Full Breakdown
Publix Unveils New Naples Store Amid Southwest Florida Expansion
6/10/2026, 12:58:13 AM
New Naples Store: Opening Details and Design
Publix announced that its store at the Neapolitan Way Shopping Center (4601 9th St. N) will open on July 2, 2026. The 38-year-old supermarket and adjacent vacant space were demolished and replaced with a 52,000-sq ft. modern store, designated as Publix No. 1,782, the first new Publix in Collier County since the Golden Gate Estates opening in November 2025.
Modern Store Format Rolls Out Across Florida
Publix is rolling out a new, more shopper- and delivery-friendly store format statewide, adding wider aisles, self-checkout, expanded delivery and curbside pickup, larger deli and bakery displays, and optional amenities such as pizza kitchens, sushi bars and “Pours” beverage stations. The redesign also phases out traditional weighing scales, keeping them only where service remains viable. Recently, Publix opened a Plantation store (June 4) and announced five more Florida openings, including Fernandina Beach, Bradenton, Winter Haven and Davenport.
Key Figures and Corporate Stakeholders
Lindsey Willis, Publix media relations manager, detailed the expansion. Mark H. Bickel, Audience Development Director for The News-Press & Naples Daily News, covered the opening. The Neapolitan Way Shopping Center is the landlord, and Publix’s Lakeland headquarters directs the redesign and rollout.
Store Size and Regional Footprint
The new Naples store is about 52,000 sq ft. Publix operates 21 stores in Collier County and 38 in Lee County. Since 2021, it opened 17 Southwest Florida locations, seven in the past two years. Upcoming sites include a 55,701-sq ft. store in Fernandina Beach, a 55,000-sq ft. Babcock Ranch store slated for mid-2027, and a Gateway Shoppes (North Naples) location slated for May.
Implications for the Local Market
The Naples store expands access to Publix’s modern format, potentially boosting local employment and consumer choice. Its larger footprint and amenities reflect a shift toward experiential grocery shopping and may heighten competition with regional chains like Aldi, Winn-Dixie and Trader Joe’s, which are also expanding in Florida.
Official Statements
Lindsey Willis highlighted Publix’s growth, stating the chain opened 17 Southwest Florida stores since 2021, including seven in the past two years, a mix of replacements and new locations.
Conflicting Reports and Information Gaps
The July 2 opening is confirmed, but specific in-store features—e.g., a “Pours” station or liquor department—have not been disclosed. The exact opening date for the Gateway Shoppes location also remains pending.
Verbatim Quote
> “We opened 17 stores since 2021 in the SW Florida area,” — Lindsey Willis, Media Relations Manager, Publix
Upcoming Publix Openings in Florida
Beyond Naples, Publix plans a second North Naples store at Gateway Shoppes by May, a mid-2027 Babcock Ranch store near the Charlotte-Lee line, and additional sites in Fernandina Beach, Bradenton, Winter Haven and Davenport in the coming weeks.
