When I was in college I worked for Publix Grocery Store.
Best. Job. Ever.
Disney is my first love, but Publix is a close second.
I am not even kidding about that.
Seriously, when the Happy Hubby and I were dating, we would literally go to Publix for our date nights just to be there and walk up and down the magical cereal aisle.
I also made all of my college roommates get up at 6 am so that we could all go to the grand opening of a new Publix that was located right by our apartment. It was one of the greatest days of my life!
Well, except for when I got married, had a baby, and accepted Jesus in my heart. 
As much as I try to shop for my groceries at Wal-Mart or Farmer’s Markets to get a better price, I always walk away discontent because my dear Publix simply knows how to make me feel like I’ve just gone swimming in a pool of jellybeans (a good feeling).
Here are 5 of my favorite things about shopping at Publix…
I hope you find a secret or two that will help you out on your grocery adventures!
1. Cut Your Meat – One thing I can’t stand besides long toenails is having to cut raw meat! Blech! But many recipes that I like to make for our Happy Home call for boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces, or beef cut for stir-fry, etc. I spend a lot of time worrying that salmonella is spreading all over my kitchen when I am handling that chicken! So one day I decided to ask the meat man at my local Publix if he would cut my chosen package of meat for me. He was like, “SURE!” And that was the moment all my dreams came true! I have never cut a single piece of raw meat since. You name it – they will cut it for you! All you have to do is ask! Say goodbye to salmonella worries forever!
2. No Questions Asked – Did you know that Publix has a policy where you can return items and they won’t ask you for a receipt? As long as they can re-stock it, they will take it back, and they won’t ask any questions about it. This may sound a little silly, but sometimes toward the end of the month when my grocery budget is running thin and we need money for a gallon of milk or a carton of eggs, I will go through my pantry, find items that are returnable and that I don’t have an immediate need for (like canned items or boxes of pasta, etc.), and take them back to Publix for a quick buck!
They also do this with coupons – If you’re like me and are constantly forgetting to bring your coupons to the grocery store with you, you can bring your receipt and coupon to Customer Service and they will give you cash back for the coupon. It’s AWESOME.
3. Compliment An Employee – This is my FAVORITE thing that Publix does. When Publix employees are complimented, they are given a FREE meal from the deli! I always try to swing by the customer service desk after my shopping and let them know who really blessed me during our time in the store. And if you want to go a step further, if you write a letter to Publix Corporate Offices (go HERE for address) and compliment a store employee you enjoy, they will literally send that employee a MEDAL as well as a copy of the letter you sent to corporate on their behalf. I am not even kidding about this – I got one when I was working in college and I still have it to this day! It meant THE WORLD to me!
Plus, the more you spend time complimenting instead of complaining, the more your Happy Buddy learns to do the same.
4. Ask and Receive – The Publix by my house recently stopped carrying an item that I LOVE and always have bought. I asked them if they could get it for me again. They took my name and phone number and the product information and then called me that night to tell me that it had been ordered and was on its way to the store! Don’t you love that kind of service??
5. Publix Brand Deliciousness - Let me just tell you, every Publix brand item that I have bought has been AMAZING, if not BETTER than the national brand AND it’s way cheaper! The Happy Buddy especially loves Publix brand Greenwise Cheerios and I love the Publix brand walnuts because they have a picture of Humpty Dumpty on the bag with this written saying, “Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall-nut.” I got such a kick out of that when I first saw it I laughed in the grocery aisle for like 5 minutes. How can you not buy something so CLEVERly packaged???
I could probably make this post 4,567,982 times longer because I love Publix so much! And there are so many other great things about this store! They have a great Baby Club with awesome coupons, they have terrific recipes, and then there’s this magical site called I Heart Publix that is dedicated to helping you save at Publix.
I think I am going to go to Publix now.
Happy Publix-ing!
I have never been to a Publix. I totally feel like I’m missing out
You crack me up!!!! Love this post!!! Love Publix too and learned some new stuff! So…will they look at me like I am crazy if I ask them to cut up meat???? Is that something they all do or just the nice meat man you ran into???
THEY WILL ALL DO THIS WONDERFUL THING!!!!!!!!!!!! I’ve gone to lots of Publixes and tried this out!
You are so funny:) You make me wish there was a Publix near us.
I miiiiiiiisssssssssssssss Publiiiiiiixx!!!!
I miss Publix…hope there is one near our new place in Tampa:)
I have missed Publix for years! It’s seriously why we have to move back to GA, so I can have one again!
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Publix! When we moved to GA, there was no Publix. Such a sad, sad move. But now we are back in FL, just 3 miles from two different Publix stores!
Also, if you buy a watermelon or cantaloupe or something, they will cut it open for you so you know it is good on the inside. They will break open packages of produce for you – like if they have three yellow squash packaged together, but you only want two. During melon season, they keep cold, whole watermelons in the back available upon request. And of course, my kids LOVE the free cookies!! Best grocery store ever!
I just discovered your blog. It is quite possibly the Happiest Place on the Internet.
Since we moved out west I have missed Publix. Going to the grocery is one of my favorite things to do when I go back to FL. Where shopping is a pleasure!
You need to send this blog to Publix for them to see what you wrote….it may become a new commercial for them! Wouldn’t that be great?
Carol
I moved from Florida to Utah about a year and a half ago and I’m totally missing Publix! Very few chain grocery store chains can match them! Some may match selection or courtesy, but not their prices or vice versa. It was the best store for moms with their kids – slices of cheese at the deli, free cookie (which I always used as a bribe, I mean reward!).