From the archives: Publix #356 - Lakeland, FL

Lakeland, Florida is home to the current headquarters of Publix and the 24-mile-long Polk Parkway toll road. Today's post will be about Publix #356, a store that started out as a Food World. For more about Food World and 1970's Publix stores, see this link from Publix's blog.

Food World (Publix)/Publix #356

4730 S. Florida Ave, Lakeland, FL - Lake Miriam Square

Opened on November 18, 1977 as Food World, a store that was once operated by Publix. The store was 57,000 sq ft, and was the largest store operated by Publix and in the southeast. Food World was retired in 1985 and became Publix #356.

You are now seeing the right side enter door to Publix #356. These photos were taken in October 2017, because there is an advertisement for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights 27.

Welcome to Publix!

Added in 2012 is this Publix Aprons Event Planning station, along with the cooking school.

The store's customer service desk.

The placement of dairy is in aisle 1, common in 1970's and 1980's Publix stores. The brown paint that you see after the dairy sign is repainted Kiwi decor.

Albertsons Florida Blog visited this store in 2016 or 2017, and the blogger said: "This is an odd layout for a Publix!". Grocery aisles, pharmacy, meat/seafood, and produce all in one place!

The store's pharmacy which was remodeled in 2012.

Baby food, bath soap, and health care are on aisle 5.

The store's Publix Deli, located to the left of the bakery.

The store's bakery, as viewed from the deli. You can also see a sign for the floral department.

Three grocery aisles, also from the deli department.

This Publix has 12 checkouts, including the 4 self-checkouts. Grocery aisles are to the left.

The seating area may have been a 2012 addition.

Thank you for shopping Publix!

After the "Thank you for shopping Publix" sign, is the first exit door. Not pictured here is the second exit door.

From a Food World to a Publix, this is an interesting store to visit!