New Two-Story Mega Publix Opens in Coral Gables

Publix has officially leveled up in Coral Gables. On Thursday, September 25, the grocery giant cut the ribbon on its shiny, block-long, two-story mega Publix at 1542 S. Dixie Highway — and yes, there’s a garage, escalators, and even a place to eat your Pub Sub before braving U.S. 1 traffic again.

If you’ve ever tried your luck at the tiny Monza Avenue Publix, squeezing your car between two Range Rovers, dodging carts like it’s Mario Kart, and elbowing through aisles the size of hallways, you know this glow-up was desperately overdue. 

Below are five epic new things to expect. 

A Giant Shopping Experience

At nearly 46,000 square feet, the Riviera Plaza Publix is bigger, flashier, and ready to steal the spotlight. The new Riviera Plaza Publix is twice the size of the older Publix location across the street, which opened in 1963 and is still hanging on (for now).

The new one feels like Publix at its most ambitious: the store spans a full block, it’s sleek, and it’s stacked with amenities designed to ease congestion and make the U.S. 1 grocery run just a little more enjoyable.

Two-Level Parking Garage with Large Elevators 

Instead of the stressful situation that was Monza’s lot, this Publix offers a two-level parking garage where shoppers won’t break into a sweat trying to squeeze their Honda Civics between a pair of Mercedes G-Wagons. Here, large elevators that accommodate two shopping carts at a time shuttle guests straight into the action, making grocery runs feel almost glamorous (or at least a little like they do at Whole Foods, which also has a parking garage down the street).

Customers parking in the garage have a maximum of two hours to park for free. After two hours, violators may get towed. 

Window-Side Dining Area on First Floor

The Riviera Publix adds a customer seating area where you can enjoy your Pub Sub with a kombucha chaser before braving traffic on South Dixie. However, unlike the new Publix location in Briar Bay (across from Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay), this dining area only has four tables, meaning it may get packed by the time the clock strikes noon for the Pub Sub rush hour. 

Despite the limited seating, the Publix run feels more like an experience than a quick in-and-out situation. Thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows, it’s surrounded by natural light. 

New Olive Bar with Stuffed Blue Cheese Olives and More

This olive bar blew us away. There are over 10 options to choose from, ranging from blue cheese-stuffed olives and pitted seasonal jumbo calamata olives to gourmet salads like an asiago, artichoke, and pepper salad and a lemon feta antipasti salad. There’s also Greek feta salad and marinated mozzarella. Yum.  

A Pretty Floral Department Area

Although Publix has always had a nice assortment of flowers, bouquets, orchids, and seasonal arrangements, this new display feels intentionally nicer.

Now, there are dozens of bouquets, dozens of orchids, and even hydrangeas! It feels a lot more like the floral departments of Milam’s, Fresh Market, and Whole Foods.

The Tiny Monza Publix Will Continue in Its Vintage Glory Down the Street

Of course, Publix isn’t shutting down Monza — because apparently, two Publixes within spitting distance is totally normal (see also: Pinecrest and Briar Bay). But let’s be real: once you’ve had a taste of this mega-store magic, it’s hard to go back to the chaos.

Coral Gables just got a Publix that feels more like a lifestyle upgrade than a supermarket. Whether you’re a UM freshman chasing your first Pub Sub or a Gables family dodging Whole Foods prices, the new Riviera Plaza Publix is your new go-to. And honestly? It’s about time.

Publix at Riviera Plaza. 1542 S. Dixie Hwy., Coral Gables; publix.com/locations/1770-riviera-plaza.