CUSTOMERS of one popular grocery store chain are calling for a protest after realizing that an iconic store feature has gone missing at multiple locations.
Publix, a grocer localized to the Southeast United States, announced in 2021 that they would be phasing out the presence of large green retro weight scales in their stores.
The scales have been present in stores since the company’s inception as an amenity to customers who might not otherwise be able to afford one.
“Eighty-one years ago, weight scales were expensive, bulky, and not a common household appliance,” reads a Publix Facebook post, explaining the machinery’s presence.
“Stepping onto a scale was typically only done during trips to the doctor’s office—or for a small price at your local retail or grocery store.”
The founder of Publix, George Jenkins saw the need of customers to have access to consistent weight monitoring, and installed scales free of cost to customers.
While weight is no longer a predominant nor accurate indication of a person’s health, the scales evolved to become a fun activity for some customers.
“It was an instant hit. Customers started their shopping trips by stepping onto the scale, often guessing their weight for fun,” described the store.
But in 2015, the scale manufacturer closed down, putting an expiration date on the customer-favorite accommodation.
“One day—although our wonderful repair shop keeps our remaining machines in great shape—the last Publix scale will retire,” Publix said in the announcement.
“So next time you visit the Sunshine State, come on in and step right up! You’ll be standing on a bona fide piece of Florida and Publix history.”
While not all 1,407 Publix locations had been equipped with these scales, those locations that did have them are now offboarding them as maintenance is difficult.
Lindsey Willis, a store representative, said that Publix is in no rush to get rid of the scales, trying to make the most of them while they can, reported local NBC news affiliate WPTV.
“When scales are taken out of a store, they go for a spruce up in our repair shop,” Willis said.
“They could wind up going to another store or they may be held for parts to utilize in other scales.”
CUSTOMERS REACT TO SCALE ROLLBACK
Customers have reacted to the news and the disappearance of their favorite feature, speaking out on social media to call for protest.
“This Publix doesn’t have a scale?! Wow,” wrote one user.
“I’m at Publix trying to weigh myself. I can’t find the scale!” complained another.
“They getting rid of the scales in Publix we gotta boycott this,” cried another.
While some are disappointed to hear the store will be doing away with body weight scales, others have pointed out the inherent damage scales in a grocery store have done.
“I have a theory that Publix scales are giving wrong weights for more customers,” wrote one user.
“Those scales in Publix are fine but I doubt public scales used by all sorts of people that are never calibrated will be very accurate,” posted another.
Aside from the scales seemingly being consistently inaccurate, many point out the impact they can have in feeding eating disorders.
“If you weighed yourself on the Publix scales as a kid, you have body dysmorphia now,” wrote one X user.
“Publix is feeding my eating disorder, free scale,” added another.
“The southern chubby kid getting curious and weighing themselves on the Publix scale when they were 11 to full-blown uncontrollable eating disorder pipeline,” called out another.
WHERE PUBLIX GOT ITS NAME
The Publix name dates back to 1930 when the founder adopted it from a New York-based theater company called Publix Theaters Corporation.
Founder, George Jenkins was just 22 when he borrowed the name and opened his first Publix Food Store in Winter Haven, Florida — about 46 miles southwest of Orlando — in 1930.
“Most of (the theaters) were closing up, and I liked the sound of the name, so I just took it for my store,” Jenkins said in his 1979 memoir, The Publix Story, according to The Palm Beach Post.
Publix Theatres was founded in 1925 as an affiliate of Paramount Studios, according to the Florida Memory website of the State Library and Archives of Florida.
After the Great Depression in 1929, the theater began to shut down and reorganized by 1935, according to the Miami Herald.
A Miami Beach store manager from the 1970s who was also close to Jenkins thought the name was chosen to reflect the “public.”
“I thought he got it because he wanted it to say ‘Publix’ so it would be for the public,” Tony Diego told the Miami Herald.
Today, there are 1,369 Publix grocery stores across eight southeast states including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.