We have lots of grocery shopping choices here in Charlottesville, but we don’t have a Publix, and I for one wish we did.
My first shopping experience with a Publix store was in Myrtle Beach. It happened to be the closest store to my brother’s condo and, naturally, I made several trips. I was totally amazed in one visit when I saw the meat department manager out in the aisles chatting with customers about various cuts of beef. The only time I see any meat personnel at Kroger’s is when they are unloading a shipment of pre-cut meats from the main warehouse. They are polite, I suppose, but not very helpful.
Last week, I found the same sort of extraordinarily friendly service at a Publix in Atlanta. My son Jimmie and I were hoping to find some hash brown potatoes for a breakfast casserole. An employee saw me searching, asked what I needed and not only told me where the potatoes was, he took me straight to the counter and showed me the options. Another employee saw Jimmie searching and took him to the same spot. We got the potatoes. Then, while Jimmie was picking out some bread at the bakery department, one of the managers saw me looking around and asked if there was anything he could possibly help me with. It’s as if they are truly disappointed when they can’t go out of their way to help their customers. Everyone is friendly and helpful at Publix. It’s their calling card.
Based out of Lakeland, Florida, Publix Super Markets is the largest and fastest-growing employee-owned supermarket chain in the United States. Founded in 1930, they employ 200,000 associates. The company is privately-owned, with no long-term debt, and has skillfully avoided layoffs. It continues to grow year after year.
Jimmie said that level of tolerance for sloppy or unhelpful employees at Publix is zero. No second chances – mess up once and you’re gone.
I have never seen another large store of any description like Publix. And I wish we had one on Charlottesville.