The future Publix Super Market will come online adjacent to an in-line space and a standalone multi-tenant building. Image courtesy of St. Joe Co.
The St. Joe Co. plans to build a 50,000-square-foot Publix Super Market as part of Watersound West Bay Center, a mixed-use development totaling 500,000 square feet in Panama City Beach, Fla. Construction is expected to begin later this year.
Adjacent to the future Publix store, St. Joe will construct an in-line retail space. A standalone, multi-tenant building is already underway nearby, with anticipated occupancy scheduled for early next year.
Watersound West Bay Center is rising on some 110 acres at 8435 W. Bay Parkway, at the entrance of the Latitude Margaritaville senior community. St. Joe broke ground on the project in 2022; initial plans called for a mix of retail, restaurant, office and medical space across 350,000 square feet.
The site is just west of State Road 79. Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and downtown Panama City Beach are 7 miles away.
This year holds the promise of opportunity for retail development, provided the projects can adapt to the new economic realities. Developers are prioritizing data-driven site selection to assess market viability before building, while also rethinking traditional formats, moving away from large, inflexible spaces toward more adaptable, community-oriented designs.
