Publix buys FishHawk location

LITHIA — Publix Super Markets Inc. is continuing its quest to become its own landlord in many locations throughout Florida, closing a deal Friday that gives the supermarket chain ownership of a FishHawk Ranch location.

PSM FishHawk Ranch LLC, a company affiliated with Lakeland-based Publix, paid $16.9 million for a 67,300-square-foot store at 5614 FishHawk Blvd., in Lithia. NAP FishHawk LLC, an affiliate of Cincinnati-based NAP Investments Management Co., sold the store, which was built in 2006, according to Hillsborough County property records. NAP originally purchased the vacant land for the supermarket for $2.5 million in 2004.

The sale represents $251 per square foot.