1 YEAR SPECIAL: Publix #1324 - Tampa, FL

For the 1st anniversary of the GTB Area Retail Blog, we will celebrate with a former Albertsons in Tampa, which is now a Publix!

(Photo courtesy of YonWooRetail83 on Flickr, recreation of former store 4321)

Albertsons #4318/Publix #1324

8701 W. Hillsborough Ave, Tampa, FL

Originally opened as Albertsons #4318 on May 18, 1977. The store featured small appliances, kitchen gadgets, pool supplies, and other items not found at your average supermarket. Also featured 14 checkouts!

Store 4318 faced competition with nearby Publix store 356, which opened in 1989.

This was one of the 49 Albertsons stores that was sold to Publix Super Markets in 2008, and later became Publix #1324 in 2010 after the closure of store 356.

Albertsons is (technically) back in Tampa after 40+ years, thanks to these recreations!

A grand opening ad for Albertsons store 4318 from the Tampa Tribune in 1977.

Enough with Albertsons, let's jump to 2018 for the currently operating Publix store!

The current outside look of Publix #1324, which was modified after the store's opening.

Publix #1324's current entry doors, which are not original to Albertsons. Albertsons would have had two entry and exit doors at both entrances.

A remodel in the late 1990's moved the Liquor Store to the front of the building, and removed the side entrance to Albertsons.

Welcome to Publix! This sign is actually facing towards the exit doors, there might have been no room to put it in the Albertsons location.

The current location of the floral department in Publix #1324. I don't know if floral was relocated by Publix, or kept in the same spot as Albertsons.

Produce takes up a part of the grand aisle (aisle 1), along with the bakery and a part of the deli.

This store might have had the Grocery Palace or the Broadway interior when it was Albertsons after the 1990's remodel (I would say Grocery Palace)

Aisle 1.

Signage for the meat department, along with prepackaged and custom cut meats. Seafood is to the right of meats. (green color)

This is aisle 2, with the seafood counter visible.

Aisles 6 to 13 are to the right. The pharmacy is straight ahead, and not shown are the checkouts.

The store's last aisle is aisle 13, home to the dairy department.

The Publix Pharmacy, which was redone in 2009. The pharmacy might be in the same spot as Albertsons.

The store's 9 checkouts, with three express lanes. Originally, there were 14 checkouts when this was an Albertsons.

Publix's thank you sign, placed before the customer service desk.

Customer service is in the same spot as the Albertsons days, although modified for Publix's standards. A part of the welcome sign is visible to the right.

Thanks for 1 year of the GTB Area Retail Blog, and 8,200 pageviews later!

I can't believe that time flies exactly 1 year after hitting that publish button for my very first post about Publix #712 in Riverview! That post can be found here.