You’ve seen the green sub wrappers. You’ve definitely heard the “Where Shopping is a Pleasure” jingle. But honestly, most people have no clue that the entire multi-billion dollar empire started because of a massive ego bruise and a badly timed game of golf.
So, when did Publix open? The short answer is September 6, 1930.
That’s right in the teeth of the Great Depression. Not exactly the “ideal” time to launch a business, let alone a grocery store, but George Jenkins—the man everyone eventually called "Mr. George"—wasn't exactly a guy who followed the rules. He was 22 years old. He had a few bucks and a burning desire to prove his old boss wrong.
The Day the First Publix Food Store Opened Its Doors
It all went down in Winter Haven, Florida. On that Saturday in 1930, the very first Publix Food Store opened at 58 Northwest 4th Street. It wasn’t the massive "palace" we think of today. It was a 3,000-square-foot space, which is basically the size of a modern convenience store.
But it was different.
While other stores were dusty and dark, George Jenkins wanted his place to feel like a movie theater. In fact, that’s where the name came from. He snagged the name from “Publix Theatres Corporation,” a chain of fancy cinemas that was struggling at the time. He liked the sound of it. He wanted that same luxury vibe for buying eggs and milk.
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The first year was rough. They did about $500 in sales. To put that in perspective, that’s less than some people spend on a single "Pub Sub" run for a large family today. But Jenkins was obsessed with service. He’d worked at Piggly Wiggly and hated how they treated people. He wanted a place where the floor was clean enough to eat off of.
The Golf Game That Changed Grocery History
Here is the piece of lore that most people miss. George Jenkins didn't just quit his job to be an entrepreneur; he quit because he was insulted.
He was a manager at a Piggly Wiggly in Winter Haven. He had some ideas on how to make the store better, so he drove eight hours to Atlanta to see the owner. When he got there, the secretary told him the boss was in a "critical meeting."
Through the door, George heard the guy talking about his golf game.
He drove back to Florida, quit, and opened his own store right next door to that Piggly Wiggly. That’s the kind of petty energy that builds a fortune. By 1935, he had enough cash to open a second location, the Economy Food Store, also in Winter Haven.
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When Did Publix Open Its First Real "Supermarket"?
If you’re looking for the moment Publix became Publix, you have to look at 1940.
On November 8, 1940, Jenkins closed his two smaller shops to open what he called his "Food Palace." This was the first actual Publix Super Market. It was a game-changer. It had things Florida had never seen in a grocery store:
- Air conditioning (A literal miracle in 1940s Florida).
- Fluorescent lighting.
- Electric-eye doors that opened automatically.
- Terrazzo floors and frozen food cases.
People didn't just go there to shop; they went there to gawk. It was Art Deco, it was marble, and it was glamorous. He even mortgaged an orange grove to get the down payment for it. Talk about betting the farm.
The Post-War Explosion
The 1940s were weird because of World War II. Material shortages meant George couldn't build new "palaces" for a while. So, he got creative. In 1945, he bought the Lakeland Grocery Company. This gave him a warehouse and 19 "All American" stores.
He didn't keep them as they were. He slowly started converting them, closing the dinky ones and building new, modern Publix locations. By 1951, the headquarters moved to Lakeland, which is still the heart of the company today.
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Why the 1930 Founding Date Actually Matters Today
You might wonder why a date from nearly a century ago matters when you’re just trying to buy a rotisserie chicken. It matters because of the ownership model.
In the 1950s, Publix started selling stock to its employees. Today, it’s the largest employee-owned company in the United States. That weirdly high level of customer service you notice? It's usually because the person bagging your groceries literally owns a piece of the company.
Key Milestones in the Publix Timeline
- 1930: First store opens in Winter Haven.
- 1940: The "Food Palace" supermarket debuts.
- 1957: The doughnut shop inside the stores evolves into the legendary Publix Bakery.
- 1963: The first Deli is introduced (the birth of the sub).
- 1982: They launched the Presto! ATM network before many banks even had ATMs.
- 1991: They finally left Florida and opened in Savannah, Georgia.
The Misconception About the Orlando Store
There’s a common myth that the first Publix was in Orlando at Thornton Park. Local lore says the building at 808 E. Washington St. was the original.
Technically, it was a "Publix Market," but it wasn't George Jenkins' store. It was owned by a guy named John Bledsoe. To avoid a massive legal headache, that store eventually changed its name to Cole & Wilson Grocers in 1949. The "real" Publix didn't hit Orlando until much later through the acquisition of those All American stores.
What You Should Do With This Information
If you’re a fan of the brand or just curious about business history, knowing when did Publix open helps explain why they operate the way they do. They aren't a corporate machine in the traditional sense; they’re a legacy business built on a specific, almost fanatical, idea of what shopping should feel like.
Take these steps to appreciate the history next time you shop:
- Look at the Architecture: Many older Florida locations still have the "winged" roof design from the 1960s or Art Deco flourishes that pay homage to the 1940 "Food Palace."
- Check the Anniversary: Every September, Publix usually does something to celebrate its founding. It’s often the best time to find specific deals or historical trivia in their weekly circulars.
- Visit the Original Site: If you’re ever in Winter Haven, the original 1930 building at 58 4th Street NW is still there. It’s no longer a grocery store—it’s been a restaurant and a thrift shop—but it has a historical plaque out front.
George Jenkins once said, "Beginnings are always fun." Looking back at 1930, it’s clear he was right, even if he had to survive a Depression and a rude boss to get there.