Anyone who lives on the south east coast and some other parts of Florida would know the name 'Publix' and the phrase 'Where Shopping Is A Pleasure' It sure was, as the surroundings were very neat and much different from any plain grocery store. Publix is a grocery store chain that started in Florida in the 1930s by George Jenkins who later passed away in 1996. The chain finally ventured off into other states in 1992, Only the Florida stores had/have these unique light fixtures due to being built prior to the 80s and 90s.

The accompanying photos are of the Coral Ridge Shopping Center Publix (located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL) and were taken in 1962 when the store first opened. As you can see this store has those unique 8 foot long fluorescent lighting, and those humongous air conditioning vents. Both the store and shopping center exist today, albeit in remodeled form, the store perhaps even more so than the mall itself.

A picture that was taken in the 1980s. There was quit a few Publix stores that looked just like the one pictured. Lasted all the way up to the late 90s, early 2000s. Most if not all of these stores no longer exist as they have been modernized or torn down for expansion. There were two in my county that looked like this one. One right down the street from where we use to live, we use to shop there once a week. Was modernized in 1997, they bought the space next door that was a furniture rent center and also expanded. The other that was located in Lantana FL, in the early 2000s they bought out the space next to them which was at one end of the plaza, bulldozed the old Publix and the end space and built a super Publix on top and modernized the rest of the shopping plaza.

Pictures of Demolition Click Here

The last Publix in West Palm Beach, Florida to be modernized. This is the only Publix that I've seen that looks like this one, nothing fancy, pretty plain looking. Looks like at some point it was remodeled, I'm guessing the late 1970s, early 1980s. As far back as I can remember, it looked like this. The old building is being torn down. The new one is already put up next to it. This is the last store that I know of that had the classic fluorescent lighting. If you noticed the Publix letters have been taken down. As you can see I cheated by finding pictures of a Publix with white letters. But looks exactly original. The letters were taken down well before the green fence was put up in front of the old building. The parking lot was redone weeks before the store moved. Taken Monday October 1, 2007

Pictures of the fluorescent lighting while the old Publix is still in operation for the last few weeks. Pictures didn't take well due to brightness of the lights bleeding. Pictures taken on July 14, 2007 with a Motorola Razor phone.

If anyone use to work or associate with U.S. Fluorescent Mfg. Co. 191st at Biscayne Blvd, Miami 63, Florida, I would love to hear from you. please Send an E-mail.

I did a search at http://www.sunbiz.org and I found info on this manufacturer. Appears that U.S. Fluorescent Manufacturing was in business from 1975 to 1980. Also I would like to hear from the owner.