I’m not sure how many of you know this, but Publix is my weakness. It’s my favorite store (besides Children’s Place). I can spend every single day of my life in that store. Seriously. I know, it’s only a grocery store, but it is by far the best grocery store out there.
I’ve become friends with quite a few of the people at our local Publix. My sister in law thinks it’s crazy. Not too long ago I was telling her about my friends and she just kept shaking her head. Then I said, “James, what do you say when we go into Publix? What’s the guys name who gives out the food?”
His response? “Hi Bob!”
Carolyn Virginia lost it. She couldn’t believe it. She still thinks that I should quit my job and go to work at Publix. She said that there wouldn’t be a day in my life where I wouldn’t go to work with a smile on my face.
This morning I was on my way to work and just as I was passing our Publix I remembered that I was out of Diet Coke at work. I made a sharp left and headed into the parking lot. This impulse visit (one of many) was doublefold. I also love thier fountain drinks. Nothing beats a Publix fountain diet coke. (I used to think that McDonald’s had the best fountain drinks, but now it’s hands down Publix.)
I first went to the cereal bar aisle to grab a box of my favorite oatmeal chocolate chip breakfast cookies, then headed over to the deli section to get my diet coke. I grabbed a cup, filled it with ice, and put it under the diet coke fountain. When I slid it under to activate the push-back lever, it came out looking like Sprite, or soda water. I looked to my right and noticed Johnny, the produce manager, filling in the bagged salad.
“Hey Johnny…”
“Yea?” he says without even looking back.
“There is something wrong with your diet coke,” I replied.
He turned around to see me. He smiled and told me that he’d take care of that for me. He had Whitney, who was working in the deli, switch the syrup.
I told him that I was going to run to the other side to grab a 12 pack of diet coke and I’d be right back. I wasn’t even half way to the diet coke aisle, which is on the complete opposite end of the store, when I hear over the loud intercom system, “Maggie, You’re all set!” I smiled and shook my head.
I grabbed my 12 pack of diet coke and headed back to the deli for my fountain drink. I yelled, “Thanks Johnny!” and he smiled back, “No problem, young lady. Have a great day!”
I love this store.
April 25, 2008 at 5:01 pm |
You have issues…….
April 25, 2008 at 8:19 pm |
I LOVE Publix too. We got our wedding cake at Publix. If you don’t know the Publix bakery, you would think we were either crazy or cheap getting a wedding cake at a grocery store. If you do know it you think we are brilliant.
I have talked about Publix with several of my friends up here that have lived in the South. Everyone misses Publix. It’s crazy.
Every single time I go South, I have to go to a Publix!
Brian thinks I have issues too.
Check out the last line of this post and my follow up comment…
http://www.bloggingniki.com/news/2007/11/25/wednesday-of-thanksgiving-week/
April 25, 2008 at 8:55 pm |
I’ve gotta agree with you, no one compares to Publix! They just built a Super Walmart here and we were excited to be able to start shopping somewhere a little cheaper, but soon went back to Publix. Everything is better there, better produce, better selections, and the employees are SO NICE! Love that Publix!
April 25, 2008 at 9:21 pm |
Jim says “Issues”? But aren’t they sweetest issues you ever want to meet?
(Herb cleanup on aisle 4)
Pop
Even Grandpa gets an organic chocolate chip cookie.
April 26, 2008 at 12:25 am |
Yummy, Publix subs, Publix tea, and Publix Bakery. We also got our wedding cake from Publix, even yummy after a year. In fact Publix is part of the reason we flew back home last October, I had a huge craving for Publix subs and chicken. Also when my pastor’s son came out to visit (he works there) he brought us a jug a tea in his checked baggage. So good. Yummy. I miss Publix. Nothing compares.
April 26, 2008 at 11:11 am |
maggie you forgot to mention your “green” publix shopping bags that you carry with pride!
April 26, 2008 at 5:53 pm |
Green Publix shopping bags? Pop and Grammy double them as luggage and Grammy has green shoes for her matching green cloth purse.
Pop
April 26, 2008 at 10:41 pm |
The very first day I set foot in the great state of Florida (as a resident, not a tourist), July 2, 1966, 3 days after I graduated from high school in New York, I walked into Publix with my father, went up to the service counter, and asked for a job. The manager, Mr. Jim Smith, said “Can you start right now? I just had a girl quit and you look like her size.” He took me in the back and handed me her size 3 taffeta fitted-waist seagreen dress, which did indeed fit. They took me out to Register 6 and watched me check groceries for a whole ten minutes, realized I had the knack for it, and left me alone. Register 6 was my home for the next four years until the day before I started teaching for the Brevard County School District. We had a little saying there, “Publix, where shopping is a pleasure and working is a pain.” But it was just a joke. They treated us better there than on any job I’ve ever had. They let all of us college kids work our hours around our school schedules. They taught us, not just our job, but responsibility, honesty, integrity, and hard work. Not to mention blocking. I think anyone who ever worked for Publix has the neatest cupboards in town with all the items blocked to the front and the cans perfectly straight. And let’s not forget: our spice jars are arranged alphabetically. I will say, Maggie, and I’ve told you this many times, that the folks who work in your Jiles Road Publix are the most hospitable people in any Publix or store I’ve ever been in. They are truly an asset to the company and to your community. I am glad you love your Publix and have made friends with the personnel. They’re the best!
