Publix stores in the path of Hurricane Ian will close Tuesday or Wednesday, reopen Friday

Lakeland-based Publix Super Markets announced Tuesday that it is closing some stores and modifying the hours of nearly 200 supermarkets along the Gulf Coast because of Hurricane Ian.

Publix grocery stores will close in Spring Hill, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Clearwater, Cape Coral, Sarasota, Lehigh Acres, Bonita Springs, Naples and near Immokalee.

“We’re closely monitoring Hurricane Ian and its impact on our operating areas,” the Publix website said. “Please be aware that stores in the affected area will be adjusting their hours for the storm.”

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The grocer posted a map to its website showing the closures at https://www.publix.com/pages/publix-storm-basics/publix-store-status. The resource also will provide the most up-to-date information on changes to store hours. The webpage was last updated at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday.

On the interactive map, the stores closest to the projected landfall were set to close starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday and remain closed until 7 a.m. Friday, Publix said. Others, including its stores in Polk County, were set to close at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Stores further inland could change their operating hours. The map shows its stores are open along Florida’s east coast, as well as the south and north regions of the state.

Of the eight stores in the Venice area, which was the forecast Tuesday as the likely area of landfall, stores were set to close Tuesday, Publix said. The earliest closure listed was at in Key West location, where its store is set to close at 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Publix also offers a storm supplies checklist at https://www.publix.com/pages/publix-storm-basics. The webpage also offers a link to quickly refill prescriptions.

Privately held Publix Super Markets Inc. is considered to be the largest employee-owned U.S. corporation.

It runs 1,305 stores in seven states with stores under construction in an eighth state, Kentucky. In Florida, Publix operates 837 stores, its website said. Publix also operates 10 distribution centers, including locations in Lakeland, Sarasota and Orlando, which are locations forecast to be impacted by Hurricane Ian.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Ian: Publix grocery stores in hurricane path set to close early