Florida’s Largest Grocery Store Chain, Publix, will allow People to Openly Carry Guns in Their Stores

Publix grocery stores the most locations of any grocery chain in Florida — with 907 stores across 252 cities in 2025.

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. . . Florida began allowing open carry on Sept. 25 after an appeals court overturned the state’s ban on openly carrying firearms, deeming it unconstitutional. Under the law, businesses and other private property owners have the option of banning open carry.

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Publix, which has a large presence in Florida with more than 900 stores, has opted to allow it, according to many of those who work there. Call a local Publix and you’re likely to be told people can now carry guns into the store.

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The South Florida Sun Sentinel contacted eight Publix stores in South Florida, including locations in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Davie, Miramar, Boca Raton, Delray Beach, Coral Gables and Homestead. All eight confirmed they are allowing open carry due to the recent ruling.

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Four Publix stores in Central Florida also told the Orlando Sentinel that customers are allowed to openly carry firearms.

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Lindsey Willis, a spokeswoman for the Lakeland-based grocery chain, provided the following statement to the Sun Sentinel on Wednesday: “As of Sept. 25, 2025, Florida law allows the open carry of firearms. Publix follows all federal, state and local laws. Treating customers with dignity and respect is a founding belief at Publix. In any instance where a customer creates a threatening, erratic or dangerous shopping experience — whether they are openly carrying a firearm or not — we will engage local law enforcement to protect our customers and associates.” . . .

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Susannah Bryan and Cristóbal Reyes, “Florida allows open carry of guns, so Publix does too, workers say,” Tampa Bay Times, October 8, 2025.