Bright and early Thursday, the Publix supermarket chain opened its sixth store in The Villages, the anchor store in the Grand Traverse shopping plaza just off State Road 44.
The Villages’ newest residents, as well as folks from Wildwood and surrounding towns, are happy to have this large Publix market closer to where they live. It will include a drive-thru pharmacy and space for a liquor store. But its charming new design will no doubt attract residents from some northern areas of The Villages as well.
“This place has the Brownwood look about it,” said brand new Village of Lake Deaton resident, Zach Chandes, who moved here from Connecticut.
“We just closed on our house in August, and we love it here already,” he said. “This store is huge, and I like that it has an old-Florida look, like Brownwood.”
Chandes’ wife was wondering what other stores will move in to fill other spaces in the strip mall.
“It’s exciting being here when a new area is just being developed,” she remarked.
Village of McClenny resident, Suzanne van de Velde, was out early to check the new Publix.
“I like the color scheme and the high ceilings give a very spacious look,” she said. “Those are harvest colors — the brown, olive, gold and pumpkin — they give a rustic flavor to the place and are perfect for this season. The location of this store is excellent too — this was very much needed. My neighbors all hope it will relieve some of the traffic at our other Publix, at Colony (Plaza on County Road 466A, near Morse Boulevard). The snowbirds are just beginning to return, and even with the new traffic light by Colony, that parking lot has been very congested already.”
Store manager, Trudy Nevitt, a Village of Glenbrook resident, was scurrying around, welcoming new customers and answering their questions.
“This is a whole new store layout,” Nevitt said, pointing out the customer service desk located right up front to help shoppers as they enter the store.”
Nevitt has been with Publix for 13 years, including the Southern Trace store in The Villages. She was promoted to store manager in June 2012 and gladly accepted the company’s offer for her to open the newest store.
Publix’ Facilities designer, Donna Haynes, whose idea and design the new customer service feature was, hopes the spot will delineate various things customers are looking for. “The lottery tickets are here to the right,” Haynes said, “and the terminal on the left is for rain checks, sending Western Union and money orders, and returns. But we hope there won’t be many returns! We think this is an intuitive design.”
Publix District Manager John Campbell and Assistant Store Manager Matt Walker were checking to ensure everything was in perfect order before the first customers arrived. The 46,000-square feet will include all the Publix departments customers have come to expect — bakery, dairy, deli, frozen food, grocery, meat and produce — plus the popular fresh seafood, sushi and self-service floral departments. The store will have about 150 total employees — with most of the jobs being filled by transferees from other Publix locations.
In fitting with Publix reputation as a great place to shop and also to work, a framed ‘store team’ group photo was stationed at the entrance for all to see. Several carved pumpkins, including a 200+ pound giant carved ‘Grand Opening’Â by an employee were on display in the self-serve floral area. On Wednesday night, the crew held a “pre-opening ribbon cutting” inside for employees and their families, with snacks, refreshments and a uniquely designed cake with a replica Brownwood windmill on top.
“We are very happy to be a part of the new growth taking place in The Villages,” Nevitt said.
