Publix is set to widen its dominance of South Florida’s grocery market with two more planned openings within a week in Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach.
On Thursday, the Lakeland-based chain opened a 29,495 square-foot store at 2895 N. Ocean Blvd., about a block south of East Oakland Park Boulevard and a stone’s throw from Fort Lauderdale’s beach.
The store is smaller than others opened recently by the chain. By comparison, a rebuilt Publix that opened in Margate in April is 48,800 square feet while a store that opened in Wellington in November with an outdoor seating area and stations selling ready-to-eat burritos, pizza, sushi, popcorn and pasta measures 58,834 square feet.
While the new new beach-adjacent market won’t sport those bells and whistles, it’s still larger than the typical 18,000 to 23,000 square-foot Aldi store, and Publix says will it offer everything shoppers expect, including a full-service bakery, deli and pharmacy.
Up the road a bit to the north, the grand opening is scheduled on June 26 for a new 48,387 square-foot Publix location at 3435 N. Federal Highway in Pompano Beach.
With a brand new building that includes a second-floor area with indoor and outdoor dining tables, the new store takes over space occupied by a Winn Dixie Marketplace until 2019. It’s located a stone’s throw from Lighthouse Point in the Shopper’s Haven Plaza, just south of Sample Road.
Publix has been on a tear lately, opening new or rebuilt stores in Margate, West Boca, Palm Beach Gardens.
New Outback under construction in West Boca
A new Outback Steakhouse will bring Australian-themed bloomin’ onions and signature steak dishes to West Boca.
The new restaurant, under construction at 8841 Glades Road, just east of the Lyons Road intersection, could be open before the end of the year, according to a spokeswoman for parent company Bloomin’ Brands.
It would be the 15th Outback in the tricountytri-county region.
In 2024, Bloomin’ Brands announced the closure of 41 underperforming restaurants in eight states. The company closed restaurants across its portfolio, including Outback, Carrabba’s Italian Grill and Bonefish Grill.
Yet at the same time the closures were announced, Bloomin’ Brands said it planned to open 45 new restaurants.
Apocalypse Manufacturing brings its end-of-the-world lineup to Tampa
Pompano Beach-based Apocalypse Manufacturing has expanded into the Tampa Bay area.
The company reconfigures large Jeeps, Ford Broncos and F-150s, Dodge Rams and other trucks into custom-designed 4×4 and 6×6 behemoths that will let its owners rule a post-apocalyptic landscape.
Its exclusive retailer, SoFlo Customs, recently opened a showroom at 5626 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. Customers can test-drive and purchase one or more of 40 in-stock vehicles or place orders for custom builds that will be delivered to their doorsteps.
It also features two mechanical bays for onsite customization and servicing.
South Florida consumers can still visit the company’s 50,000 square-foot manufacturing plant in Pompano Beach or one of two showrooms in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. For more information or to see examples of the Apocalypse lineup, go to soflocustoms.com.
Mavis Tire buys Palm Beach Gardens-based Midas chain
Mavis Tire Express Services Corp., one of the largest tire dealers and auto repair providers in North America, has purchased the Midas chain from TBC Corporation, Mavis announced in a news release.
Mavis, based in White Plains, New York, said the purchase will expand its retail network to more than 3,500 locations, including 1,300 franchised locations. In South Florida, the chain operates more than 60 locations under the Tire Kingdom and Mavis Tire & Brakes brand names.
Midas, which according to its website operates more than 1,000 locations in the United States, will continue as a standalone brand headquartered in Palm Beach Gardens, the release said.
‘Sleek’ fast-casual Jamaican food chain opens in West Palm Beach.
If you’ve visited Jamaica, chances are you’ve come across at lease one of the 61 Juici Patties restaurants on the island and ordered a beef, shrimp, chicken, vegetable or plant-based patty, a bowl of porridge, a lunch combo, or one of its unique breakfast platters.
In 2023, the chain expanded to the United States and has since opened five locations in Broward County — Lauderhill, Lauderdale Lakes, Sunrise, Hollywood and Miramar — plus one in Orlando and two in the New York metro region.
Led by CEO Daniel Chin, Juici Patties has now brought its Jamaican fare into West Palm Beach. Its newest location is at 1922 Military Trail. A news release announcing the opening promises a “sleek,” fast-casual dining experience.
The menu offered in the U.S. locations is somewhat toned down compared to choices at its Jamaican locations.
Combo meals offer two or three patties and a fountain drink, and party packs come with six or a dozen patties. Patties come in a choice of spicy beef, mild beef, chicken or spinach. Sides consist of french fries, plantains, banana chips or coconut bread.
Jamaican transplants dreaming of combos sold at the island’s Juici Patties, including ackee and saltfish, callaloo and saltfish, liver, stew fish, stew chicken, and curry mutton will have to wait for their next getaway. Just for fun, check out the Jamaican menu at juicipatties.com, then click over to juicipattiesusa.com to see what’s available locally.
David’s Bridal opens ’boutique-style concept’
The well-known David’s Bridal brand has opened a “design-forward” “boutique-style concept” in Delray Beach called Diamonds & Pearls, according to a news release.
The new brand “represents the next evolution of David’s mission to serve every bride: luxe, modern and accessible,” the release says.
David’s Bridal’s website describes the boutique as offering a variety of designs from timeless classics to modern boho styles that are perfect for any kind of wedding.
The boutique is located in the Delray Marketplace at 9097 W. Atlantic Ave. For more information, visit davidsbridal.com.
Ron Hurtibise covers business and consumer issues for the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Send him your retail news at rhurtibise@sun-sentinel.com. Make sure to type Retail Roundup in the subject line of your email.