MARATHON, Fla.–On Wednesday, March 27, the Florida Keys Marathon Winn-Dixie debuted a brand new store to the excitement and cheers of the Keys community. The store team and community celebrated the special day with a community-wide ribbon cutting ceremony that also included live entertainment, sampling, giveaways and many smiles from hundreds of customers who lined up to get the first look at their new Marathon Winn-Dixie.
In September 2017, Hurricane Irma rattled the Florida Keys and caused unimaginable destruction to the entire Keys community, including the Marathon Winn-Dixie. For more than 37 years, the store battled hurricanes and national disasters with the Keys community, but Irma’s 130 mph winds proved too strong. The Marathon Winn-Dixie was structurally damaged beyond operation, but the heartbeat of the store was stronger than ever. In the midst of the storm, the Winn-Dixie team opened the store to those in need of shelter and safe haven as the storm rapidly impacted the Florida Keys. In the storms aftermath, store leaders called and located every associate to ensure their safety and wellbeing while also ensuring those nearby had a safe place to recharge.
Anthony Hucker, President and CEO of Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Winn-Dixie, said, “Winn-Dixie is at the heart of the Keys and has been for nearly 50 years. We are committed to providing our customers and community with the absolute best shopping experience. After the incredible damage caused by Hurricane Irma devastated our store and community, we took the opportunity to rebuild our Marathon Winn-Dixie with brand new concepts and local products. Additionally, we refreshed all of our Florida Keys Winn-Dixie stores to provide for the unique needs of the communities we proudly serve. Our beloved customers and associates have been through a long journey of rebuilding together, and we are honored to celebrate and support this vibrant community today, tomorrow and always.”
To show appreciation for the continued support from the Keys community, each Florida Keys Winn-Dixie hosted a community celebration on Saturday, March 30 that included live entertainment, DJs, giveaways for the first 300 customers and delicious food samplings. Winn-Dixie also donated a total of $6,000 to Key Largo Middle School, Coral Shores High School, Marathon Middle High School, Sugarloaf School, Key West High School and Bahia Honda State Park to support each store’s local school and community partnership.
Additionally, the Marathon Winn-Dixie held a community Giant Jenga Tournament for the chance to receive a $2,500 donation to a local charity of choice while attendees enjoyed live entertainment by the Islamorada Steel Drum Band, delicious sampling and giveaways. The first place donation was awarded to the Conch Republic Marine Army, with the Friends of Bahia Honda State Park being awarded a second place donation of $1,000.
In continued support of the winning team, all Florida Keys Winn-Dixie customers are invited to support the Conch Republic Marine Army with a donation at any Florida Keys Winn-Dixie store registers now through April 9. The Conch Republic Marine Army empowers local communities post disasters in the marine restoration of the Florida Keys and all Florida Marine Habitats. Every penny raised will help the volunteer organization in its mission to cleanup and restore the Florida Keys’ waterways.
The new Marathon Winn-Dixie was developed around the unique needs of the Keys community and now features an all new Naturally Better section that offers a wide range of healthy everyday products that are organic, gluten-free or dairy-free, each clearly marked and easy for customers with food sensitivities or dietary preferences to find. Customers will also find convenient new features like the pizza station within the store that offers options by the slice or pie and a fresh, made daily sushi bar. To cool off in the hot summers, customers will also enjoy an all-new, walk-in beer cave where they can feel the cold air and know their beer will be cold and refreshing.
Florida Keys stores will continue the celebration throughout the month of April with a special in-store event each Saturday. Customers are encouraged to visit their local store for event times and details. With five locations in the Florida Keys, Winn-Dixie offers a convenient shopping experience for customers from Key Largo to Key West. The new and improved Florida Keys Winn-Dixie stores are open seven days a week:
- Marathon (5585 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050) – Open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Tavernier (92100 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, FL 33070) – Open from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m.
- Big Pine Key (251 Key Deer Blvd., Big Pine Key, FL 33043) – Open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Key West (2778 N. Roosevelt Blvd., Key West, FL 33040) – Open 24 hrs.
- Key Largo*(105300 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037) – Open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
*Remodel coming soon.
About Winn-Dixie
Founded in 1925, Winn-Dixie grocery stores, liquor stores and in-store pharmacies serve communities throughout five southeastern states – Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Mississippi. Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. is a subsidiary of Southeastern Grocers, which is one of the largest supermarket chains based in the Southeast. For more information, please visit www.winndixie.com and www.segrocers.com.
