From Winn-Dixie to Lucky's and Back Again - Winn-Dixie #2568 (former Lucky's Market, nee-Winn-Dixie) - West Melbourne, FL

 Welcome to your new Winn-Dixie!

Yesterday, December 9th, 2020, marked the re-opening of Winn-Dixie at this spot, five years after it was kicked out for Lucky's Market. The old store was oft-described as dingy, run-down, cramped- an old store, untouched by time, and desperately in need of a renovation. Lucky's Market was taken as a breath of fresh air, and their total renovation made the store a place people actually loved to shop again.

But early 2020 brought a rollercoaster of emotions. Kroger would abruptly pull their funding, sending the suddenly cash-strapped chain spiraling. Plans initially called for the West Melbourne store to remain open, but, in what some may call an underhanded move, they were bid out of their own home by none other than the previous tenant- Winn-Dixie. Now with the full might of a leaner, meaner Southeast Grocers behind them, Winn-Dixie wanted to do it again, but properly this time.

As documented in this post on my personal site, work would begin in August with a basic interior strip-out, followed by serious demolition in October, and a quick turnaround and polish during November. All in the lead up to the big day-

Grand opening! The store would open to the public on a crisp, cold-front morning with giveaways and confetti. I didn't make it there that early, other commitments made me wait until the afternoon. But the store was still abuzz with activity!

A packed- and most importantly- repaved! Parking lot. It had not faired well over the years, and was a sunken, pothole ridden mess. Winn-Dixie's bright new exterior is also a welcome change- Lucky's was premium, but understated, and the original Winn-Dixie color scheme was just dingy. This facade is bright and eye-catching.

The liquor store was added in space that was unused by Lucky's, but originally part of the full Winn-Dixie, which originally lacked a liquor store.

Front and center when you enter the store is "WD's Taproom", located roughly where Lucky's ramen bar lived. The space provides coffee, beer, snacks, and sushi, and is the only food service area in the store.

Lucky's original cafe area, seen here, has been quietly converted into sales floor. To my left would have been the "apothecary", or health & beauty, section of Lucky's.

Dairy products live along the back wall, with some fun smaller signage about Milk of all kinds, Your favorite cream cheese, etc. Speaking of- this is a new decor! The tentative name being "Made in Florida", based on it's emphasis on local products.

This coffee section is a small reminder of the bulk goods section that used to be a trademark of Lucky's, taking up an entire aisle.

 

The more normal aisles here, starting with soda. Made In Florida aisle signs are flat with raised plates, as opposed to the otherwise standard triangle design.

Unlike many stores that collate soda and other water/sparkling water/kool aid/etc into one aisle, they're two separate aisles here at Winn-Dixie.

Our first look at the front end shows the self-checkouts, a fixture of any newly opened store these days.

Winn-Dixie's Cheese-Deli-Kitchen and Butcher & Seafood sections roughly follow Lucky's pattern- the Deli & Kitchen are located where Lucky's "The Kitchen" section was, however Winn-Dixie shifts the hot bar into the counter and out of the middle of the aisle. The Butcher & Seafood section can be seen in the back, lining up exactly with Lucky's Meat & Seafood counter, and off to the right, the "beer corner" can be seen.

While Winn-Dixie added their own full liquor store, they also re-built a beer & wine corner in the same place Lucky's had it. While it would make sense for this to connect around the back to the liquor store, I don't think Florida law would allow such.

Winn-Dixie's new Butcher & Seafood counter is definitely more seafood-focused, but that's a good thing to see. And prepackaged meats still line the back wall.

A photo of the fully *ahem* fleshed out seafood counter.

(I'll be here all week)

Sitting on two crates outside the counter are full fish, on ice. I think this is the first time I've seen this in a conventional supermarket (as opposed to something focused on Hispanic foods, or a wholesale/business supply grocer).

This shot shows the end of the International Foods aisle, showing the "World Flavors" signage that also pops ups briefly elsewhere in the store.

A back view of WD's Taproom- but what's that, along the wall?

Some WD's Taproom decorative jugs! I wonder where they got those from?

I really, really do wonder....

Anyway, going back to the store, we get an overlook of the produce section, again in the same place as Lucky's had it.

A feature new to Winn-Dixie is this calendar near the front, which is a nice touch. The whole front end is a little bit jumbled, but very nice overall.

This photo shows the crowded checkouts- pretty well designed and sharp looking. Better than the badly refurbished Marketplace-era units in many other stores.

Unlike many stores, the name of the local community is emblazoned along the right wall, instead of near the front of the store. This area, under Lucky's, would have had a large Lucky's "L" logo on the wall, with "Frozen Foods" signage mounted on the coolers. We also have the large "Made In Florida" emblem, which gives this decor package it's name. 

