Shopping at Publix?

[tzolkin]

I would LOVE to get a Wegman's. I grew up in Buffalo & every time I go home for a visit, we stop by Wegman's and I have serious grocery store envy!

Moved to NC last year from CNY. People here were all excited that Publix was coming to the area, but it just doesn't remotely compare to Wegmans (I grew up in FL so I am familiar with both).

My mom sent me an article recently that Wegmans is coming to NC, but it will be in the Raleigh area. I used to drive an hour to shop at the Wegmans in Syracuse, but 2hr+ for a grocery store would be a little too far for me.

 

[havaneselover]

Publix's are in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, right now and I believe they have eyes on Kentucky next.

Publix's started in Winter Haven Florida, by George Jenkins, some time in the very early 1930's, he owned 2 stores there, but closed them to open his dream store in early 1940 in Lakeland Florida, which is where today their corporate office are still located. You probably wonder how I know this, I am from Lakeland originally, when I was a little girl in the early 60's my Dad worked for Publix in the warehouse, and when I was a teenager I worked as a cashier at Publix, most of my classmates worked at Publix, and some/most still do to this day. My DD went to George Jenkins high School, so you can see Lakeland and Publix are interlinked.

They announced last week they are opening two stores in Virginia and plan to aggressively expand in Richmond. Richmond is an odd choice. Within five miles of my house I have a Kroger, a Food Lion, a Martin's, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Walmart Supercenter, a Target with groceries and a Wegman's opening in August. Aldi and Lidl will also be opening by our new Wegman's (we have Aldi already but this one is closer).

 

[aprilchem]

They announced last week they are opening two stores in Virginia and plan to aggressively expand in Richmond. Richmond is an odd choice. Within five miles of my house I have a Kroger, a Food Lion, a Martin's, Trader Joes, Whole Foods, Walmart Supercenter, a Target with groceries and a Wegman's opening in August. Aldi and Lidl will also be opening by our new Wegman's (we have Aldi already but this one is closer).

You must live in the West End, then. I live in the suburbs of Richmond as well but on a different side, and we are extremely underserved, grocery-wise. My choices are Wal-mart and Food Lion (which seems like it'll close soon, since Martins and Food Lion have merged). I have to drive 25 minutes to get to an Aldi and about 25 minutes to get to a Kroger, and probably about 35 minutes (with the West End traffic) to get to Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. There are large food deserts in the city, with many of our poorer population having no access to fresh food unless they can get access to a car or take public transportation (hard to carry all your groceries on a GRTC bus).

Many of us who live in different parts of the city are frustrated that every grocery store that enters the Richmond market does so in the West End or in Chesterfield. The news that Publix is building yet another grocery store in Henrico was especially frustrating!

 

[loves to dive]

I live in Athens, GA and we have a few of them here in town. I normally shop at Kroger (another southern brand) since I've found Publix to be slightly more expensive and they don't have gas stations. Kroger has gas stations and you get reward points which will give you as much as $.50 off a gallon and their prices are normally a few cents less than other places to start with. I've found at the Publix here they don't have as much diet stuff, which is what I eat, I'm guessing that is because this is a college town and college kids don't care. My co-worker only shops at Publix and my Mom, who lived in Florida for awhile insisted in only shopping there when they came here, even though I proved to her it would be less at Kroger.

 

[dashofsunshine]

We do love Publix, but we have Kroger and Trader Joe's (as well as Wal Mart, but we don't really grocery shop there) and Publix is ALWAYS more expensive than Kroger. I have tried for years to justify doing my regular grocery shopping at Publix, especially because we love the deli & customer service, but I spend $20 more minimum at Publix over Kroger every time. Plus, Kroger has the gas points which are incredible. I haven't paid full price for gas in years; yesterday I filled up for $1.20/gallon. Cannot be beat.

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

I will do just about anything to avoid going to WM,

I shop almost exclusively at Publix.
Yes, their prices can be a few pennies more than other stores at times, I will gladly pay it.

IDK if it's just because we live in the South, but my store is on it's game. If you're a mama in there with your kids or baby, ppsshhh, they will come out of now where to unload your cart onto the belt, on top of what every store does with the bagging and loading in your car.

I swear the only thing they could do more would be a bring it home and put it away service. Which my area is half way to that since they now participate in Shipt.

Here, you can buy one BoGO for half cost. I click every single one of those digital coupons.

My store has gone above and beyond so many times, they will order items for you at no charge. If the items come in a case only, you aren't pressured into buying the case, buy what you like and they sell the rest.

They have the absolute best bakery cakes, we have used them from many different stores, locations all over Florida, Georgia, and SC. We use their cakes for nearly every single birthday, event, holiday, etc for 20+ years. We use them so much, where guests asks where we got it, we tell them it's an old family recipe .....from Publix.

It's been the same crew running my store for a while, and they all know the customers by name, ask how ds soccer game ?, say - oh, we got this new oatmeal I think you'd like, etc.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

I'm a Florida girl, and shop at Publix. I drive past a Winn Dixie and a Super Walmart to get to "my" Publix (they're all within a mile of each other). Since I shop there all the time, I know what sales to watch for and when to stock up. In Florida, a BOGO is exactly that - you get the first one at full price and the second scan triggers the full-item discount. But since both are getting scanned and prices entered, you can use coupons like "Save $1.00 on 2 Cheerios" with the BOGO deal and even though one box is free, it still counts towards the purchase. I use the digital coupons, as well as paper coupons if I have them.

The only other place I buy any groceries is Target, and that's just a few items I know are cheaper there or if it's more convenient at that moment.

 

[missnic]

They have the absolute best bakery cakes, we have used them from many different stores, locations all over Florida, Georgia, and SC. We use their cakes for nearly every single birthday, event, holiday, etc for 20+ years. We use them so much, where guests asks where we got it, we tell them it's an old family recipe .....from Publix.

It's not a birthday without Publix cake. Heck, even my wedding cake was Publix. My aunt is a baker up north and offered to make my cake as our gift - she went to Publix for the cake and the icing (I don't imagine they would have traveled 1500 miles very well), and put it together and decorated it exactly how we wanted it.