Old Publix is a knockout

The old Publix is history.

Contractors have completed the demolition of the former grocery store located on the Avenue of the Flowers and have removed most of the debris. CVS also continues to rise to the occasion of re-opening its new store by September, with walls of the new structure taller than they were a week ago.

Currently, just a sidewalk separates Town Plaza II from the Publix construction site. Your Fitness Instructor, White Sands Cleaners and Nails of Longboat Key remain open as construction continues.

Contractors meet with town staff every week. Town Manager David Bullock signed off on extended construction hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday for the month of May. The extended schedule allows the contractors to complete lengthy tasks, such as concrete pours, in a day as they work to complete and open the new CVS by September and new Publix by December.