We'll end off with my favorite photo- the front end is always the hardest part of the store to photograph, because of the abundance of employees milling about to keep a watch over and staffing the checkouts. But this time, an employee (I presume the manager) saw me taking photos, but instead posed to photobomb! It's nice to get noticed taking photos, and get a positive response, not a negative one. This was a good way to top off the visit, which was overall very positive. This may actually be the first grand opening I've ever been to, and even though I arrived around 4 PM, everyone was still very cheerful and the mood was great.

Overall, I have high hopes for this store. I loved Lucky's, and I found the last minute bid a tad underhanded, but Winn-Dixie has done a great job with this store, and in the end, I have to question how well and for how long Lucky's could have kept it afloat, as an out of the way Floridian satellite from their now Colorado-based operations. Is Winn-Dixie's decor as flashy as Lucky's? No, and I still like Lucky's decor more. But Winn-Dixie's decor has grown on me greatly since I saw it in the opening photos of the first converted Lucky's/Earth Fare stores, and it's a pleasing evolution from the very in your face "Down Down" decor.

In the end, this has been Cape Kennedy Retail. Until next time!

Winn-Dixie turns over a new leaf in Hoggetown

 

Winn-Dixie #2564

1459 NW 23rd Ave

Gainesville, FL  

 

 

 If you're interested in seeing a whole new Winn-Dixie, you may be in for a Winn Win! Pun is completely intended too!

Today marks not only Veteran's Day, but a new day for Winn-Dixie in a town heavily saturated with Publix grocery stores (14 to be exact)! 

The place you are looking at today started out as a Pic n' Save store back in the 70's (I'm assuming). I know Gainesville at one time had at least three Pic n' Save stores, a Jacksonville-based discount department store that was pretty popular back in the day. 

Pic n' Save started to have financial troubles in the 1990's (C/O A.F.B.), and had to close their stores. This Pic n' Save closed in 1996! It wasn't until January of 2015 when Bo and Trish Sharon, founders of Lucky's Market, started their very first venture in the Florida grocery retail scene. Florida's first Lucky's Market store opened here in January of 2015, the first and longest tenured Lucky's in the Sunshine State. Of course we all know what happened with Lucky's Market. Kroger Co., who had invested a stake (55% ) in Lucky's Market decided in January of 2020 that they would pull out of their investment in the organic chain. It wasn't long later that Lucky's filed for bankruptcy protection and announced the closure of all Florida locations, except one in West Melbourne (AFB's back yard). Initially it was thought that the West Melbourne location would be the last holdout for Lucky's in Florida, but it didn't take long for the announcement to come that even that one store would close with all the rest. 

No one knew for sure what would happen to all the closed Lucky's stores in Florida. I would imagine Publix would have been interested since they pretty much want to dominate every corner and city in the state, but to my surprise SEG ended up, along with Aldi and Publix picking up most of the Florida Lucky's Market stores. My old Panama City Albertsons that was half used as a new Lucky's still sits abandoned once again...sigh! 

SEG ended up buying the leases for 4 former Lucky's Market and 4 Earth Fare stores in the state, mostly in Central and Northeast Florida. Gainesville was one of the Lucky (well sort of) Lucky's locations to be picked up and converted into a new concept, small format Winn-Dixie store. And starting below I hope you find this post very informative for what the new Mini Winn-Dixie is all about.

Winn-Dixie #2564 with a large American Flag (perfect for Veteran's Day) displayed proudly at their new Verde Plaza location in Gainesville, Florida!

Stepping inside and looking left is a fairly large display of produce all neatly displayed for customers to see. This is very close to the way Lucky's Market would have had their Produce displayed, except for a "Squeeze the day" juicing counter.

Turning back towards the left front corner is more produce along the left wall. 

Here's a more backed-out look at that wall which used to contain a sign reading "Food Glorious Food"

"Food Glorious Food" has simply been replaced by a corrugated tan backing with the word "Fresh"

This décor seems a bit like the BI-LO décor, as mentioned by Retail Retell. 

Now turning to face the left wall and looking toward the back left corner. All the coolers in this part of the store are in the exact same place as Lucky's had them, so a bit of ease for Winn-Dixie for planning the layout, I'm sure. 

Before heading down a couple of grocery aisles, here's a look back at the Produce area again. Those garage doors which Lucky's had to give the place an "outdoor market" feel have been replaced with windows. 

Here's the Front End from Produce, showing lots of shoppers checking the new store out on Veteran's Day

Here's the Frozen Foods Aisle, which really wasn't busy at this moment. The area busiest in the store was the Meat & Seafood counter, pretty normal for Winn-Dixie.

In the back left corner looking to the right, Dairy is located on the back wall behind the grocery aisles. 

