Winter Haven in Polk County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
1940 Publix Super Market
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, December 23, 2017
1. 1940 Publix Super Market Marker
George W. Jenkins opened the first Publix Food Store in Winter Haven in 1930. Five years later, he opened a second location in town. He closed these first two stores to open his dream store, the first Publix Super market, on this site, Nov. 8, 1940. Jenkins combined the most advanced elements of U.S. food retailing with his own ideas to create a supermarket unlike any before. It featured air conditioning, fluorescent lighting and frozen food cases. The interior decor of pastel colors, beautiful terrazzo tile and soft music created a pleasant atmosphere for shoppers. The store's crowning glory was its electric-eye door, an amenity that exceeded the innovation of what any retail food company was offering at the time. It was called a "food palace" of marble, glass and stucco. Publix operated here until 1957, when it was replaced by a new store in Winter Haven.
Erected 2016 by The Polk County Historical Commission, Publix Super Markets, Inc. St. Matthew Cathoilc Church. (Marker Number PCHC-020.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is November 8, 1940.
Location. 28° 1.331′ N, 81° 43.72′ W. Marker is in Winter Haven, Florida, in Polk County. Marker is at the intersection of
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. First Publix Store 1930 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Gram Parsons Derry Down (approx. ¼ mile away); Winter Haven War Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.9 miles away); Historic Pughsville Neighborhood (approx. one mile away); a different marker also named Historic Pughsville Neighborhood (approx. 1.2 miles away); Florence Villa Training School (approx. 1.3 miles away); First Missionary Baptist Church of Winter Haven (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Winter Haven.
Also see . . . Publix Photo Timeline. Company website (Submitted on January 1, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida.)
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, December 23, 2017
2. 1940 Publix Super Market
Courtesy of Florida Memory
3. 1940 Publix Super Market circa 1940s
photo courtesy of Publix.com
4. Publix Super Market
1940's store as it appeared in the 1950's
Photographed By Photo courtest of Publix.com
5. George W. Jenkins, Founder of Publix
Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 790 times since then and 93 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 1, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. 4, 5. submitted on December 26, 2018, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
