Publix Surges Ahead: 2026 Florida Expansion Unveils Mega Stores, Jobs Boom

Publix, the employee-owned grocery giant headquartered in Lakeland, is rolling out multiple new stores across Florida this spring, targeting high-growth areas from St. Johns County to Miami-Dade.[1] The expansion kicks off March 26 with the Silverleaf Market Publix at 1975 Silverleaf Pkwy., Ste. 101, in St. Augustine, serving the exploding St. Johns County population with a neighborhood-focused store.[1] Just days later, on April 2, the 48,000-square-foot Seven Hills Publix opens at 160 Mariner Blvd. in Spring Hill, featuring a pharmacy and liquor store to anchor Hernando County's retail scene.[1] By April 30, Winter Haven's The Shoppes at Country Club gains a 47,000-square-foot Publix at 4267 Dundee Rd., complete with pharmacy and liquor offerings amid Polk County's residential surge.[1] Further south, Sunrise eyes a new location at 3500 N. University Dr. next to a Walmart Supercenter, bolstering Broward County's retail corridors, though an exact opening remains TBD.[1] The crown jewel: a two-story, 55,000-square-foot Mega Publix at 11380 Biscayne Blvd. in North Miami, boasting a liquor store and multi-level parking to tackle Miami-Dade's urban density.[1] These developments align with Publix's push for larger, feature-rich stores, creating hundreds of jobs in communities hungry for convenient shopping.[1] Official updates on corporate.publix.com track openings, square footage, and pharmacy details, underscoring the chain's steady Florida footprint growth.[2][3][4]