Caladesi Publix Demolition Impacts Neighboring Businesses

The Caladesi Publix is completely gone and rubble is piled in the parking lot.

The neighboring shops are still open, but the shopping center looks like it was hit by a natural disaster. 

Area merchants knew their businesses would be affected after the chain grocery ; they just weren’t sure how. Merchants agree sales have dropped, but for some it's not as bad as others. 

“It has definitely impacted our business a lot,” said Eunice Chen, manager of the restaurant. “We’re suffering a lot, especially at dinnertime. It’s dead around here.” 

The eatery has been located in the shopping center for 10 years, but the support of longtime customers hasn’t been enough to offset the loss of walk-in revenue. 

“Our regular customers still come in, but it’s tough. People see the construction signs and they think we’re closed,” Chen said. “I don’t know if we will be able to survive the summer.” 

Other neighboring establishments are more optimistic.

“We didn’t anticipate business being as good as it is,” said Laura Lutz of . “We have loyal customers, and they have passed the word along that we’re still open.” 

Kyle Ho of  is a five-year tenant in the plaza. He said he has seen a 20 percent drop in business.

“We expected more than that,” he said. Ho was at a loss to explain the small drop in business, but did admit that a steady clientele and special pricing has helped the business stay on track, despite the construction. 

Ray Hendricks, owner of next door, braced himself for a significant drop.

“My wife and I were worried and we prayed that we wouldn’t be affected too badly, and it’s a little surprising that we haven’t been,” he said. 

Zeorzette Vance, owner of , a seven-year tenant, said she's not concerned despite the added disadvantage of being around the corner and near the back of the shopping center. 

“Because we are in the back corner, we were never that busy. So, we still have the same problem. The business has dropped, but we are hanging in there,” she said. “We’re looking forward to the place reopening. Publix is a good landlord. I’d rather be in a construction area with a good landlord than in a new area with a bad landlord.” 

The renovated Publix Super Market at the Caladesi Shopping Center, which first opened in 1973, is scheduled to open in the fall with an extra 12,000 square feet of space, to include a pharmacy and energy-efficient upgrades.

“It’s a good plaza, a good area,” she added. “Everybody in the plaza is like family, we look after each other. It’s a comfortable plaza to be in … and we intend to make it.”