Dec. 3--FORT WALTON BEACH -- Shoppers will see a fair share of familiar faces when Publix makes its long-awaited debut at 8 a.m. today in the former Albertsons location near the intersection of Racetrack Road and Eglin Parkway. Fifteen to 20 percent of the about 120 employees are holdovers from Albertsons. David Parks, who manages the meat department, is one of them.

"I'm thankful for the opportunity and I just hope shoppers will give Publix a chance," he said.

The average Publix supermarket contains about 45,000 square feet. But this one -- a total renovation of the Albertsons built in 1990 -- has 66,000 square feet of grocery space with another 9,000 for the adjacent liquor store.

Mark Carlisle, who has been with the company 15 years, has come from the Lynn Haven store in Bay County to manage the Fort Walton Beach outlet.

"Everyone has a role and knows what to do," said Mark Pittman, Publix's district manager.

The store features a fullservice bakery, a full floral department and a pharmacy.

HGR Construction in Winter Park was the main contractor. Shawn Neil was the project manager and Brian Winters was the site superintendent. HGR has been involved with nine "conversions" this year for Publix, which paid $500 million to buy 49 Albertsons stores in a deal that closed last summer.

"It's something to see," said Jim Rufrano, principal in charge for HGR. "The team that involved us and Publix, the contractors and the retailers has really put something together here."

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