Inc. was the contractor for the $630,000 project in Town Center Village.

The project comprised a $450,000 renovation of the 40,685-square-foot store and a separate $180,000 build-out of 2,665 square feet for the Wine & Spirits space.

The Wine & Spirits store is accessible only from the exterior. Florida law requires liquor stores to be set up as separate facilities from grocery stores, which means separate exterior entrances and no interior connection.

The liquor store opens at 9 a.m. daily and closes at 9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

The grocery store operates 7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

Stanford said the liquor store was built-out in space previously used by offices and the closed pharmacy.

Stanford supervises and manages 20 stores. He said there are seven Winn-Dixie liquor stores in the Jacksonville market, and the next one will be in Miramar Center near San Marco.

Asked whether other area liquor stores will be remodeled to the Beach Boulevard concept, Southeastern Grocers Director of Public Relations & Community Meredith Hurley responded by email:

"We continually gather information from our store teams throughout the course of the year to determine what customers love, what customers need and how we can improve to be the grocer the community can count on. We then leverage the feedback to determine which communities could use a unique grocery shopping experience and which existing stores are in need of an overall remodel that would be a positive improvement for the community and our network of stores. We will be sure to share more details on upcoming remodels as plans are finalized."

The city issued a permit June 16 for Southeastern Grocers to build-out a new Winn-Dixie liquor store format in Miramar Center, between the Lakewood and historic San Marco neighborhoods.

Williams & Rowe Co. Inc. is the contractor for the $180,000 interior renovation of 8,640 square feet at 4472 Hendricks Ave. The site is at the southern end of the building anchored by Players Grille.

The store is more than three times as large as the new Winn-Dixie Wine & Spirits store that opened June 30.

“It’s a big new format,” Stanford said.

“It’s a new concept for us. We’ll be opening up before the holidays, so there will be more to come on that.”

Stanford said it will have a wide range of products, “because we’ve got the space to do that,” and that there will be tastings.

The Town Center Village grocery store has operated since December 1996, he said. 

“This store is really a flagship store for our company,” Stanford said. 

He said the supermarket became dated. “I think we’ve breathed some new life into the store.”

He said the changes were driven by customers' wants and needs.

The company said in a news release that enhancements include new facade signage; updated and expanded produce, floral, seafood, bakery and other departments; a new deli with grab-and-go and lunch and dinner options; expanded international offerings; an updated dollar shop; a full-service seafood department and a meat department with an on-site butcher; a new Southeastern Grocers SE Grocers Naturally Better product selection that includes gluten-free and organic products; and updated health and beauty and wine and craft beer selections.

The store employs 100 people, he said.

For the ceremony June 30, the remodeled Winn-Dixie presented a $1,000 donation to Hubbard House and its mission to support victims of domestic violence.

Winn-Dixie intends to host a community celebration 10 a.m.-5 p.m. July 3.