Here’s the latest news on openings, closings and other developments involving Publix stores in St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Largo.
Publix is preparing to make some big changes in West St. Petersburg next month as it closes a store and opens another three miles away.
Publix has confirmed that it will close its Eagles Park Retail Center store in the warehouse at 5577 Park St. N. on Saturday, March 7, at 7 pm The company’s new location at 6605 38th Ave. N. will open Thursday, March 12, at 7 am.
The new store represents an $11 million investment by Publix, which owns the 38th Avenue property. Property records show the company demolished the existing building — a renovated Albertsons — in September 2024 and began construction of a new 57,658-square-foot supermarket in November 2024.
The Eagles Park location, built in 1986, operates in a shopping center owned by Miami Lakes-based Gator Eagle Partners. The center already has at least 16 vacant storefronts.
When Publix closes the store, the shopping center’s vacancy rate will increase from approximately 43% to more than 60%. The only significant tenant remaining will be Truist Bank, one of the last financial institutions operating in the west St. Petersburg ZIP code 33709 after other banks closed in recent years.
Publix spokeswoman Lindsey Willis confirmed the closing and opening dates and said more details about the new store will be available soon.
The new 38th Avenue location is about three miles from Eagles Park.
While the distance is manageable for customers by car, it eliminates walking access to two 55 and older communities near the closing store and residents of nearby mobile home parks.
The Publix at 1295 S. Missouri Ave will reopen March 5 after a renovation.
A ribbon cutting will be held shortly before the 7 am opening.
Store No. 1329 anchors Clearwater Plaza along one of the main retail corridors in southern Clearwater. The location serves more than 107,000 residents within three miles.
Publix converted the store from Albertson’s in 2009. It sits less than two miles from downtown Clearwater and Morton Plant Hospital.
Other retailers in the plaza include Bealls Outlet and Dollar Tree.
Publix plans to close its supermarket at Largo Mall on Feb. 28 for demolition and construction of a new store, Willis said. The project is expected to take more than a year to complete.
The grocery chain will close the store at 10500 Ulmerton Road and replace it with a 51,908-square-foot facility, according to a building permit filed in June. The current building contains 78,984 square feet of heated space.
The Largo Mall location was a renovated Albertson’s that Publix acquired and is now being demolished — continuing a trend around the Tampa Bay area as the company replaces converted stores with new construction.
Publix converted the former Albertson’s and Safeway location after purchasing it. Property records show the building was built in 1989. The property, listed as Largo Mall Lot 6, is owned by PSM Exchange Company I LLC, which purchased it in 2018 for $13 million.
Publix has not announced a target opening date for the new Largo Mall store, according to Willis.
Largo Mall, a major retail center along Ulmerton Road, includes approximately 60 tenants and is anchored by Target.