Old Publix plaza building coming down

It took Town Manager Dave Bullock months to get an answer, but Lakeland-based Publix Supermarkets Inc. has finally told him when the final piece of the old Avenue of the Flowers plaza is being torn down.

Publix officials have informed Bullock the demolition of the dilapidated structure, which sits next to the new Longboat Key Publix, will take place during the first two weeks of September.

What’s left of the old plaza was originally supposed to be torn down after Easter, but Bullock said Publix officials told him the demolition “ran into some internal rescheduling.”

Per an agreement reached with the town, Publix has until the end of the year to tear down the building.

Once the rest of the old plaza is torn down, Publix has plans to put more parking spaces in its place before the Key’s seasonal population returns.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].