If you’re a Floridian who regularly shops at Publix, you may or may not have a very large green item stationed right by the entrance of the store – the “iconic” Publix scale.
If you wonder why the “classic” model is only in Florida or you wonder why they are at some stores and not others – this article will explain why.
The History of The Publix Scales: In a 2021 Facebook post, Publix explained the background of the scales. When Publix opened its doors over 80 years ago, scales were large and expensive. Many people only got weighed at doctor’s offices.
So owner George Jenkins decided to place a scale at a Publix so customers could weigh themselves for free. And it was a hit.
Wink News has called the scales “iconic” and Click Orlando has called them “historic.”
The “Classic” Scales Are A Florida Staple: According to WLRN, when Publix began to expand into markets beyond Florida, the scale didn’t land in other states as well as it did in the Sunshine State.
Jennifer Bush, Publix’s historian, told the station:
“When we started to go to new markets, it didn’t resonate with them. So we kept it a Florida thing.”
The Palm Beach Post notes that the “classic scales,” which have gotten bigger over time, are only in Florida stores. Mashed notes that the scales have gotten “more industrial” over time.
The Scales Are No Longer Being Produced, Some Stores Don’t Have Them, And Eventually, and The Last One Will Retire: In the same Facebook post referenced above, Publix disclosed that the manufacturer stopped producing the scales in 2015. However, Publix writes that it repairs the scales when it can.
In the summer of 2023, new stores opened in Palm Beach County without the scales. And according to Click Orlando, the company has indicated that the scales “will not be made available in its new locations.”
Still, Publix spokeswoman Lindsey Willis told WPTV that the company is still keeping some of the scales in some stores, explaining:
“When scales are taken out of a store, they go for a spruce up in our repair shop. They could wind up going to another store or they may be held for parts to utilize in other scales.”
There are social media threads that express concern when a scale is out of order for this reason. A thread from a couple of months ago speculates about what will happen to a scale that is “out of order” in a Daytona Beach Publix.
However, common sense would suggest that eventually, Publix will run out of parts to repair the scales and eventually, the last of the original scales will inevitably retire, as Publix admitted in 2021.
Whether you embrace the Publix scales may depend upon how much you enjoy weighing yourself. But if you enjoy the process and you currently have a Publix with an original scale, you may want to take advantage of it – while you still can.