8 Publix Quirks That Take Northerners Time to Figure Out When They Move to Florida

Publix will steam and season the seafood you buy, and it won’t cost you extra.

Floridians barely notice, but newcomers from up North can leave their first trip with more questions than groceries.

Here’s what to know about Publix if you’re new to Florida.

1. A Bar Inside the Store

Publix’s Pours offers a café and bar at select locations, where you can order draft beer in pints or flights.

Beer isn’t the only option.

You can drink a glass of wine at the bar or take it with you while you shop.

Coffee and espresso, nitro cold brew, smoothies and açai bowls are on the menu too.

Supermarket News reported in May 2023 that a Publix in Neptune Beach, Florida, opened with a Pours area.

At the time, the chain had seven locations with an in-store bar.

2. Complimentary Seafood Steaming

Publix’s seafood department will steam and season the fresh finfish and shellfish in its cases, from salmon to snow crab.

Four seasonings are on the list: Old Bay, Cajun, lemon pepper and lemon herb.

Some Publix stores may offer more options, the company says.

You pay nothing extra.

Fox 35 Orlando reported the steaming service in October 2023 as a perk of the Florida-based grocery chain.

Ask a seafood specialist about the service with your next seafood purchase.

3. A Separate Liquor Store

Publix sells liquor in separate stores called Publix Liquors.

Those stores are close to several Publix grocery stores and steps from many, according to Publix.

Under Florida’s package store statute, a package store can have no openings giving direct access to another building or room, apart from a private office or storage room.

You can pick up cocktails and mixers there, then come by the supermarket for appetizers, snacks and dips.

That way you can get everything you need for happy hour in one shopping trip.

4. The Two-Item BOGO

A Publix in Florida won’t give you a buy-one-get-one (BOGO) deal on a single item.

Stores in other states can let you buy one item at half price, the Tampa Bay Times reported in September 2026.

It varies by state.

Publix’s Ways to Save FAQ describes both versions without naming a state: In some states, a BOGO may let you buy one item at half price.

In other states, you must buy both items, with one of them free.

5. Free Cookies for Kids

Publix bakeries give free cookies to kids.

Publix says the tradition dates back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, and that its bakeries give away about 37.5 million cookies to children each year.

Fox 13 Tampa Bay reported in May 2021 that the Lakeland-based chain had reinstated the program companywide after a pause that began in March 2020.

Kids can choose from favorites that include chocolate chip, sugar and sprinkle cookies.

If you shop with your kids, a stop at the bakery is an expected part of every visit for many young shoppers.

6. The Local Shelf Tag

A Local tag on a Publix shelf marks a product grown, harvested or manufactured in the state where the store is located.

So at a Publix in Florida, a Local tag means the product comes from Florida.

Publix's shelf tags and icons guide says you'll find the tags on shelves throughout the store.

The definition excludes packaging and minor ingredients.

Weather or seasonality could affect the availability of agricultural items.

7. Express Lanes and the 10-Item Cap

ClickOrlando reported in August 2026 that Publix was dropping its long-standing 10-item cap in express checkout lanes.

Fox News reported that Publix piloted the change in its Miami division and had begun a companywide rollout.

If you've counted your cart before picking a lane, signs reading 10 items or less were being replaced with Express signs.

Express checkout itself isn't going away.

ClickOrlando noted that Publix didn't say when the change took effect or whether every store has it.

8. Never-Frozen Fish

Every fish in Publix's fresh seafood case, salmon included, is never frozen, the company says.

The seafood department sources fish from all over the world, from Florida grouper to Icelandic cod.

Want a fish that isn't in the case?

Through its Reel Variety program, you can order over 60 varieties of fresh fish, including haddock, monkfish and halibut.

If a fish is in season and available, associates in the seafood department will special-order it for you.

Carryout Without a Tip

Publix's carryout service policy opens by saying the company takes pride in its customer service.

That service includes taking your groceries to your vehicle.

Then comes a request: "No tipping, please."

It's in writing.

Publix's Store Count

You can find nearly 900 Publix stores in Florida, out of more than 1,400 across eight states.

That's more stores in Florida than in the other seven states combined.

It isn't close.

If you drive north into Georgia, you'll find more than 200 Publix stores, second only to Florida.

Winter Residents and Sales

Publix's annual report names the winter residents who arrive in Florida as a sales driver, along with Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.

They typically bring seasonal sales increases over a six-month stretch, from November to April.

Publix's Silverleaf Market

Publix's store at Silverleaf Market in St. Augustine opened on March 26, 2026, and covers about 55,700 square feet, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record.

News4Jax reported that the store reflects Publix's new building prototype.

At opening, the expanded deli menu included a burrito and nacho bowl bar that no other Publix in the region had.

The in-store café makes custom pizzas, too.