When will your Publix close before Ian? When will it reopen? What about Walmart, Target?

Hurricane Ian has caused major supermarket chains to close stores across Florida and into Southern Georgia.

Here’s what we know so far about each chain.

▪ Publix: Gulf Coast stores will remain closed Thursday, but the addition of North Florida and Southern Georgia stores stores puts the current number of locations with “modified hours” at 531.

Publix added an interactive map to its website to check for updates on store hours.

As for after a storm hits and leaves, Publix spokesperson Lindsay Willis said in an email, “We do have generators at nearly all of our Florida locations if a store should lose power. And, at locations where we don’t have permanent generators, we have the ability to bring mobile generators in.”

READ MORE: A deputy shot a man who cops say was waving a gun in a Publix parking lot

▪ Winn-Dixie: Each Southeastern Grocers chain (Winn-Dixie, Fresco y Mas, Harveys) has its own Hurricane Ian update section.

Winn-Dixie stores closed Thursday number 207. Three Fresco y Mas stores in Tampa, one in Lehigh Acres and one in Deltona are closed Thursday. Eleven Harveys Supermarkets, including six in Jacksonville, are closed.

A Southeastern Grocers spokesperson said via email to the Herald the chain sent emergency trucks of essential items to Florida stores on Friday.

Also, “All our South Florida Fresco y Más and Winn-Dixie stores are fully equipped with back-up generators to safely protect perishable items in the absence of power, and we assess needs for each storm and store on a case-by-case basis.”

READ MORE: Is Disney World open? What about resorts and restaurants as Ian approaches?

▪ Walmart: As of 7:33 a.m. Thursday, Walmart’s real-time closure map said 244 stores and clubs had closed from Jacksonville, down to Orlando, over to Tampa and down to Naples. Some of the closed stores still offered online grocery shopping (the Sunrise Sam’s Club did) and/or grocery delivery.

“Regarding the loss of power and reopening after the storm’s passing, we’re actively taking steps now to give us the best opportunity to resume operations once it’s safe to do so,” Walmart Director of Corporate Communication Charles Crowson said.

▪ Target: Stores along Florida’s Gulf Coast, from Naples up to Tampa, will remain closed Thursday.

Target spokesperson Brian Harper-Tibaldo emailed the Herald that “stores have access to generators in the event of power loss.”

If store hours change, Harper-Tibaldo said, any updates will be announced via the store locator on the Target website.

▪ Whole Foods Market locations in Tampa, Sarasota, Clearwater and Carrollwood closed Tuesday morning, originally scheduled to reopen at 8 a.m. Thursday, now will reopen at 8 a.m. Friday. Thursday closed and Friday reopen is also the plan for stores in Orlando, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach.

This story was originally published September 27, 2022 at 10:29 AM.

David J. Neal

Miami Herald

305-376-3559

Since 1989, David J. Neal’s domain at the Miami Herald has expanded to include writing about Panthers (NHL and FIU), Dolphins, old school animation, food safety, fraud, naughty lawyers, bad doctors and all manner of breaking news. He drinks coladas whole. He does not work Indianapolis 500 Race Day.