A new Publix is coming to downtown Lake Worth early next year.
A ground-breaking event for the new 29,000-square-feet supermarket will be held Sept. 29 at 11 a.m., hosted by the Lake Worth Community Redevelopment Agency.
Several local officials are expected to attend Wednesday’s ceremony at the northeast corner of North Dixie Highway and 2nd Avenue North.
“The new store will provide Lake Worth residents the opportunity to shop without having to travel long distances for groceries and other goods,” the agency said in statement Thursday.
Construction on the site began this summer and the store is expected to open late spring 2011. The new Publix will create 90 jobs – 40 full-time and 50 part-time, according to the agency.
The CRA said it provided economic incentives to Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets Inc. to attract the grocer to the area.
The new Publix is good news for a community that recently loss another major grocer.
In July, Jacksonville grocer Winn-Dixie Inc., announced it was closing 30 underperforming stores in the Southeast United States, the majority in Florida.
Thirteen of the stores flagged for closure by Sept. 22 were in South Florida, including three with Lake Worth zip codes.
Publix spokeswoman Kim Jaeger said the new downtown store will serve the area’s growing professional base.
“There has been significant redevelopment efforts in downtown Lake Worth as well as an increase in housing development in the area, all of which we believe to be very positive,” Jaeger said.
“Simply, we wanted to be part of that exciting revitalization.”
According to the CRA, current plans indicate the new Publix will sport an ‘art deco style’.
Arlene Satchell can be reached at or 954-356-4209. Follow her on Twitter.com @The Satchreport.
