Publix opens third local store in a month

Publix has opened a new store in Spring Hill, its third new location in the area in the past month. 

The 48,387-square-foot store in the Seven Hills Center at 160 Mariner Blvd. opened Thursday April 2. 

The Lakeland grocery store giant has been in growth mode across the Tampa region in recent weeks. It opened a 46,791-square-foot store March 5 in Clearwater. That was followed a week later by another opening in Pinellas County, a 55,454 square-foot store March 12 at 6605 38th Ave N. just off 66th Street north. 

Publix, according to its website, now has 1,432 stores in eight states. Of those, 890 are in Florida. 

It had $62.7 billion in retail sales last year.