Publix vs Wal Mart ???

Arkiegirl: I just always stop at the Destin Walmart on my way in and get it over with. I take a deep breath and follow SJ's rules of engagement.

My Walmart rule is to avoid it like the plague, especially during between Memorial Day and Labor Day. You will find plenty of selection at the Sandestin Publix, about 1 mile to the east of Camping on the Gulf. Walmart is maybe 7 miles to the west of you, but you've been warned. Publix will be pricier than Walmart, but then again, people don't try to run over you in the parking lot, like they tend to attempt at Walmart.

Arkiegirl-I am betting that you come down into Destin via the mid-bay bridge. You might consider going a few exits further east to the HWY 331 exit and go to the Super Wal-Mart in Defuniak Springs. The Wal-Mart is a stones throw north of I-10 and there are zero tourists there. You can stock up there and then go down 331 into SOWAL. Just a thought.

Arkiegirl-I am betting that you come down into Destin via the mid-bay bridge. You might consider going a few exits further east to the HWY 331 exit and go to the Super Wal-Mart in Defuniak Springs. The Wal-Mart is a stones throw north of I-10 and there are zero tourists there. You can stock up there and then go down 331 into SOWAL. Just a thought.

This is exactly what we do if our vehicle isn't too loaded for the trip down.

First, a hint from a local: Never ever set foot in Walmart, Publix, or any other grocery store in the area between the hours of 12 noon, and 12 midnight on Saturdays during the summer season. It's a madhouse. Hold off until Sunday morning when no one's there.

Publix pricing is odd in the sense that they'll be more expensive for something like a bag of sugar, of a box of midlevel tea bags. But for more higher end items, they'll often come in cheaper than Walmart. We're pretty middlebrow grocery shoppers, and it ended up being cheaper for us to shop at Publix in Destin than it was to grocery shop at Walmart when we lived in Tennessee. (Only been to Walmart maybe five times in the nine years since we moved here) Their store brands are also well-priced and good quailty. Love their orange juice and goat cheese.

Publix also has got a lot of stuff you normally only find at the gourmet places like Whole Foods, and have good produce and bakery sections. Their french hamburger rolls kill.

Amen to Beachmouse. Saturday is check-in day. Frantic. And the French hamburger rolls are the best buns you can buy.

And not to revive the anti-WalMart rants, Publix has been good enough to put 3 stores (Grand Boulevard, Watercolor, Carillon) within easy driving distance of every locale in SoWal. No need to venture into the peak-season Destin madness or trek clear over to the PC store.

Extremely valuable information. Thanks to all.

We're set to roll into Sandestin in a month and my biggest fear was not hurricanes, sharks, or jellyfish but the very real possibility of having a fatal cerebral hemorrhage at one of the local big box food and supply marts.

Armed with this info, I might stand a fighting chance of limiting the damage to a mild stroke.

Extremely valuable information. Thanks to all.

We're set to roll into Sandestin in a month and my biggest fear was not hurricanes, sharks, or jellyfish but the very real possibility of having a fatal cerebral hemorrhage at one of the local big box food and supply marts.

Armed with this info, I might stand a fighting chance of limiting the damage to a mild stroke.

Extremely valuable information. Thanks to all.

We're set to roll into Sandestin in a month and my biggest fear was not hurricanes, sharks, or jellyfish but the very real possibility of having a fatal cerebral hemorrhage at one of the local big box food and supply marts.

Armed with this info, I might stand a fighting chance of limiting the damage to a mild stroke.

If going to Walmart is a must for you, take a Valium before you go.

I get Walmart rage - if I have to go to that store for anything (thankfully a very infrequent occurrence) I need to be left alone for several hours afterward so my blood pressure can return to normal and I can love my fellow human beings again.

Publix I avoid during peak times like holidays and check-in day.

You pay more at Publix, Winn-Dixie, or Bruno's than Walmart, but I think Walmart is going to be the downfall of this country so I feel it's worth it.

If going to Walmart is a must for you, take a Valium before you go.

I typically avoid them like the plague, however, I'm concerned fate will conspire against me in this case. My wife half-heartedly jokes that if she could stick a needle in my WM induced, throbbing forehead vein, I could pump blood a record distance. Valium it is.

isn't there also a Winn-Dixie and a Bruno's (?) right near there as well? Wal-Mart will never get a dime of my money. It is not smart to feed a cancer such as this. Publix is certainly the lesser evil.

It makes me sad when people think they MUST go to Wal-Mart for some or another reason. I come from a very small town, and the Supercenter there pretty much ruined our quaint little downtown area.

