Lake Miriam Square Publix has temporarily closed, which has neighboring business owners concerned about their foot traffic.
“It definitely affects small businesses,” said Heather Hoagland, owner of Glam Color Bar.
Hoagland said the salon’s proximity to the Lake Miriam Square Publix supermarket was all the marketing she needed to gain new customers.
“We get a lot of walk-in traffic from Publix so with Publix closed, we are not going to have any of the new clients that are walking through that just see us in passing,” she said.
On Saturday night, the Lake Miriam Square Publix closed for demolition and reconstruction.
Publix spokesperson Hannah Herring provided the following statement Tuesday evening:
”Our Lake Miriam Publix has been a beloved store for many years. When it reopens as our newer, larger format (like our stores on Gandy Blvd in Tampa, Wesley Chapel and in Louisville, KY), customers will enjoy expanded offerings in the Deli like burrito bowls and a pizza oven. There will also be a Pours area where customers can order smoothies and açaí bowls or grab a drink and sip while they shop. The store is targeted to open in late 2025.”
“There’s definitely going to be an impact,” Hoaglund said. “Everyone’s trying to figure out if there are things that we can do promotionally to offer discounts or things like that. Kind of band together so that we make sure that the traffic continues.”
A few doors down at So Fresh Lakeland, a restaurant advertised as ‘healthy fast casual,’ owner Abed Qoran has the same idea for collaboration and working together.
He wants to create a collection of coupons from Lake Miriam Square businesses.
“I’ve also talked to other businesses in the plaza to try to make one like this to send it out for everybody in the plaza,” he said, holding a book of coupons for his business.
Qoran said close to half of his customers were Publix shoppers.
While the supermarket staple is closed, Qoran is focusing on growing his online customer base.
“It’s going to be a long 16 months. We’re going to try to do as much as we can to keep the customers coming in here,” Qoran said.
Judy Phouikham, an employee at Oksumi Ramen, said her boss has noticed a slowdown in business since the Saturday closure.
“It’s the biggest Publix on South Florida [Avenue],” she said. “What do we do now?”
While all the business owners and employees are nervous about what the next sixteen months will bring, they are excited for what the new store and renovated plaza will bring.
“To be near a Publix is always good. You get a lot of different customers, a lot of different cultures, a lot of different people so it’s always nice,” Phouikham said.
“Once they remodel it, I think it’s going to be busier than what it was. I can’t wait. It’s going to definitely help the business,” Qoran said.