Business

Tesla, Publix, fashion rental expanding in South Florida. Here’s what to know

By Produced using AI, based on original work by Howard Cohen

A wave of new retail is hitting Miami-Dade and Broward counties, with Tesla planning a Kendall showroom, Publix building bigger stores, and a fashion rental startup called Pickle popping up in Wynwood. Here’s what South Florida shoppers and residents should expect.

Here are key takeaways:

In this file photo from Feb. 19, 2014, a visitor to the Tesla Motors showroom looks at a vehicle at the Dadeland Mall location. A new showroom in Kendall, about four miles to the south, joins this one and is to open in late 2026 as part of the Palms at Town & Country property.
In this file photo from Feb. 19, 2014, a visitor to the Tesla Motors showroom looks at a vehicle at the Dadeland Mall location. A new showroom in Kendall, about four miles to the south, joins this one and is to open in late 2026 as part of the Palms at Town & Country property. Joe Raedle Getty Images

• Tesla signed a lease for a 45,255-square-foot showroom and service center at 8789 SW 117th Ave. in Kendall, taking over a former Toys R Us building that’s been vacant since June 2018. The location, across the street from Palms at Town & Country, is expected to open in late 2026.

Banners draping some empty shelves inside the Palms at Town & Country mall on Jan. 10, 2026, alert customers that this store is closing on Jan. 17. A new one will be built in its place, Publix says.
Banners draping some empty shelves inside the Palms at Town & Country mall on Jan. 10, 2026, alert customers that this store is closing on Jan. 17. A new one will be built in its place, Publix says. Howard Cohen hcohen@miamiherald.com

• Publix grew from 1,395 stores nationally last March to 1,461 this March, with Florida locations jumping from 875 to 906. The chain plans to demolish and rebuild its 40-year-old Palms at Town & Country store and its Doral Park location at 9755 NW 41st St., replacing the latter’s 39,795-square-foot store with a 53,951-square-foot one.

• A new 55,000-square-foot Publix will anchor a seven-acre redevelopment at 11380 Biscayne Blvd. in North Miami, where developer Ram Realty plans 417 apartments across an eight-story building. A rezoning request was approved in December 2025.

• A 30,000-square-foot Publix with an adjacent liquor store is coming this year to the West Broward Shopping Center at 3901 W. Broward Blvd., near Plantation.

Pickle opens a Wynwood pop-up at 319 NW 25th St. letting Miami users rent designer gowns and party looks for events like Swim Week, Miami Open and Ultra. The shop runs March 21-May 31, 2026.
Pickle opens a Wynwood pop-up at 319 NW 25th St. letting Miami users rent designer gowns and party looks for events like Swim Week, Miami Open and Ultra. The shop runs March 21-May 31, 2026. Courtesy PIckle

• Pickle, a peer-to-peer fashion rental app often called “Airbnb for closets,” opened a pop-up store in Wynwood at 319 NW 25th St. running through May 31. Miami users are up 431% year over year, and items listed from local closets have increased 545%, according to the company.

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.

Get unlimited digital access
#ReadLocal

Try 1 month for $1

CLAIM OFFER