Publix Super Market at Searstown Shopping Center — Restaurant in Key West

I see my experience wasn't typical, but it was what happened all the same. I initially chose them for their high rating on google, but what followed was not an isolated incident. It was months of confusion and a loss of faith in their ability to deliver. It was terrible. I will never rely on Publix for any catering ever again. They added so many headaches to what was already a difficult time.

We were planning a destination wedding in Key West. We ordered the items and payed in full at least three months in advance. We received several odd calls from Publix where confusion was being expressed over the date and the order. The workers were attempting to make our order weeks earlier than it was needed AND it was incorrect. Items were being added and removed from our order at a whim it seemed. At one point, I spoke with a lady from the Deli who became very offensive when I asked to speak to a supervisor. She did not want to transfer me and instead insisted that we could behave like normal people and correct the problem ourselves. Until she became aggressive I didn't perceive a problem with the employee, it is a wedding and I felt I should speak to a supervisor! That was all! We became very concerned and cancelled all our food items save some fresh fruit, vegetables, and hummus meant to be served as an appetizer just in case something else went wrong... we would at least have entrees and a cake at the wedding from our other caterers.

The coup de grâce came the day of the wedding. My groom who was to pick up the appetizers received a frantic call from a male employee at Publix. He informed us that our order was found crammed in a drawer in his desk. Did we need that order? Did we need it that day? It almost went unmade! I should hope that we need it by the date we ordered it for, that is how catering works isn't it? Again, the order had been paid in full well in advance. I shudder to think what would have happened if they had to bake a cake a few short hours before the wedding... Be careful when ordering...

This store is the very worst worst Publix I have ever been in in all of my life! Last night I requested a prescription refill in person. They said it would be ready in an hour, and I told them take your time. I’ll come tomorrow morning today, I get here at 12:30 and they are clueless to why they don’t have my prescription Ready and want me to wait another hour. They should be falling all over themselves trying to fill my order since they didn’t do it properly the night before.

Then I arrive to the deli to pick up the lunchmeat. I ordered online at 12:30 it is now 1245. My lunch meat is not ready when I question the girl. She said she’s gonna do it now because she had to go on lunch break . I cannot believe there is no one to cover for these online orders again I have to wait.

I’m strolling down which has many cartons on it and another gentleman comes with a cart of water and expects me to back up and move out of my way so he can come down the aisle and I’m the customer.

I cannot locate the bottle iced tea that I prefer to drink, so I asked the store manager and he tells me he doesn’t speak English. Are you kidding me? The store manager is not versed in English and Spanish? And cannot help the customers of the store??? Now, if that’s not discrimination

I go to check out and of course the express line is checking out full of groceries

Above all, no one is apologetic to the customer/consumer that they should be welcoming into their store to spend their hard earn cash!!

Never again, as Winn Dixie has it more together than this Publix ever will. Shameful example of “where shopping...

Ah, Publix at Searstown... where hope enters and disappointment leaves with your groceries. Let me paint you a picture of mediocrity wrapped in fluorescent lighting.

Sure, they have "the basics." Need milk? They've got it. Bread? Check. But just when you think you're in for a smooth shopping experience, Publix finds creative ways to humble you.

The produce section whispers promises of freshness, only to deliver avocados that are somehow both rock-hard AND past their prime. Magic! Their deli counter operates in a time zone all its own—where "be right with you" translates to "maybe in this lifetime."

Their store layout was clearly designed by someone who enjoys watching humans complete obstacle courses. Need peanut butter? It's nowhere near the jelly, because why make life convenient?

And don't get me started on the checkout lines that grow like inflation—rapidly and without warning. The self-checkout machines have exactly two moods: "unexpected item in bagging area" or complete existential shutdown.

Is it terrible? No. Will it fulfill your basic grocery needs? Reluctantly, yes. But Wegmans... now THERE'S a grocery store that doesn't treat "adequate service" like an aspirational goal.

Perhaps Publix's greatest achievement is making you appreciate Wegmans all the more. Nothing builds character quite like lowered...