Back in 2003, the Town & Country Plaza in the 1900 block of Lake Worth Road was remodeled. It consists of 81,722 square feet of building area on approximately 8.3 acres of ground leased land. Town and Country Plaza is anchored by Publix/Sabor brand supermarket, catering to the Latin community. And that was Publix's first mistake.
When Publix changed to a different desired market, employees were hired who spoke in Spanish. Food isle signs were also erected in English and Spanish. No one could ever find anything. Publix did nothing to retain the loyal shopper it had through all the years. Citizens who had supported this store and made it the success that it was began to shop elsewhere--Publix in Lantana or the one on 2nd Avenue in Lake Worth. This store had been opened since 1969 when I first went there and always had a steady, loyal clientele. They ended up attracting the immigrant, some of whom were illegal, and many citizens moved on.
After talking to the owners, I.M.C. Property Management, that acquired the shopping center for $4.2 million in 2013, I can only gather that this was a recent Publix business decision and they were taken by surprise. At the moment lawyers on both sides are going over the Lease, etc. The gentleman with whom I spoke, assured me that there will be another food store in that shopping center and he agrees, without one, it will be devastating for their investment overall.
One thing that we do know, the store will be closed at the end of December, in spite of the legalities, and employees and long time shoppers aren't happy with Publix's decision.
It's not a big deal, we won't starve to death. We are blessed to have dozens of options to shop for groceries.
ReplyDeleteThis Publix was doomed for failure.
It will be taken over by a Sedanos type store serving the Hispanic community and will be successful.
Why was it "doomed for failure?" It was successful for over 40 years? The Publix business model sucked at this store.
ReplyDeleteWhy should another spanish food store be any more successful than this one?
ReplyDeleteIt was doomed because of the store on Dixie and by the one on Lantana - 95, one store to many in close proximity to another.
ReplyDeleteMaking it a Sedanos type store will bring in more customers at this location. This store closing was inevitable and I give Publix credit for trying something different, but the deck was stacked against them.
Publix made a huge mistake as Lynn said when they converted to a Spanish market, it turned off all people like Lynn. They should have stayed the same.
ReplyDeletePublix Sabor will never compete or be successful anyway, people are smart, even the Latinos, we all shop at Presidente, Monterrey, Universal, Bodegon, or C&D Produce, all these latin markets sell their products and fruits and veggies for 1/3 the price of Publix. I almost never shop at Publix anymore, not even the new one in DWTN. Publix is too expensive. The Presidente on Dixie has the best prices in the county. Great products, great prices, Monterrey is good too. I bet that location will be very successful if they put a Presidente or Monterrey there, they know how to sell. Just go to the Presidente on Dixie or 10th Ave, both are packed and the lines are long to check out, the deals are amazing! I save so much money shopping at Presidente, Publix Sabor's prices were always a lot more, Latinos know that and that is why they were never successful. It was all about high prices and chasing away their original base. I love Publix, they have the best baked goods, ice creams, and products, but just too expensive to shop on a regular basis.
Publix plays games too, they charge more for products in rich areas than they do in like here in Lake Worth, that is bothersome, just because you go to one on Palm Beach you have to pay more, don't like that game.
A true Spanish tienda like Monterrey will be successful in that location, wait and see.
ReplyDeleteThe BIG difference, anonymous at 2:21, I continued to shop there...just there today in fact. unfortunately, Publix had a plan and tried it for 4 years. Don't you think they would have seen the light before now and convert back to just a normal store/market with international foods that DID work.
ReplyDeleteAccording to their corporate office, this is the ONLY Sabor that they are closing.
agreed about the prices at saber being too expensive! I get all my stuff at Presidente on Dixie and i don't even speak spanish lol! The produce is great and prices are fair!! Presidente is one of the local life hacks that make living in lake worth so great, i barely step foot into public anymore!
ReplyDeleteI love Publix, but you do pay a premium to shop there. The store brands are great, the service is great, it is clean and nice, etc. Publix also treats their employees super well, good pay, good benefits, etc. and that comes with higher prices.
ReplyDeleteI also shop at the Winn Dixie in South WPB, its a very nice store but the service there is horrendous compared with any Publix. My husband, who isn't hispanic loves Presidente. I've tried it a few times, but not for me.
For 40 years this was the anchor store for the white-anlos to shop... then with time the charging hoard (not whores) from Mexico (wrong label bur never the less a label), Creoles fro Haiti arrived in the magical land of Lake Worth... and by God, the hoards grew and grew and the poor white anglos started to muve away, business basics, less people less sales. The one day at the Board Meeting the BOD decided we should we should jump in this Latino-Hatian market and capitalize... how little did they know that their own store on Dixie, along with Walmart and few other would tremendous competition to them... the rest is history... now perhaps Sedano's, El Bodegon or Presidente will be successful at this location... my thought Goodbye Saborrrrrrrrrrrrrr and welcome more sabor(taste) Latino to Lake Worth.
ReplyDeleteI only hope that a new food market will go in there and prices will be less. Publix was ridiculously expensive. They always had an excuse about it--from the price of gas to the futures market. You never could get a straight answer.
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about Publix is their buy one get one items, that is the only true savings thee, nothing else.
ReplyDeleteCustomer service used to be good at Public, but has gotten bad the past few years.
They have great baked goods, love their cheesecakes, breads, and pies.
Aldi the Germany supermarket on Congress is the best too, great prices and products, one of the best places now in our area.
I wanted to jump in about Publix charging more in wealthy ares said by anonymous at 2:20. The Sabor here charged a lot. A huge percentage of these people are on food stamps. When you have shoppers like this, prices don't come down, they go up and this affected all of us who shopped there. Nothing was affordable.
ReplyDeleteThis is a shame. The big problem is that Public/Sabor has about 10 yrs left on their lease. Which means if Publix wants to be an awful member of our community they can pay a very cheap rent and keep another grocery out for the remainder of their term thereby protecting sales at the 2nd Ave and Dixie store and keeping competitors out. And killing the entire shopping center.
ReplyDelete