GTB Area Retail Blog

On the 4th anniversary of the GTB Area Retail Blog, we are going to look at 2 Publix stores (742 and 796) which had a black variant of the Sienna interior. Both stores received a remodel to regular Sienna in 2017. All photos are courtesy of Google Maps contributors. Publix #742 482 Altamonte Springs Drive Suite 1005, Altamonte Springs, FL - Palm Springs Crossing Opened on February 15, 2001 and is a Mid-Range Model (or 51T) Publix. This store coexists with #1661 (former Albertsons #4304/Safeway #3304) in a 0.3-mile distance. Stepping inside, here is our first look at the Black Sienna interior! Since this was taken at the main entrance, the pharmacy, floral, and deli/bakery departments are seen here. Here is Publix #742's bakery department, with produce and meat/seafood also visible. Heading back to the front end, looking towards customer service. The first 3 checkouts in Publix #742. The checkout and aisle signage are similar to that of regular Sienna, except the aisle signage is di...

Winn-Dixie #675/SaveRite #2661/Walmart #5760 1601 W. Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL Originally opened as Winn-Dixie #675 in December 1996. At 62,000 square feet, this was one of the larger 3rd generation Marketplace stores, and also featured a food pavilion with one-stop shopping. Winn-Dixie would later close on May 21, 2000 as part of a closing wave that affected 114 stores, which included 5 in the Tampa Bay Area. After almost 3 years of vacancy, this Winn-Dixie would reopen as SaveRite #2661 on April 18, 2003, in which a new liquor store was added. SaveRite lasted until 2005, when this and 256 other Winn-Dixie's closed due to the company's first bankruptcy. This store would sit vacant for a second time until Walmart opened Neighborhood Market #5760 on October 15, 2008. The exterior is original, but not the layout of the doors. Also, when this Walmart opened it would have featured the older WAL*MART logo from 1992 even though that the company introduced a newer logo earlier in 2008. ...

Winn-Dixie/Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Libary 3910 S. Manhattan Ave, Tampa, FL Opening date for the former Winn-Dixie is unknown. Closed in 1996 to relocate to 4479 W. Gandy Blvd. Rebuilt in 2000 and became the Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library. Winn-Dixie #643/Grace Family Church 4479 W. Gandy Blvd, Tampa, FL Opened in 1996 as Winn-Dixie #643 (the second Gandy Winn-Dixie), and closed in 2005 after the bankruptcy of Winn-Dixie Stores. Became Grace Family Church in 2016. Compare this outside look to the liquor store, which still has the diamonds from Winn-Dixie! Winn-Dixie Liquors/Amscot #21 4481 W. Gandy Blvd, Tampa, FL Opened in 1996 as Winn-Dixie Liquors, and closed in 2005, the same year when the main store closed. Currently Amscot #21. The diamonds from Winn-Dixie are still in place! This store would have had the Marketplace interior when it was a Winn-Dixie. Now to the third and final Gandy Winn-Dixie... The Family Mart/Florida Choice/Kash n'...

It's been a while (almost 3 years) since I last done a post about gas stations. Here, we'll be looking at a Flying J truck stop in San Antonio, Florida. Flying J #624 29933 State Road 52, San Antonio, FL. Located off of Interstate 75 at exit 285, this Flying J truck stop opened in 1995. There is also a Blue Beacon truck wash which was added to this plaza in 2011. What makes a truck stop different from a typical convenience store is that truck stops have amenities such as showers, laundry rooms, lounges, and diesel exhaust fluid lanes. The road signs were changed in 2010 to add digital price numbers, and the exterior was updated in 2016. Since I didn't get that many pictures of this Flying J from the inside, we'll start off with the beer section first. And our last look at the main store is the drinks section. If you look closely above the American flag, that is a window for the employee's areas on level 2. An overview of Flying J's gas pumps for passenger vehicl...

Costco #358 10921 Causeway Blvd, Brandon, FL Opened on November 28, 2000. This Costco is around 143,000 square feet in size. This is also my first Costco store featured on this blog, and also my first post in almost 6 months! Costco's pharmacy, which is located in the front left corner of the store. Hearing aids are also located in this section as well. The dairy department at Costco stores are refrigerated and are not in coolers unlike your typical supermarket. This Costco has 320 total aisles, which gets 160 total if you count all aisles as single numbered. The only other store that I know of with an aisle count this large is Menards stores found in Midwestern states. Only aisles 304 to 318 are shown here. Costco's aisle signage is on the basic side, with no description of what items are on this aisle. 305 is also an area code originally established in 1947 for the entire state of Florida. Now 305 only serves Miami, which is overlaid by area codes 786 and future 645. Costco s...