New Publix on Hwy 98 in SoWal breaking ground

I know I am probably not using the correct phrases but I fail to see how it's ok from a legal standpoint.

3 grocery stores located in the same zip code, drawing on the same labor pool & paying the same wages, regulated by the same government, selling the same products, and charging different prices?

The only variable is rent!

I dunno what to call it, I just know it ain't right! :angry:

I fail to understand your point. With three stores, really four stores, being so close, and having Brunos and two Winn Dixies, close by, there is plenty of competition. By Publix offering different prices at different stores, they are giving us choices. They know that they have a captured audience with tourists at WaterColor, just like Pickles, in Seaside, knows that the kids will be lined up 20-30 deep at 3pm in the season, to buy $8 frozen shrimp baskets and $4 lemonade. People who want to shop for better prices will find better prices. That is free market at its finest. Location, location, location. That is what it is all about.

Publix charging people different prices in different neighborhoods w/in the same community is what is frosting my cookies.

They aren't offering us choices in the great tradition of the free market system, they are ripping people off!

I think it's just my ethics/ideas of honesty meeting the lowered ones of the business community. Ranting over!

I fail to understand your point. With three stores, really four stores, being so close, and having Brunos and two Winn Dixies, close by, there is plenty of competition. By Publix offering different prices at different stores, they are giving us choices. They know that they have a captured audience with tourists at WaterColor, just like Pickles, in Seaside, knows that the kids will be lined up 20-30 deep at 3pm in the season, to buy $8 frozen shrimp baskets and $4 lemonade. People who want to shop for better prices will find better prices. That is free market at its finest. Location, location, location. That is what it is all about.

Hence the $5 beers at Taco John's in Seaside, while they're only $2 at Modica!

Sigh - they aren't breaking ground this week. Read full post HERE

Here is an email I received this morning:

3 grocery stores located in the same zip code, drawing on the same labor pool & paying the same wages, regulated by the same government, selling the same products, and charging different prices? :angry:

I am very price conscious (2 boys = tons of $ on food) and I have been shopping at Publix for years. I shop at both the WaterColor Crossings AND Grand Boulevard location and I can't remember ever seeing one item at one store priced more/less at another. Maybe things are on sale at different times but I would be interested in hearing what things you have seen a price difference on?

I am very price conscious (2 boys = tons of $ on food) and I have been shopping at Publix for years. I shop at both the WaterColor Crossings AND Grand Boulevard location and I can't remember ever seeing one item at one store priced more/less at another. Maybe things are on sale at different times but I would be interested in hearing what things you have seen a price difference on?

I second this. I thought I was paying more down here than in Atlanta at Publix also, at least for meat, then I actually looked at the prices.

Publix charging people different prices in different neighborhoods w/in the same community is what is frosting my cookies.

They aren't offering us choices in the great tradition of the free market system, they are ripping people off!

I think it's just my ethics/ideas of honesty meeting the lowered ones of the business community. Ranting over!

Scooterbug, let's look at the housing market. Let's say you build a 2000sf home in WaterColor, and you want to build the identical home in the town of Santa Rosa S/D, just north of hwy 98, off of 393. Do you really think that the sub contractors will charge the same amount for each build? Also, there is the ground upon which the homes sit. Do you think they cost the same amount? Convenience and location are the driving forces.

Thinking more about the word for which you are searching, is it "monopoly," rather than "price fixing?"

Today, I learned that when Publix opens the new PCB store at Home Depot, they will be closing the store on Middle Beach, which is not too far from the Home Depot store.

Jill, maybe my information about Publix breaking ground on the new SoWal Publix is incorrect. Keep in mind that as the lady who reported to you said, "Publix doesn't have formal ground breaking ceremonies." The new store isn't on their Store Managers' schedule to open in 2008. To my knowledge, Publix has not even publicly acknowledged that they are opening a new store on Hwy 98, however, they went before both the WalCo Planning Comm and the BCC requesting permission to build it. I guess we will get it when we get it.

Since Publix doesn't formally announce plans to break ground, I wonder if they are at liberty to say when they WILL break ground. I doubt it. We should test them and ask them if they plan to break ground on that new site before the end of 2009.

Today, I learned that when Publix opens the new PCB store at Home Depot, they will be closing the store on Middle Beach, which is not too far from the Home Depot store.

Jill, maybe my information about Publix breaking ground on the new SoWal Publix is incorrect. Keep in mind that as the lady who reported to you said, "Publix doesn't have formal ground breaking ceremonies." The new store isn't on their Store Managers' schedule to open in 2008. To my knowledge, Publix has not even publicly acknowledged that they are opening a new store on Hwy 98, however, they went before both the WalCo Planning Comm and the BCC requesting permission to build it. I guess we will get it when we get it.

Since Publix doesn't formally announce plans to break ground, I wonder if they are at liberty to say when they WILL break ground. I doubt it. We should test them and ask them if they plan to break ground on that new site before the end of 2009.

