This weekend, we are taking a look at a cultural phenomenon in Florida: Publix.
When you think of Publix, you probably picture the green logo, the smiling cashier who insists on bagging just right, or the chicken tender sub that has achieved cult status in Florida. But behind the familiar aisles and friendly service is a history filled with bold risks, unexpected innovations, and a culture that shaped Publix into more than just a grocery store.
Did you know?
The first Publix in 1940 was nicknamed the “food palace” because it had air conditioning, automatic doors, and fluorescent lights long before other grocers.
Publix is the largest employee owned company in the United States, with workers holding stock since the 1950s.
After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Publix quietly trucked in supplies for employees’ families before restocking shelves for customers.
The famous “Pub Sub” started as a simple experiment at the deli counter, not a major marketing plan.
Publix has always been more than a supermarket. It is a story about vision, loyalty, and community, and a few surprising twists that most people have never heard.
The Humble Beginning
Publix is more than a grocery store with clean floors and friendly staff. It is the story of George W. Jenkins, a young man who walked away from a steady job at Piggly Wiggly in 1930 after his ideas about customer service and store design were rejected. Instead of staying comfortable, he took a bold risk and opened his own store in Winter Haven, Florida. That decision didn’t just change his future, it changed the entire grocery business in Florida.
The Food Palace of 1940
In 1940, Jenkins unveiled what locals called the “food palace,” a store so modern it became a destination in itself. It had air conditioning, fluorescent lighting, automatic doors, and glass paneled dairy cases, all luxuries at the time. People drove hours just to see it. Jenkins believed shopping should feel like an experience rather than a chore, and the store set a new standard that competitors scrambled to match.
A Radical Approach to Ownership
One of the most unusual parts of the Publix story is its ownership structure. Jenkins began quietly giving stock to employees in the 1950s because he believed that if you take care of employees, they will take care of customers. That decision turned Publix into the largest employee owned company in America and created one of the most loyal workforces in retail. When you meet someone in a green apron, you are talking to a part owner.
A Culture of Care in Crisis
The company has also built a reputation for how it responds during crises. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Publix made sure to bring in supplies for employees’ families before restocking the shelves. That act of care was not advertised but it showed how much the culture valued the people who keep the stores running. Customers never saw that behind the scenes effort, but they felt it in the steady service and quick recovery after storms.
The Sub Shop That Became a Phenomenon
Then there is the deli counter, which started as a small experiment. Jenkins thought customers might enjoy getting more than sliced meats and cheeses in their grocery run, so Publix began offering made to order sandwiches. The result was the Pub Sub, a sandwich that now has a devoted following. The chicken tender sub in particular inspires such enthusiasm that limited runs of it create lines and online chatter that most restaurants would envy.
Why Publix Is Different
Publix began with one man’s refusal to settle for ordinary. It grew through bold choices like the food palace, innovative ideas like employee ownership, and a culture that puts people first in both daily service and times of crisis. The next time you order a sub or watch a bagger insist on carrying your groceries through the rain, you are experiencing a piece of that history. Publix is where shopping is a pleasure, but it is also where loyalty, innovation, and community have quietly shaped one of Florida’s most beloved institutions.
(Just an FYI, there are a few Publix playlists on Spotify if you are craving the sweet sounds you hear while you are shopping)
A Final Note
Our newsletter is free, and will remain that way forever.
We are able to keep this thing going because of people like you. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to someone else in your life who might like to read it. Every reader counts!
P.S. Do you have some news we should cover? Reply to this email and we’ll see what we can do.