Ok tell me all about Publix

I've been shopping at Publix for 25+ years. I love them. They are clean, have a great variety and great BOGOs and very good specialty items as in they make amazing subs and their bakery is also excellent. Their private label products are just as good if not better in most cases. I prefer their Premium ice cream over any other brand on the market.

The staff is friendly and helpful. If they don't carry an item you want, they will order it for you and you won't have to buy the whole case.

They also have a sushi bar made fresh daily.

Stop by the bakery so the kiddos can get their free cookie.

I can't really say enough good about them and find nothing bad to say about them.

In my experience, the stores vary a bit by location. Some have much larger meat departments than others. Some have larger deli/bakeries. They have great BOGO sales, but some items not on sale can be higher priced than other retailers in town. We are somewhat captive Publix shoppers in our area as they are the basically the only free-standing grocery store around here anymore aside from WalMart, Target, Costco and Sams.

Also, their store brands are just as good, and in some cases better, than the name brand products.

Boars Head and their private label.

One thing I really like about Publix is their BOGO sales. Unlike other stores in our area that charge full price for one item and the other is free, Publix charges half price for each item....if you only need one of the BOGO items, you can just get one for half price. They often have mayo that is BOGO and since we don't eat a lot, it is good that I can get 1 jar at half price rather than having to buy 2 jars.

They have a really good ethic food section too. I can get some UK food there that I can't find in other stores (like HP sauce and Heinz beans).

We also love their made to order subs. We prefer those over Subway or Blimpie.

Publix Apron recipes...they usually have a little station near the front where someone is making various meals that they then sample out to patrons. Recipes and ingredients are right there. Many are delicious....I have a 5x7 binder of my Publix recipes. Boar's Head deli sandwiches...chicken fingers, Calypso Crunch bakery cookies. I could go on and on...really!

Overall, it's just a bright, clean, friendly place to shop. Employees seem to actually be pleased and not angry to be there.

I agree with everyone who has posted except Dani-Mani (sorry) - I love Publix even though I'm super-sad that my local one doesn't have the awesome International aisle every other Publix I've been in has...I have to travel for my UK food fix (but they did say they would be happy to order whatever I wanted -if one Publix carries it, any other Publix can special order it)

I've gone to a couple in florida...I don't see them as different from any other small grocery store

But a lot of grocery stores will do this. That's kind of what I mean. If Publix is all you really know, you wouldn't know most grocery stores will order speciality food for you. When I lived in the Midwest, Hyvee was forever ordering stuff they didn't carry but that I missed from the south.

i also don't like Publix's lack of a discount card. I was getting gas for less than a dollar in the Midwest because if Hyvee's gas discounts on items I actually used like milk, bread, and pasta. Public has no such thing

and though the BOGO can be nice, they fly off the shelves and are not adequately restocked for those of us who cannot make it the first few dales of the sales. I'm still upset when they don't have my Bolthouse farms breakfast smoothies in stock during a BOGO, haha!

when I moved here two years ago, everyone raved about Publix and I was excited about it. But having lived all over the US, their selection just isn't as good as other places.

and I really miss my Hyvee gas discount!

The Boar's Head pastrami is the best deli meat I've ever tried. My family would revolt if I didn't keep it on hand all the time.

Also, they have pre-made pizza dough in their bakery that we all love. It's the only kind of pizza dough I'll use if I'm not making it from scratch.

At my Publix, the samples are only on weeknights between about 4:00 and 6:00, right when you are driving home from work and stopping at the store for something. I can't tell you how many Publix recipes have become my favorites in the last two years since that gorgeous store opened here. I used to go to Publix whenever we were in Orlando, but I had no idea how truly great it was on a daily basis instead of just a we're-on-vacation-so-everything-is-awesome basis.

They have real key limes, and if you don't want to juice 30 of those tiny things for one pie, they have bottled key lime juice. That does *not* happen at my local Food City.

The only drawback is that Publix is much more expensive than Food City. I do 95% of my grocery shopping at the store nearest me. I go to Publix for samples and specialty items.

Oh, yeah, and everyone's right about the deli chicken! The only thing I'll add is the red skin potato salad is *fabulous*!  

Sometimes Publix runs that deal where if you spend $50, you can purchase a $50 gas card from the ones they have to choose from for $40. We usually try to do that deal when it comes around.

True, but not the same as deals every day that you can use to accumulate cents off gas. It really adds up.

I love my Publix. Best produce of any grocery stores around here, and their rotisserie chicken is absolutely the best (try the Mojo). I use it for so many recipes instead of cooking chicken during the week to save time.
Their customer service is top notch, always. I love they will order anything that you are looking for if they don't carry it as well.

Can't go wrong shopping there!