Better closeup of the Dairy Wall. I like that corrugated sign holder. It is a nice revamp of the red and bland Down Down décor package.

Sorry about this photo. I snapped too fast. But this is another grocery aisle containing Cereal, Soups, and Coffee.

Here's another grocery aisle containing Cookies, Crackers, Snacks, and Candy

There's about 6 grocery aisles, if I remember correctly. This is the end of those grocery aisles and opening up into a Seafood, Cheese, Deli, and Hot Bar area. 

Here's the Butcher block with Meats to the right in coolers (exactly where Lucky's had theirs). 

Backed-out shot of Seafood & Butcher block

Moving along to the right, we have the Deli and Kitchen (oddly, exactly what Lucky's used to call it). However, one disappointing thing about this Winn-Dixie "Kitchen" is that it did not sell fresh hot Pizza! That's one of things I liked about Lucky's. I hope that maybe they will incorporate that idea in here in the future. 

The Bakery. I've never had too many items from WD's Bakery that I've been too impressed with. Their breads tend to be very dry and not have a lot of flavor (certainly not as good as Publix). However, for such a small store, this Winn-Dixie's Bakery carries a large selection of items, all neatly laid out too!

Here's another look at the Bakery. The coolers on the wall to my right were installed by Winn-Dixie. When Lucky's was here this wall contained shelving of Bread. 

Before I head into the Health & Beauty department, here's a look back at where I've just walked from; the Butcher, Seafood, Deli, and Kitchen counters, all in the center back portion of the store.

Here's a look across the Front End toward the now colorful looking wall paint transitioning from Produce green to red (for everything else). 

"Hello Gainesville" is what I'm greeted with along the front wall to the right of the main entrance. This angle is looking into the Health & Beauty and Pet Care aisles. I find the location of the "Hello Gainesville" sign to be just slightly odd in its placement. But I'll take the nice gesture anyway.

The Health & Beauty aisles to my right and ahead were the approximate location for Lucky's Apothecary department, minus a dividing wall that was once lined with supplements. Winn-Dixie didn't like that waste of space and removed that wall during their renovations.

Here's one of those Health & Beauty aisles containing such things as foot and eye care products.

Here's another aisle containing shampoo, soaps, body wash, and toothpaste. Great selection of Health & Beauty for such a small Winn-Dixie!

There's that "Hello Gainesville" sign again from the Baby Care aisle

Part of the front aisle looking toward the installed Customer Service box.

 

Now, looking to the right side of the store, we look into the separate Spirits store. Pet Food is piled on shelves on the wall bordering the liquor store. This space where I'm standing used to be the Wine & Beer exclusive department. This was an open seating area containing a couch, love seat, and a Wine tasting station. The many times I came into Lucky's there was never anyone over here, which I was surprised by. 

Turning around, I forgot to mention that one of these Health & Beauty aisles contained some Household items like detergent and cleaners. Oh my! What is that in the background?

It's WD's Taproom! Well, talk about chilling out and enjoying a nice (whatever you like I guess) after a stressful trip to the grocery store. I gotta say, The WD Taproom looks pretty cool. Here. Now I know what this crazy little random wall was that I saw in my earlier photos of this place during the renovations. 

Once you've gotten your mouth quenched and primed for more of the bubbly at the Taproom, just turn to the right and you have a nice selection of Beer in coolers located where Lucky's Market had all their beer, just 9 months previously (well, liquidating at that point). 

Here's a large selection of Wine

......And more Wine

One last look down the right right side Beer Wall

This last photo in the Beer & Wine department is looking back towards the Health & Beauty aisles

But before we leave the Beer & Wine department, check out what is located directly behind the Taproom; a stack of Coca-Cola products making the shape of a gator, perfect for Gainesville. Actually, now that I recall, One of the aisles in the Beer & Wine department was dedicated for soft drinks only, which was located directly behind me. 

Here's a last look across the checkout before I leave. Pretty nice setup!

Just in front of the checkout is that little box of a Customer Service counter that was added in during renovations. 

Yon Woo in the flesh? Who does this guy think he is?! Wearing an Albertsons hat at the Grand Opening of a Winn-Dixie!? Actually I put this hat on for my picture to show that Winn-Dixie actually did give away something to customers at their Grand Opening. 

This cute little red bag contained a tiny cup of Tim Hortons's coffee (weird, eh), a large Kellogg's rice crispy treat, and some little packets of Creole seasonings. Also, a weird combination, but what the heck, I'll take it! 

I hope you all enjoyed this look at one of SEG's premier mini Winn-Dixie stores. I'm sure AFB will be sharing a post in the next couple of months of his West Melbourne Winn-Dixie after it opens. I'll be curious to see the similarities and differences between that store and this one. 

Hope you all enjoy the Holidays and have fun store blogging!

-YonWooRetail2