TAMPA, FL — A late night flight cancellation for my Southern Exposure departure gave me an extra day in Florida — a perfect opportunity for a store check.
This Publix BB #:110909 Greenwise Market opened in Summer 2021, and was a buzz amongst attendees at the show, due to its proximity to downtown Tampa. Everyone told me I had to get over there.
I remember store checking one of the initial GreenWise stores about a decade ago. The company has announced plans to convert the 10 or so stores to the Publix banner, and while maintaining the branding and premium features for select stores, but this one seems to be quite popular for the area.
A first look at the store had me thinking it was going to have a very limited assortment, but that’s not the case for the produce department. It leads with a couple of smaller organic displays before pivoting into a broader assortment of conventional produce.
There were a few interesting features I don’t see at every store. A dedicated space highlighted local greenhouse-grown greens (although there were other greenhouse-grown greens in the other salad case.) Berries were definitely a feature here, with multiple displays pushing local promotions, as well as premium SKUs like Driscoll’s Sweetest Batch and local pink/white pineberries.
There were several full-service counters for prepared foods, including a seating area for people to enjoy drinks outside with the occasional cruise ship horn bellowing nearby.
The whole area was a hotspot for Sunday brunch, with multiple nearby restaurants buzzing with outdoor diners.
While the GreenWise banner may not be a focus for Publix going forward, this particular location definitely highlighted its potential for implementation at the right location.
