The Fascinating History Of Publix's First Supermarket With New Innovations In 1940

Photo byUnknown author, Public domain, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Those who live in Florida today live in a reality where most people have access to a Publix store. After all, Publix has 869 stores in Florida. For some, it can seem as if there is a store on every major corner.

But it wasn't always this way. Back in the 1930s, Publix started with one humble store in central Florida. This article will look at the history of where it all started - in one non-descript building that looks somewhat ordinary now but was considered quite innovative in its day.

The Start Of Publix Supermarkets - 1940: Publix was founded by George Jenkins. Prior to founding the grocer, he worked at Piggly Wiggly as a clerk and broom pusher starting in 1925.

Eventually, Jenkins would leave the security of that job to begin his own grocery store in Florida's Winter Haven in September of 1930. The venture would be called Publix Food Store at first. Jenkins would be able to open a second store by 1935.

In 1940, Jenkins mortgaged an orange grove to open what would be the first Publix Supermarket. The store had amenities that are common today but were considered innovations at the time such as air conditioning, piped-in music, wide aisles, florescent lighting, frozen food cases, and doors that opened when they detected motion.

Of course, most Floridians know that Publix would eventually expand into the large chain it is today. In 2022, its retail sales reached $54.5 billion and it currently employs a whopping 255,000 people. It is also one of the largest employee-owned companies in the United States. Below is a picture of the interior of the 1940 store from Publix's Facebook page.

The author is not affiliated with Publix or any other grocer.