Publix #139 & CVS #535 - St. Pete Beach, FL
(This post has been updated on July 21, 2025 now with new information from the Albertsons Florida and Sing Oil blogs and adding photo sources for the Publix)
(Photo courtesy of Liz Churchville on Google Maps)
In this GTB Retail post, we will look at the Tampa Bay Area's oldest operating Publix (and a CVS) in St. Pete Beach, since today is the 56th anniversary of this Publix.
(Photo courtesy of Yelp user Eric W.)
Publix #139
4855 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach, FL - Dolphin Village
Publix #139 opened on June 29, 1967, and is the only major grocery store in St. Pete Beach after the Winn-Dixie (former Kash n' Karry/Sweetbay) on Blind Pass Road closed in 2018. The rest of the Dolphin Village shopping center with 2 floors was not added until 1984.
The store was first remodeled in 1976 (with the grand reopening that July 1st, perfectly timed for America's Bicentennial) with the entire plaza being renovated in 1984, and this Publix received a small expansion in 1992 to a modified 40N layout featuring the split vestibules. Publix #139 is 33,238 square feet.
This photo shows the original exterior look of Publix #139.
(Photo courtesy of Yelp user Eric W.)
Welcome to Publix #139! Since you can see a mixture of Kiwi and Invigorate interior signage, that's because we are starting off this post of how this store would have looked like before the Bamboo remodel in 2014.
(Photo courtesy of Yelp user Eric W.)
Aisle 2, as indicated by the United Kingdom flag, is home to international foods.
(Photo courtesy of Foursquare/Swarm user Lee J.)
Looking towards produce from the meat and seafood departments.
(Photo courtesy of Foursquare/Swarm user Cyrille M.)
As a bonus, here is Publix #139 during the Invigorate to Bamboo remodel in 2014. This was taken from the seafood service counter.
(Photo courtesy of Hadah H on Google Maps)
(Photo courtesy of Joseph Lewis on Google Maps)
After the Bamboo remodel in 2014, the exterior was repainted as well.
(Photo courtesy of Innocensia Owuor on Google Maps)
And then the exterior was repainted a second time in 2022. You can also see self-checkouts that Publix added the year before.
(Photo courtesy of BeKind BeConsiderate on Google Maps)
The entryway design is the only thing that resembles the new build 40N stores after the 1992 expansion.
(Photo courtesy of Joseph Lewis on Google Maps)
Stepping inside, I can see clothing since this is a beachside Publix.
(Photo courtesy of Stephanie Alberg-Widlits on Google Maps)
The customer service counter is located in between the two entrances.
(Photo courtesy of Q Beck on Google Maps)
The deli is located on aisle 1 as a result of the 1992 expansion.
(Photo courtesy of Q Beck on Google Maps)
Here's an overview of the grand aisle from the deli, which for reference, is part of a former movie theater space.
(Photo courtesy of Christopher Sanchez on Google Maps)
After the deli comes the bakery department.
(Photo courtesy of Christopher Sanchez on Google Maps)
Dairy is placed in an alcove after the store's bakery.
(Photo courtesy of Nicole McCabe on Google Maps)
Aisle 6 has candies, cereals, coffee, and tea.
(Photo courtesy of Stephanie Alberg-Widlits on Google Maps)
The meat department with the service counter seen to the left.
(Photo courtesy of Brian Monahan on Google Maps)
Laundry products are found on aisle 8 in addition to batteries, light bulbs, and school supplies.
(Photo courtesy of Stephanie Alberg-Widlits on Google Maps)
A close-up of the seafood service counter in Publix #139.
(Photo courtesy of Stephanie Alberg-Widlits on Google Maps)
Aisle 9 is the last aisle in the store to retain the striped terrazzo floor. The remaining part of the store has tile floors.
(Photo courtesy of Stephanie Alberg-Widlits on Google Maps)
Signage for aisles 10 to 12 as seen from produce. The aisle signs seen here are exclusive to the Bamboo package and is similar to Sienna except for a lighter woodgrain background and was used from 2014 to 2015.
At that time, Bamboo and Sienna coexisted with each other. Bamboo was Publix's mainstream interior, and Sienna was reserved as an upscale interior.
(Photo courtesy of Joseph Lewis on Google Maps)
Aisle 12 is home to frozen foods. This is also the last aisle in Publix #139.
(Photo courtesy of Madelin Chris on Google Maps)
It can't be a Publix on the beach without some fishing bait!
(Photo courtesy of Joseph Lewis on Google Maps)
Heading back up front, here are the self-checkouts that Publix added in 2021.
(Photo courtesy of Joseph Lewis on Google Maps)
Aisle signage for aisles 7 to 4, viewed from one of the self-checkouts.
(Photo courtesy of Geo Fractal on Google Maps)
This concludes the Publix part of this post since there is also a CVS in this plaza.
Eckerd #85/CVS #535
4685 Gulf Blvd, St. Pete Beach, FL - Dolphin Village
CVS #535 opened in August 2004, and is 10,960 square feet. This location was a conversion from Eckerd #85 which opened in 1967 and closed in July 2004.
Aisles 1, 2, and the wine department have lower ceilings while the rest of the store has a higher ceiling. The sign at the ceiling transition says "food & beverages" but the last 6 letters are cut off by a sign for aisle 3.
This store was remodeled into the current CVS interior in 2018.
Here is one of the aisles in the lower ceiling, which is aisle 2. This aisle has breakfast, soups, and soda.
The front end at CVS #535 with 4 registers and a Kodak photo kiosk.
And to round out this post, a photo of CVS's exit doors taken during the nighttime.
And to end this post, there is something that happened in this plaza back in May:
On the afternoon of May 13, 2025, a fire started at CVS #535 a few doors down from Publix #139. Due to the presence of a void space in the shopping center's front facade created during the 1984 remodel and expansion, the fire wasn't fully extinguished and was reignited as hot spots later in the evening, which quickly spread into the Publix and additional stores to the left of it, and a total of 6 buildings were impacted.
The CVS was declared a total loss during the fire as its roof collapsed and most of the walls were teared down.
After firefighters ripped through the 1984 facade to extinguish the flames, it turned out that it simply covered up the original shingle-roof styled one from 1967, as evidenced by the original, although charred "Eckerd Drugs" sign.
© 2023-2025 GTB Retail.
Comments
Post a Comment