Publix Confirmed for Downtown Jacksonville: Full-Service Grocery with Pharmacy Coming to Pearl Square

Published: September 3, 2025 By: Jax Humor News

Quick Take

Publix has signed a lease to open a 31,000-sq-ft, full-service grocery at 119 W. Beaver St. in Gateway Jax’s Pearl Square (Block N7) development.

The store will include a pharmacy and sit beneath a 15-story residential tower (~250 apartments) with integrated parking (~400 spaces).

The site replaces the former First Baptist Church main auditorium (NoCo Center). No opening date was announced at the time of the release.

The project builds on Downtown’s grocery momentum: Fresh Market (Brooklyn) opened in 2014, Whole Foods is under construction at One Riverside, and ALDI is converting 777 N. Market St. 

The Details

Publix and Gateway Jax confirmed a lease for a ground-floor Publix at Pearl Square’s Block N7, a mixed-use project at 119 W. Beaver St. in Downtown Jacksonville’s NorthCore. The store is billed as “full-service” and will feature a pharmacy, answering longtime calls for an everyday grocer in the urban core. The building pairs retail with a 15-story apartment tower and on-site parking allocated for shoppers and residents. 

Gateway Jax called a neighborhood grocer the “heartbeat of any neighborhood,” highlighting Publix’s role in activating street-level retail and daily foot traffic. (Paraphrased from the announcement.) 

Where It’s Going

• Address: 119 W. Beaver St., Jacksonville, FL (Pearl Square — NorthCore)

• What’s there now: The former First Baptist Church main auditorium / NoCo Center, planned for demolition to make way for the project. 

Store Features (What We Know)

• Size: ~31,000 sq ft

• Format: Full-service Publix

• Pharmacy: Yes

• Parking: Store-designated parking decks directly above the grocery; additional parking for residents in upper levels.

How It Fits Downtown

Pearl Square is envisioned as a multi-parcel, pedestrian-friendly district with 1,250+ residential units, ~200,000 sq ft of retail/restaurant/fitness, and upgraded public spaces. A centrally located Publix complements other nearby grocers (Fresh Market, future Whole Foods, and an ALDI conversion), creating a realistic car-optional grocery ecosystem for Northbank residents and workers.

What’s Next

City boards have already signaled support for the grocery component, and previous DIA incentives targeted inclusion of a supermarket at Block N7. While the opening date hasn’t been announced, expect site work and vertical construction sequencing to dictate the timeline given the retail-plus-residential build. 

FAQ: Publix at Pearl Square

Will there be a pharmacy?
Yes. Gateway Jax confirmed the store will include a pharmacy. 

Is parking included for shoppers?
Yes. Two levels of parking are directly above the store and designated for Publix customers; additional parking serves the apartments. 

How big is the store?
Approximately 31,000 sq ft, consistent with an urban full-service format. 

What else is part of Block N7?
A 15-story residential tower (~250 units), mixed ground-floor retail, and structured parking.

What stood on the site before?
The former First Baptist Church main auditorium, repurposed as NoCo Center for immersive exhibits; it’s slated for demolition to make way for the project.