Publix #29 (1955-2011) (demolished)
Ringling Shopping Center
282 Shopping Avenue (Ringling Blvd. & Lime Ave.)
Sarasota, FL 34237
Store #29, Sarasota's first Publix, opened on March 29, 1955. Its adjacent plaza, Ringling Shopping Center, also Sarasota's first, was developed by Publix later, and celebrated its grand opening on November 15, 1955.
At 23,000 square feet, store #29 was the largest Publix in the chain when it opened. However, that distinction lasted a brief 7 months until Publix opened its next store, #30, Northgate Shopping Center, Tampa, with 24,000 square feet in November 1955. #29 was the last Publix built using the Art Deco design.
Ringling Shopping Center's original anchors were Publix, Woolworth's, Belk-Lindsey, and Touchton's Rexall Drugs.
In 1966, the store's facade was updated to the Wing architecture, but some of the Art Deco elements remained.
In the late 1970s, Publix expanded to the south, and the entire center received a face-lift in 1979. With this expansion came an extensive tile mural, provided by tile artist Pati Mills.
 |
| #29 shortly before its opening in 1955. Photo courtesy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune archives |
 |
| #29 in 1955. Photo courtesy: Pleasant Family Shopping |
At 23,000 square feet, store #29 was the largest Publix in the chain when it opened. However, that distinction lasted a brief 7 months until Publix opened its next store, #30, Northgate Shopping Center, Tampa, with 24,000 square feet in November 1955. #29 was the last Publix built using the Art Deco design.
 |
| Photo courtesy: St. Petersburg Times, October 2, 1956 |
Ringling Shopping Center's original anchors were Publix, Woolworth's, Belk-Lindsey, and Touchton's Rexall Drugs.
 |
| Photo courtesy: Pinterest |
In 1966, the store's facade was updated to the Wing architecture, but some of the Art Deco elements remained.
 |
| Photo courtesy: Facebook |
 |
| Photo courtesy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune |
In the late 1970s, Publix expanded to the south, and the entire center received a face-lift in 1979. With this expansion came an extensive tile mural, provided by tile artist Pati Mills.
when the store was still active in 2011Posted by James Sudduth on Tuesday, December 4, 2018
This video, posted to the "If you grew up in Sarasota, FL...then you remember" Facebook group in December 2018, shows the store had the Wavy Pastel interior up until the end, and probably hadn't been remodeled since the early 1990s.
 |
| Photo courtesy: Facebook |
On November 9, 2011, being the oldest store in the chain, Publix closed #29 in favor of #1372 down the road at S. Tamiami Trail (US 41) & Bay Street.
For the next seven years, the former Publix space and the rest of Ringling Shopping Center languished while developers and city council debated what to do about the derelict property. In 2013, a 98,000 square foot Walmart was proposed for the property, but that was rejected by the Sarasota City Council due to neighborhood objection. Two years later, the city rezoned the property to allow mixed-use residential and commercial. In April 2017, a proposal to redevelop the center into 4 apartment buildings was filed and later approved.
Here's a look at Ringling Shopping Center in 2018, a few months before demolition. The marble walls are the original from 1955. The "Please - No Bikes on Sidewalk!" signs date back to at least the 1970s.
 |
| #29 being demolished. Photo courtesy: Sarasota Herald-Tribune |
 |
| Ringling's demolition in 2018 revealed a facade not seen in over 40 years. Photo courtesy: Facebook |
Thanks for stopping by, and until next time,
duckman66
