OVIEDO, Fla. – The wait is over for Publix shoppers in Oviedo.
The newly rebuilt store located at 81 Alafaya Woods Blvd. held its grand opening Thursday morning with a line of customers out the door.
The Alafaya Square Publix closed in fall 2022 to allow crews to demolish the existing building — built in the late 1980s — and rebuild a 54,964 replacement.
“This one’s especially special because we’re reopening. We know folks have been waiting on it for a while and we’re just excited to have everybody back,” said Hannah Herring, Publix media relations manager.
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Dozens of people showed up at dawn to see the new store and snag some opening-day deals. Reusable bags were handed out to customers during checkout.
The renovated supermarket features the usual Publix departments such as a deli counter, pharmacy, and full-service bakery.
Self-checkout lanes have been added along with seating next to the bakery.
The Oviedo store is one of three Publix locations that held an official ribbon-cutting in Florida on Thursday.
In Brevard County, the new Addison Center at Viera Publix located at 7655 Stadium Pkwy. is a two-story prototype, allowing guests to dine on the second floor.
Another store opened in South Florida at 19050 Corkscrew Road in Estero, situated in Lee County.
The Melbourne and Estero locations also have a liquor store.
Aside from the updated design, one change will see the end of a Publix tradition. New stores do not feature a signature scale to let customers weigh themselves or their groceries, Publix officials confirmed last month.
Publix officials told News 6 that the scales’ manufacturer — Mettler Toledo — stopped making them a few years ago.
“The manufacturer ceased production in 2015, meaning that one day — although our wonderful repair shop keeps our remaining machines in great shape — the last Publix scale will retire,” Publix wrote. “When scales are taken out of a store, they go for a spruce-up in our repair shop. They could wind up going to another store, or they may be held for parts to utilize in other scales.”
Last month, two new Publix locations came to Central Florida as the chain continues to expand. Both of those stores opened up in Orlando.
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