DanHall, good point. If you want beach crap (plastic toys, swimsuits, sunglasses, towels, tee-shirts, floats, sunscreen, chairs, floaties, etc, there are several that specialize in that sort of thing, right around the WinnDixie area in Sandestin, and Publix even carries some of that stuff, like masks, snorkle, fins, etc.

if you must go to walmart, 6am is a great time.

isn't there also a Winn-Dixie and a Bruno's (?) right near there as well? Wal-Mart will never get a dime of my money. It is not smart to feed a cancer such as this. Publix is certainly the lesser evil.

It makes me sad when people think they MUST go to Wal-Mart for some or another reason. I come from a very small town, and the Supercenter there pretty much ruined our quaint little downtown area.

There is a Winn-Dixie and a Brunos nearby Camping on the Gulf, but I don't recommend them. Publix is clearly the best and only choice for us. Great selection, fresh food, nice people. There are also many checkins on Sunday, so Sunday afternoons should be avoided.

OK, having done my good deed and given factual and objective advice, I'll join in on the anti-Wal Mart ranting.

<rant mode on>

If you don't like Wal-Mart, don't go there. You don't HAVE to go there. I never go there. Everything they stock is available somewhere else. Here's how you avoid it:
Groceries - Publix, Winn Dixie, Lahan's Carrousel
Drugs and toiletries - Walgreens, CVS, Santa Rosa Pharmacy
Hardware - Home Depot, Franks, Home Helpers
Auto parts - Advance Auto
Beach Junk - Alvin's Island and various clones
Books and CDs - SunDog, Barnes and Noble, Amazon
Home furnishings - Target, Bed Bath Beyond

As a plus, by buying at these other outlets, you have at least a chance that you get quality goods instead of cheap Chinese crap.

<rant mode off>

You know, If we all just wore brown robes and walked everywhere, we wouldn't need any of that stuff.

;-)

Arkiegirl-I am betting that you come down into Destin via the mid-bay bridge. You might consider going a few exits further east to the HWY 331 exit and go to the Super Wal-Mart in Defuniak Springs. The Wal-Mart is a stones throw north of I-10 and there are zero tourists there. You can stock up there and then go down 331 into SOWAL. Just a thought.

At the risk of running this thread aground.....I had planned to take the mid-bay bridge into Destin and head east to Sandestin. Would the directions Skunkape notes above or a route taking 20 to 331 be better given our estimated Saturday mid-afternoon arrival in Destin? I'm a little concerned about traffic at the mid-bay bridge and east bound on 98.

Taking 20 to 331 will not help you avoid going to Walmart, so "better" is a state of mind for you to determine. My guess is that going your route on hwy 20, you will still hit some traffic in Niceville.

Taking 20 to 331 will not help you avoid going to Walmart, so "better" is a state of mind for you to determine. My guess is that going your route on hwy 20, you will still hit some traffic in Niceville.

Thanks, SJ. I'm actually more concerned with traffic than finding or avoiding Walmart. I'll just have to accept the fact that arriving at a major tourist destination on a mid-summer weekend will involve slow moving traffic.

More than offsetting this headache will be the fact that I'm not working and will eventually get to the beach!!

Never had a problem with any huge crowds at the Publix in Carillon, and since the arrival of Publix, the Winn Dixie has improved as well.

The Mid Bay Bridge toll plaza expansion does seem to have improved peak time traffic flow. Still something of a Saturday back-up, but from what we've seen, it's better than it was last summer.

If we wait until early Sunday moning to shop at publix, my wife is afraid they will be out of many items. Any thought or comments? Also, where is the best place to purchase beach chairs and what is a good price range? (years past we have rented chairs/umbrella at beach). We are staying in Blue Mountain Beach at Adagio Condos. thanks. John

JHA, if you wait until Sunday morning to shop for groceries, expect certain things in limited quantities. The main hot items are typically chips, milk, and bread. They have plenty of selections of these items, but on Sat pm and Sun am, while you should be able to get the items without problem, you might have to go with one which isn't your first choice. eg -- they may sell out of full gallons of 2% Publix brand milk, but they might have 2% organic milk in the half gallon, or they might have 1% in the full gallon. So you like Fritos Scoops? You may have to go with the regular Fritos.

As for beach chairs, I think the cheap-O chairs start around $20 and the good ones will run you about $45. These are Walmart prices at the beach, if you dare to go. Publix at WaterColor and Sandestin also carry an assortment of beach chairs, reasonably priced. Publix will be much more convenient.

If we wait until early Sunday moning to shop at publix, my wife is afraid they will be out of many items. Any thought or comments? Also, where is the best place to purchase beach chairs and what is a good price range? (years past we have rented chairs/umbrella at beach). We are staying in Blue Mountain Beach at Adagio Condos. thanks. John

John, surprisingly enough, beach equipment at Publix runs about the same price as it does other places. We had to purchase "emergency" chairs and an umbrella in April, and we bought the cheapest chairs at $10 each, I think it was, and an umbrella for $15.