April 27, 2008 at 12:10 pm |
You all crack me up! But I can swear all of this is true – I’ve been on the phone with Maggie and heard the folks there calling Maggie and James by name.
April 27, 2008 at 12:17 pm |
We love Publix here in Rockledge. It is the only grocery store in Rockledge so it’s great that we love it. I must tell you though, that no one knows my name or Jim’s at any store in Brevard County. Maggie, you are too cute!
April 28, 2008 at 10:10 am |
One more grocery-store related comment: When I lived in S. Carolina I used to go to a Harris Teeter (another good store). When my mother first visited me she started referring to it as “Horris Tweeter” – she never could get the name right! She also used to call Steak and Ale “Steak and Al’s”.
April 28, 2008 at 10:15 am |
When I lived in Charlotte there was a Harris Teeter. I loved that store, too! There was one near my apartment in Buckhead and I would go to it sometimes. But it doesn’t beat our Publix. Nothing does.
April 28, 2008 at 12:52 pm |
We also got our wedding cake from Publix, and it was fabulous! The deli people know us in Rockledge (we love Boar’s Head meat!) And Lynn, you’re right. Mike worked for Publix for 13 years, and our cupboards and fridge always look perfect.
April 28, 2008 at 10:50 pm |
We, too, got our wedding cake at Publix and Anthony, the baker, brought it right to the house himself! It was soooo good and soooo pretty!!!
Maggie, your nine million dollars’ worth of wedding flowers came from the Harris Teeter in New Bern. Did you know that?
The girls from Grandpa’s Publix sent cards when he died. The butchers at Chappie’s Publix sent two hams to his house when they found out he had died. Two girls from the bakery went to his funeral.
Which brings up another point: ever notice how people take ownership of the Publix they shop at? It’s always “my Publix.”
April 29, 2008 at 4:08 pm |
I like Publix, but LOVE my Trader Joe’s. Especially since whenever your order totals to an even number (that is $xx and no cents) they ring a bell, and you get to “go fish” – James would love this. You pull a fish off the wall and you win whatever’s on the back. Last time it was a gift-tin of yummy chocolate truffles.
April 29, 2008 at 9:31 pm |
Mags… This by far has been the most popular blog pick. By the way, the joke at 915 is “Hi bob.” That is the cutiest.
Let’s keep Publix alive…Don’t you agree CV? I bet you take the apples from the bottom. Don’t you?
Pop
April 30, 2008 at 8:16 am |
I agree lets just keep replying to the Publix entry and see how far we can go. How many do you think you we can get up to?
April 30, 2008 at 8:20 am |
I’m starting to think that Jim is right… is he referring to me, or all of us with his comment of “you have issues”?
But I love the idea that this is up to 18 comments so far. By far my biggest fan base yet! And I haven’t even forwarded it to Bob, Johnny, Larry, Joe, Mary, or Ken yet. Imagine if they saw it!
April 30, 2008 at 11:06 am |
I was actually thinking that the stream of comments might indicate that we need new blog entries!
April 30, 2008 at 11:08 am |
I’m working on that. I’ve got a ton of stuff… the rest of Springfest, your birthday dinner, touch a truck, and a new rock wall, just to name a few. Stay tuned!
April 30, 2008 at 11:25 am |
It just goes to show you that people are more passionate about food than anything else.
April 30, 2008 at 7:10 pm |
Even little kids know Publix….”And to the Publix for which it stands…”
Publix just isn’t about food…Grammy won’t let me go alone to the store if she needs something in a hurry. It’s like Home Depot or Lowes, I’m gone for hours talking to people.
“Hi Bob”
Pop
May 1, 2008 at 6:29 pm |
That reminds me of my old neighbor. She was about 14 when we met her and she went to Florida for the first time when she was about 16. She came back and said she hated it there, “The people in the check-out line at the grocery store (Publix) talk to you.” It was too funny.
May 2, 2008 at 10:34 am |
“Hi Bob”, this is so much fun. I just had to add one more to the 23. Don’t ever shop at Publix when you are hungry. We buy twice as much food then we came for and it is wierd stuff , like Jim gets canned sardines. Yuk, double Yuk! I of course get sensible stuff like Louisianna crumb cake, Yum!
May 2, 2008 at 9:05 pm |
Don’t you all love the Publix Christmas party, when all the vendors set up their free samples tables at the ends of each aisle? You can eat a complete meal! I like the wine vendors the best. By the fourth aisle I am feeling really happy! And everybody in town is there. It’s like Old Home Week.
And EVERY day they have the free coffee. You come in there after work, just dragging and wanting to hurry up and get home so you can kick back and relax and THERE IT IS! The coffee pot just a-calling your name! Ah, a second chance…there is life after work after all.
By the way, I love Niki’s story about the girl who didn’t like people talking to her in the checkout line. Ain’t it the truth? Southern hospitality. Those New Yorkers just don’t get it.
May 2, 2008 at 9:19 pm |
Hey, guys! We’re not the only ones blogging about Publix. Check this out:
http://wordpress.com/tag/publix/