First Publix Store 1930 - Winter Haven, Florida, USA
Posted by: 
BoomersOTR
N 28° 01.363 W 081° 43.876
17R E 428113 N 3099934
Historical marker dedicated to the first Publix Food Store.
Waymark Code: WMZ3WV
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 09/06/2018
Views: 4
At 58 4th Street NW in downtown Winter Haven is the location of the first Publix Food Store started on September 6, 1930. On the 88th anniversary, September 6, 2018 in a partnership between Publix Super Markets Inc., Six/Ten and the Polk County Historical Commission, a historical marker for the first Publix Store 1930 was dedicated.
George W. Jenkins, founder of Publix Super Markets Inc. rented the space in 1930 for his first Publix Food Store which opened on Sept. 6, 1930. The store was in operation until 1940 when Jenkins built his dream store on West Central Avenue, two blocks east of this site. Link below.
Plaque reads as follows:
First Publix Store 1930
George W. Jenkins, founder of Publix Super Markets Inc. was born Sept. 29, 1907, in Harris City, GA. At the age of 17, he came to Florida and took a job as a food store clerk in Tampa. In 1930, he decided to open his own store. He rented space at 58 Fourth Street NW, Winter Haven and called his business Publix Food Store. He got the idea for the name from the Publix Theatres movie chain. He proudly opened this store Sept. 6, 1930. He operated here until 1940, when he built his dream store on W. Central Avenue, two blocks east of this site.
The waymark for the 1940 Publix Store is at the West Central Avenue location (
visit link)