Publix is closing several stores across the southeastern United States. Recent reports indicate that seven Publix locations in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are affected by closures, although the circumstances differ between stores.
Some locations are being replaced with newer supermarkets rather than permanently removed from Publix’s network.
The Florida locations include stores in St. Petersburg, Miami, West Palm Beach and Palm Bay. Two Georgia locations, in Atlanta and Chamblee, have also been listed, alongside a store in Goose Creek, South Carolina.
(Source: supermarketnews.com)
The closures arrive at a time when Publix is already experiencing noticeably slower sales growth.
Publix Sales Show Signs of Pressure
Publix generated $15.7 billion in sales during the three months ended June 27, 2026, an increase of just 1% from the $15.6 billion that was reported during the same period a year earlier.
More importantly, comparable-store sales fell 0.5% during the quarter. Across the first six months of the year, comparable-store sales were down 0.3%.
Publix specifically attributed the weakness partly to economic conditions affecting consumer spending. The company was also affected by changes to Medicare drug pricing.
New maximum fair prices on 10 drugs took effect at the beginning of 2026, which reduced pharmacy-related sales. Publix said both this change and overall economic conditions contributed to lower comparable-store sales.
The slowdown is a big change from late 2025. Publix reported comparable-store sales growth of 0.7% during its fourth quarter of 2025 before comparable sales flattened during the first quarter of 2026 and turned negative in the second quarter.
Is Publix in Financial Trouble?
Despite the store closures and weaker sales trends, Publix’s financial results do not currently suggest the company is facing a financial crisis.
Net earnings reached approximately $1.7 billion during the second quarter, up 20.5% from about $1.4 billion one year earlier. However, much of that increase came from unrealized gains on equity investments.
When those gains are excluded, Publix reported adjusted net earnings of approximately $1.06 billion, up just 1.7% year over year.
Publix Is Still Opening New Stores
The closures also do not signal that Publix is abandoning its expansion strategy. While shutting or replacing selected stores, the supermarket giant is still opening locations across its southeastern US footprint.
Recent reports indicate Publix is preparing six new store openings during October alone, including locations in states like Florida, Alabama, Kentucky and North Carolina.
This means that the latest closures are accurately described as a reshuffling of Publix’s store portfolio rather than a large-scale contraction. Still, the combination of negative comparable-store sales, economic pressure on shoppers and closures at selected locations will make Publix’s upcoming results particularly important.