Publix tends to be about new stores. At this point the best information you may get is what is filed with the planning commission and what was on the agenda in the BCC meeting. (An appearance before the BCC indicates a zoning change request.) If you call the zoning and planning dept and ask the status of the project, you will probably get a decent idea. If the plans are approved and permits are pulled, you can bet groundbreaking is coming up. You need to know the address of the project though probably. Does Publix own the property? Sometimes a developer is working on their behalf.

"Publix" doesn't own the property. I use to do some business with a guy who sought out property for Publix and CVS. "Publix" nor "CVS" were never mentioned to the sellers and were never found on the real estate contracts.

Update on Publix: I just drove over to where Publix has the sign on the North side of 98. It is exactly one mile East of 393 to the sign. I was interested in the sign because I saw a lady making changes to the sign the other day.
The sign no reads that there will be a meeting at the Defuniak Springs Courthouse on February 26 with the Board of County Commissioners. The time for the meeting is 5PM.
This would tell me that this means that the development order probably hasn't been fully hammered in stone just yet.
It would be interesting to know if anyone has plans on attending that meeting.
Where they are planning to build is out there all by itself. It will push the local area further East to fill it out which would be unfortunate IMO.

Scooterbug, let's look at the housing market. Let's say you build a 2000sf home in WaterColor, and you want to build the identical home in the town of Santa Rosa S/D, just north of hwy 98, off of 393. Do you really think that the sub contractors will charge the same amount for each build? Also, there is the ground upon which the homes sit. Do you think they cost the same amount? Convenience and location are the driving forces.

Good example, but I also consider it VERY dishonest to charge different prices for the same work! I'm sure there are many justifications/business models to explain it, but it's just not kosher in my world.

Good example, but I also consider it VERY dishonest to charge different prices for the same work! I'm sure there are many justifications/business models to explain it, but it's just not kosher in my world.

Look comrade scooterbug! Over there it's something shiney!

I don't think large scale communism is fair either!

SoWal Trivia! What establishment used to sit on the site of the "proposed" new Publix?

There are no prizes involved. Just checking to see how long y'all been here.

Could it have been the location of Zeales (sp?) store/ Dicky Saltsman's? If I am right, you know why, don't you?

Could it have been the location of Zeales (sp?) store/ Dicky Saltsman's? If I am right, you know why, don't you?

Heh heh...yes, I know why, but the South Walton Superette building is still there, west of 393, where Bea's Interiors was for many years and now Redfish Interiors is there.

One hint (though I'm not sure y'all were back here then): think cajun. And hats. LOTS of hats. ;-)

Was it that funky restaurant the name of which I cannot remember?
I remember the food, though.

I can remember the super horny little pot bellied pig they had outside, but I can't remember the name of the restaurant

LaBlue's? Something like that...

Pre-Donut Hole. Grayt breakfasts!

SJ,
I agree with you! Kelly's is a nightmare and its high prices are a shame. I was told a while ago that the reason Kelly's prices are high for their inferior, often old products, that their store appears dirty and unkept, is because the "powers that be" believe most of their customers are poor, use food stamps and do not care about cleanliness or high prices since it is not their money anyway. IF this is true, what a crime... and I fervently hope Publix does come to Freeport and soon...supposedly on the "new" 331. I don't see signs of soon to be active construction yet...

For many items, I notice that Kelly's is priced similar to WaterColor Publix, but be sure to check expiration dates, which can sometimes be really out of date.

So the ground didn't break yet for the new Publix. Oh well, just another rumor .... Keep an eye out though, because from what I hear, it will be happening sooner rather than later.

Imagine the cart traffic in a Publix on 331 on a Summer Saturday.

SJ,
I agree with you! Kelly's is a nightmare and its high prices are a shame. I was told a while ago that the reason Kelly's prices are high for their inferior, often old products, that their store appears dirty and unkept, is because the "powers that be" believe most of their customers are poor, use food stamps and do not care about cleanliness or high prices since it is not their money anyway.

Granted, I have only shopped at Kelley's once or twice, but my fussy ol' self has certainly never noted dirtiness beyond some dust on wine bottles (that were several dollars cheaper than Publix) and since the reason I was there was to compare produce and meat products I find it hard to believe that old goods/high prices are an issue.

I did notice high/er prices on what I would consider non essential/impulse buys, but overall the prices were lower.

I am very price conscious (2 boys = tons of $ on food) and I have been shopping at Publix for years. I shop at both the WaterColor Crossings AND Grand Boulevard location and I can't remember ever seeing one item at one store priced more/less at another. Maybe things are on sale at different times but I would be interested in hearing what things you have seen a price difference on?

I don't see any difference in pricing between the WaterColor Publix and those in Tallahassee.

I don't see any difference in pricing between the WaterColor Publix and those in Tallahassee.

I believe you, but it's surprising that folks in Tallahassee don't choke on the meat prices that we've been getting at the Watercolor Publix.