From Pub Subs to Archie comic books, an ode to The State’s grocery bracket winner: Publix
In the end, it wasn’t even close.
Publix walked away as the champion of The State’s 2022 Grocery Store Bracket, handily defeating The Fresh Market in the final round of voting. With more than 1,000 votes cast, Publix got 77% of the votes in the final round, while The Fresh Market got 23%.
The grocery bracket started with 16 grocery stores, selected by The State’s staff. Readers then whittled the field down across four rounds, with Publix finishing first in each of those rounds. It was a wire-to-wire victory for the Florida-based chain that has nearly 1,300 stores across the U.S. and nearly 100 in South Carolina.
Now, I’ll admit Publix isn’t my personal favorite in terms of grocers. I’d have to give that title to Lowes Foods. What can I say? I like it when people holler at me about bread. (“Hot...fresh...bread!”)
But I’d still put Publix near the top of my list. It’s easily my second most-visited supermarket.
Everyone has their preferred items and quirks when it comes to grocery shopping. Here are a few of my favorite things about Publix.
Pub Subs — Well, obviously. The sub sandwiches offered in the Publix deli have developed what amounts to a cult following over the years, and for good reason: They are prodigious, flavorful and hold up against the sandwiches offered in virtually any standalone sub shop. A lot of people would tell you the Publix Chicken Tender Sub is the king of the supermarket’s sandwiches. But I’ll ride for the Cuban. It’s not listed on the regular menu at my Publix (on Highway 378 West in Lexington), but the folks in the deli will always make me one. Put a little honey butter on that toasted roll and, man, I’m telling you that thing could bring about world peace.
Archie Comics at the register — There is comfort in knowing some things stay the same. And while we live in an uncertain world tinged with war, a pandemic, ever-fluctuating gas prices and Clayton Echard on “The Bachelor,” one thing remains constant: When you go to pay for your groceries at Publix, you can count on the faces of Archie Andrews and Jughead Jones staring at you from the magazine rack above the register conveyor belt. At least, that’s what you can count on at the Publix in Lexington. Your mileage may vary. The Archie Jumbo Comics digest comic books (and the spinoffs like “Betty and Veronica”) have been around for decades. One thing that has changed is the price. An Archie digest is $9 these days. I guess there’s inflation in Riverdale, too.
Publix Premium Moose Tracks Ice Cream — Sure, there are other brands of Moose Tracks. But the Publix version stands out. First of all, the Publix Premium label still gives you a half-gallon of ice cream, while Breyer’s and Mayfield’s offerings have been...slimmed down. Secondly, those big chocolate chunks in Publix Moose Tracks just hit different. Scooping out one of those chunks is like hitting the flavor lotto. And yes, I do play the flavor lotto.
Publix New York-Style Extra Sharp Cheddar Cheese — Right off the top, I don’t know what makes this “New York-style” cheese. Maybe it rides the subway and pays too much for a one-bedroom apartment. Either way, it’s admittedly delicious and it stays on rotation in our fridge. It’s perfect for slicing up and eating with saltine crackers or Ritz. At the end of a long work day, I like to stand at the bar in our kitchen and have some of that cheese and crackers while I zone out and watch the news on WIS. I know that seems glamorous, but such is the life of a newspaperman.
This story was originally published March 21, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
