Southeastern Grocers Inc. (SEG), parent company of Bi-Lo, Fresco y Más, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, will open a new Winn-Dixie store at the Gateway Town Center, located at 5210 Norwood Avenue in Jacksonville, Florida, in response to the city’s and community’s plea to combat an impending food desert in the area with the close of a Publix store. SEG says the new Winn-Dixie store will provide the Brentwood community with access to fresh, quality food and exceptional service at an affordable price.
The grocer’s decision to lease and renovate the existing space was made possible through a collaborative effort with Gator Investments LLC on a long-term lease agreement, along with a grant approved by the city of Jacksonville to offset capital buildout costs associated with the redevelopment of the property.
Anthony Hucker, president and CEO of SEG, said, “On behalf of Southeastern Grocers, I want to thank the city of Jacksonville and Councilman Gaffney for their support of our continued investment in our hometown. We are committed to being a store our customers can always count on, and we want the communities we serve to know we are always here for them in their times of need. Together, this partnership is a ‘Winn-win’ for Winn-Dixie and for the North Jacksonville community, and we are thrilled to rebuild the Gateway Town Center space from the ground up to elevate our customers’ shopping experiences.”
Reggie Gaffney, District 7 councilman, said, “I know my community and know there is a real need for someone to fill this void and prevent a food desert in this area. I am thankful to Southeastern Grocers and Winn-Dixie for stepping in to fill this critical need and provide relief to these people. I am also thankful to my colleagues and the administration for their support at the city in making this happen. I will continue to work so long as I am able on behalf of the people in District 7.”
The grocer will begin the buildout and renovations of the current 28,120-s.f. space immediately in 2020 with plans to officially open the store on Wednesday, Feb. 12. The new store will feature fresh concepts and amenities. To further support the Brentwood community during construction, Winn-Dixie and the Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation will host free, weekly mobile food pantry events within the parking lot during the construction of the new store to address the vital need in the area for fresh produce, shelf-stable food and everyday essentials. Four market-style food pantry events will take place each Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Jan. 11, 18, 25 and Feb. 1 to feed up to 300 families each, first come, first served. These food donations will equate to more than 6,000 meals for northwest Jacksonville neighbors in need.
Winn-Dixie will hold onsite interviews to fill various full- and part-time positions Monday – Thursday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. inside the store. Applicants are encouraged to apply online before attending and reference “108” in the keywords field.
