For over 90 years, Publix has grown by leaps and bounds into one of the biggest supermarket companies in the country. But how did Publix get here?

1930s — Where it all began
On Sept. 6, 1930, George Jenkins opened the first Publix location, known then as Publix Food Store, in Winter Haven, Florida. Today, that brick-and-mortar building still stands and is a part of the National Register of Historic Places. By 1935, Jenkins opened his second location on the opposite side of Winter Haven.

1940s — Publix Super Market is born
In 1940, Jenkins expanded Publix Food Store into the supermarket of his dreams in Winter Haven. Publix Super Market was born. Jenkins’ dream store followed an art deco design and was known as a “state-of-the-art food palace of marble, glass and stucco.” By the end of the decade, there were 20 locations.

1950s — Publix begins selling private-label items
The art deco store designs of the ‘40s carried into the ‘50s. With the new decade came the introduction of Publix-branded items. By the end of the decade, Publix stores spanned the state of Florida with 55 locations and nearly 3,000 associates. A new 125,000-square-foot warehouse and office complex opened in Lakeland, Florida.

One of the most notable stores from the 1950s was at the Southgate Shopping Center in Lakeland, which is still a Publix. This store featured the first Publix Danish Bakery. The iconic midcentury Southgate arch in the middle of the shopping center was used as a backdrop for the movie “Edward Scissorhands” in the 1990s.

1960s — 100 stores and counting
In this decade, the design of Publix stores changed from the art deco architecture of the 1940s to a winged design created by famed Florida architect Donovan Dean. Centered in the wings were neon lights that blinked downward. At night, the lights look like a flowing waterfall. Publix hit a milestone of 100 stores, reaching 150 by the end of the decade, with 8,000 associates. The company also added the delicatessen department and opened its first distribution facility in Miami.

1970s — Advancements in technology
In the 1970s, the design for the stores’ exterior signage changed from wings and neon lights to a squared “P” with the word “Publix” spelled out. In 1972, the company built a new bakery plant in Lakeland. Three years later, stores welcomed a new department called the Photo Lab. Publix was the first grocery chain to have scanning at its registers in all stores, replacing the keypunch registers in the late 1970s. By the end of the decade, Publix had 231 stores and 26,000 associates.

The Lake Miriam Square Publix in Lakeland opened as a different Publix format known as Food World in the 1970s. With only 23 locations in central Florida by the end of the decade, Food World stores had a different look and pricing structure. They featured a giant rotating globe out front and associates wore blue uniforms. In 1985, the Lake Miriam Square Food World transitioned into a Publix.

1980s — Our 50th anniversary
In 1980, Publix celebrated its 50th anniversary and opened a new dairy plant. In 1986, the company opened its 300th store and the first Publix Pharmacy. By the end of 1989, the company had 367 stores and 62,000 associates.

As an extension of Publix’s commitment to customer service, Publix created the Presto! Network, an electronic funds transfer system, in 1982. This brought Automated Teller Machine (ATM) services to customers. The first two ATMs opened in South Florida stores on Nov. 18, 1982. In 1984, the company expanded the Presto! Network to run debit transactions at its point-of-sale systems during checkout. This allowed Publix to support transactions from financial institutions that were members of the Presto! Network and increased the overall value of this service.

1990s — Carrying on Mr. George’s legacy
Uniforms and store interiors changed in the 1990s, featuring coral and teal colors. In 1991, mascot Plato the Publixaurus joined the Publix family.

The company took great strides by expanding outside Florida, opening its first Publix across state lines in Savannah, Georgia, in 1991.

On April 8, 1996, founder George Jenkins passed away at 88. However, the Publix team was dedicated to continuing his legacy and keeping his philosophies alive within the company.

By the end of the decade, Publix had expanded into South Carolina and Alabama. By the end of the century, the company had opened its 500th store, located in Miami, and had 614 stores and over 120,000 associates.

2000s — A new millennium
The 2000s were years of growth for Publix, rolling out the first Aprons kiosks in 2000 and the first cooking school in 2001. In 2002, the company expanded to Tennessee and in 2003, the first Publix Liquors opened.

Publix celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2005 and opened its 1,000th store, located in St. Augustine, Florida. By the end of the decade, the company had 1,014 stores and more than 140,000 associates.

2010s — New concepts lead to additional growth
Publix technology evolved in the 2010s with the addition of its mobile app and social media networks. Stores made their way into North Carolina in 2014 and Virginia in 2017. For the 20th time, Publix was named one of Fortune’s 100 best companies to work for in 2017, earning the company recognition as one of the Great Place to Work Legends.

2020s — The keys to Kentucky
Publix opened its first store in Louisville on Jan. 10, 2024. The store’s features include a drive-thru Publix Pharmacy and an adjacent Publix Liquors. This was the company’s first Publix Liquors outside of Florida.

Stay tuned to see where Publix grows next!