No Changes Planned For Island Estates Publix

Publix, the supermarket giant based in Lakeland, recently purchased the Island Estates property, home to one of its stores and a number of other businesses, at a reported cost of $8.1 million.

The company has no new plans for the plaza or its own store; the purchase was strictly a business decision, according to a Publix spokeswoman.

"It was bought as an investment. There won't be any changes; everything will stay the same," said Shannon Patten, Publix media and community relations manager for central and southwest Florida. 

"It was the right time to buy, with the marketplace being what it is. It was strictly a good business decision," Patten said.

In addition to the Publix that resides on the 4.2-acre property, the plaza is also home to two banks, a dry cleaner, a salon, a mortgage company, a boutique, a UPS Store, a liquor store and the recently added .

Patten told Clearwater Patch that the company often purchases property its supermarkets reside on. 

"We do look at shopping centers where we operate, and we will purchase the whole shopping center when it makes sense for us," she said.

"We own about 17 percent of the shopping centers where we operate. That way, if we want to do cosmetic changes, we can," she added.