Winn-Dixie #2444 - Ruskin, FL

This post was originally published to the GTB Retail Seconday Blog on July 6, 2020 and has been republished/rewritten on this blog now with info provided by the Albertsons Florida Blog.

Kash n' Karry #848 & #1761/Sweetbay #1761/Winn-Dixie #2444/Future Aldi

1023 N. Tamiami Trail, Ruskin, FL

Originally opened on April 6, 1974 as Kash n' Karry store 848 (later 1761), being the first major supermarket in the Ruskin area (and was their 36th location at the time). There was also a Food Lion located 1 mile to the north that existed from 1993 to 2001 in the same plaza as former Kmart #7517 (1982–2003). At 36,426 square feet (not 23,800 square feet on the AFB post), this KNK had several full-service departments ranging from bakery, deli, and meats along with an additional Kare Drugs pharmacy!

On May 20, 2006, this store along with 3 others (Fishhawk Blvd, Gunn Hwy, and US 301) became Sweetbay Supermarket as part of Kash n' Karry's rebranding and also received its first interior remodel (even the mansard-style exterior and interior layout are original from 1974!)

In April 2014, Sweetbay #1761 became Winn-Dixie #2444 and retained the "Sweetbay 1.0" interior until receiving a fresh coat of paint and new signage with the original version of Down Down in 2017.

Later in 2025, this Winn-Dixie will become the area's first Aldi store and the second on US Highway 41 (since there is already one 2.5 miles to the north in Apollo Beach at another Sweetbay/Winn-Dixie building from 2008). This means that Publix #1260 (opened on December 17, 2016 using a 2008 store number) will be the only full-service grocer once Winn-Dixie closes.

A small vestibule housing cart storage is found through both sets of entry doors (although this is the left side entrance). As with most Down Down remodels, Winn-Dixie included a collage of historical photos alongside the welcome sign.

The store's pharmacy department was found in the front left corner, originating as Kare Drugs until becoming The Medicine Shoppe, Sweetbay Pharmacy, and most recently Winn-Dixie Pharmacy until November 2023, when they were removed chainwide as a result of Southeastern Grocers' sale to Aldi.

The area over most of the grocery aisles has a higher ceiling than the rest of the store, which can be seen here at this look of aisle 8 and the bacon section of the meat department. One of the (now-former) Down Down placard signs can be seen to the left of the word "BACON".

Winn-Dixie #2444 has a total of 15 aisles (13 plus two unmarked frozen food aisles)

Despite the building's small size, the produce department is rather large, making aisle 1 the store's grand aisle.

Our final interior photo of Winn-Dixie #2444 is the customer service desk and the thank you sign as seen from one of the store's 7 checkouts (this was taken in 2018 when the early Down Down remodels had no checkout signage until Winn-Dixie would later add them in the Down Down 2.0 style)

Here is a look at the road sign and storefront as seen from US Highway 41.

And across the street from the Winn-Dixie is a Pizza Hut from 1980 turned into the Uncle Joe's New York Diner. There is also a laundromat that originally housed a KFC restaurant with that building being the only grocery store's outparcel, and is from 1969.