Stores shift hands

Stores are in Largo, Oakland Park and Altamonte Springs

Publix acquires all Safeway groceries in Florida.

Say so long to Safeway in Florida.

Publix Supermarkets has acquired the only Safeway stores in the state and plans to convert them into Publix markets by the end of the year, the company said in a news release.

The three locations — at 950 NE 50th St. in Oakland Park, 10500 Ulmerton Road in Largo and 503 E. Altamonte Drive in Altamonte Springs — will operate until early September, but the pharmacies will close sooner. Posters will notify customers when prescriptions have transferred to Publix, the company said.

Even though the Safeway in Oakland Park is across the street from a busy Publix in the Northridge Shopping Center, it will still be converted, said spokeswoman Nicole Krauss.

There are no plans to close the current Publix once the new store opens, she said, saying there are Publix markets across the street from each other in Miami Beach.

The fate of the in-store Starbucks and liquor stores have not been determined, and more information will be available closer to the grand openings, Krauss said. Publix operates 238 liquor stores.

The Lakeland-based grocer did not say how many employees would be affected by the closings, but that theywere being provided with details on how to apply for employment at Publix stores.

“Publix continues to look for ways to expand within our operating area to better serve our customers,” said CEO and President Todd Jones, in the release. “We are excited for this opportunity to acquire existing stores within our home state.”

In early 2016, Albertsons converted the three Florida stores into Safeways after merging with the company in early 2015.

Safeway spent nearly $10 million in each store to add Starbucks coffee shops and expand specialty and organic food selections.

Publix has more than 780 supermarkets in Florida, and more than 1,100 in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, South Carolina and North Carolina. Connect with me: “Like” Doreen’s Deals on Facebook; follow Doreen Christensen on Twitter, Facebook and Google Plus; and sign up for my Freebie Friday newsletter.