Publix brings GreenWise Market to Tampa

Publix Super Markets has opened its ninth GreenWise Market specialty store with the debut of a new location in Tampa, Fla.

The 26,000-square-foot store opened its doors yesterday at 555 Channelside Dr. in Tampa, the second site of the small-format GreenWise Market concept to launch this year and the seventh location overall in Florida. In early February, Publix opened a nearly 28,000-square-foot GreenWise store in Fort Lauderdale, the grocer’s first in a mixed-use development.

Likewise, the new store in Tampa’s redeveloped Water Street neighborhood is situated in a high-rise, multi-use building, beneath two towers of apartments and a parking garage. The outlet connects to the city district’s cooling system, which provides chilled water to the store’s air conditioning and refrigeration systems for improved energy efficiency and stability, Publix said. That marks the second time a Publix store has linked to a district cooling system for air conditioning needs but the first time for refrigeration, the company noted.

“So many exciting things are happening in downtown Tampa, and we are pleased to be part of that,” Publix President Kevin Murphy said in a statement. “Our curated mix of high-quality specialty, make-at-home and grab-and-go items will add a level of convenience for residents and visitors looking for easy meal solutions as they enjoy the events and activities available in the surrounding area.”

Related:Publix expands GreenWise brand with new plant-based meats

As in other GreenWise stores, the Tampa location houses “experience zones” of product categories and services. The “CUTS” section offers meat raised with no antibiotics or added hormones, as well as sustainably sourced seafood. More cook-at-home options, including pre-cut fresh fruit and vegetables, are showcased in the “PRODUCE” department.

In the “EATS” area, customers will find made-to-order meals and grab-and-go foods such as handcrafted gourmet sandwiches and freshly baked pizza. There’s also a station offering fresh sushi and Asian bowls. A curated selection of wines and gourmet cheeses, olives and cured meats anchor the “FINDS” department, while the “POURS” area offers locally roasted coffee, smoothie and other beverages on tap that customers can drink in-store. The “CARES” health and wellness section carries vitamins, nutritional supplements, natural soaps and shampoos, and other health and personal care items.

Also in the store is a mural by local artist Leon Bedore (aka Tes One) that depicts life in downtown Tampa through vivid colors and modern shapes. In addition, shoppers can enroll in GreenWise Market Rewards, a loyalty program that provides personalized offers and digital coupons. The rewards can be redeemed only at GreenWise stores.

Related:Publix opens new GreenWise Market in Ft. Lauderdale

Aimed at foodies and consumers following healthy lifestyles, the first GreenWise Market, a 29,000-square-foot store, opened in Tallahassee, Fla., in October 2018. Ranging from 20,000 and 30,000 square feet, other locations have been opened in Lakeland, Boca Raton, Odessa and Ponte Vedra, Fla.; Marietta, Ga; and Mountain Brook, Ala. Publix closed two GreenWise stores — in Mount Pleasant and Lexington, S.C. — last August after determining that the locations and spaces no longer fit its needs as the concept has evolved.

Plans call for the 10th GreenWise store to open in St. Augustine, Fla. An opening timetable hasn’t yet been disclosed.

Overall, Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix operates 1,274 stores in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.