Welcome shoppers! A newly renovated Publix supermarket in Florida is reopening on March 5, the Lakeland-based company announced on its website.

The existing store in Clearwater, originally renovated from an Albertson's store in 2009, was demolished to be rebuilt in the popular grocery chain's new shopper-friendly style. Keep an eye out for the giant motorized Publix shopping cart zipping around the area on opening day.

The new 46,791-square-foot store, complete with pharmacy and adjacent liquor store, will have many of the new design features Publix has introduced to other renovated locations including wider lanes, an indoor seating area, self-checkout lanes, expanded deli options, and larger displays in the bakery, meat and seafood departments.

The grand opening will be at 7 a.m., according to spokesperson Lindsey Willis in an email, just minutes after a ribbon-cutting.

Publix Supermarkets opened or reopened dozens of stores in 2025, many of them in Florida. Two more Florida Publix locations are coming soon, one in St. Petersburg in a few weeks and another in Spring Hill on April 2.

Construction at the Clearwater site was delayed last summer after a scissor-lift accident resulted in injuries to two construction workers, FOX13 reported. One man died from his injuries.

The new Publix is at 1295 S Missouri Ave. in Clearwater Plaza.

The Clearwater Publix is reopening at 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 5, 2026. After that, it'll be:

Saint Petersburg: 6605 38th Ave North, March 12

Spring Hill: 160 Mariner Blvd., April 2

"Customers may catch a glimpse of the large, motorized Publix shopping cart traveling around the community on opening day," Willis said.

The massive 11’9” tall, 14’ long and more than 7.5’ wide Publix shopping cart can often be seen cruising around the area whenever a Publix opens.

The cart, built on top of a Volkswagen Sand Rail, has a driver sitting underneath and can reach speeds up to 45 mph.

Publix isn't the only chain making big changes.

Discount grocery chain Aldi is still surging in Florida with six opened already this year and at least four more in the next few weeks. Aldi opened about 60 locations in the Sunshine State last year, many of them converted Winn-Dixie locations from Aldi's brief acquisition of that company in 2024-2025.

The newly renamed The Winn-Dixie Company is refocusing its efforts on its home state with plans for community-friendly redesigns.

Sprouts Farmers Market opened a new location in Daytona Beach last week and will be opening one in Clermont this week, with another expected to open in New Smyrna Beach by this summer.

Meanwhile Trader Joe's, a more upscale grocery destination, opened a location in Daytona Beach in November and another in Melbourne on Dec. 3.

As of Dec. 15, there were 908 Publix locations in Florida, more than four times as many as in any other state, according to data site ScrapeHero. You can find one near you at publix.com/locations.

C. A. Bridges is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida's service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida Publix reopening Thursday. What to expect at the new store