Publix, First Watch coming to St. Augustine Beach; developers target late-year opening

Mayor Dylan Rummeral and Building Official Brian Law said a Publix supermarket at the new commercial development in the City of St. Augustine Beach is expected to open in the last quarter of the year.

The project also includes façade work, construction of a First Watch restaurant and parking-lot restoration; the timeline and on-site progress matter because the site is visible from nearby properties and hosts ongoing inspections, officials said.

"Last quarter of the year, we would expect them to open," Building Official Brian Law said, describing the current construction schedule. Law said crews were installing mechanical and plumbing systems and that "all the rooftop units are set." He added that inspectors "are here 2 to 3 times a day performing inspections."

Mayor Dylan Rummeral highlighted recent site work and public-facing milestones, saying, "Publix is coming. I promise y'all it'll be here before you know it." He noted the eastern parking-lot restoration will begin "tomorrow" after a Cinco de Mayo event at nearby Taco Libre.

Officials said exterior façade work will proceed in stages; once one façade is finished, contractors will "break the building apart for the First Watch restaurant," Law said. Law also told the commission that much of the mechanical and plumbing equipment is installed in the building's upper portion, which he referred to as the Hill House.

No formal votes or permits were recorded during this discussion. The remarks were given as construction and inspection updates during the commission meeting.

City staff and the mayor directed public attention to the timeline but did not announce permit approvals or changes to conditions; specific permit statuses and estimated employment or economic impacts were not specified during the update.