Publix Considering USF Campus Location

University of South Florida students may soon be able to load up on groceries and order fresh deli subs without having to leave the Tampa campus.

The university’s Board of Trustee’s Finance & Audit workgroup unanimously approved a plan for the grocery chain to build a location on the campus, according to The Oracle. The pitched site would be the corner of Fletcher Avenue and North Palm Drive where a parking lot currently sits.

Publix spokesman Brian West said the proposal is far from being set in stone, but hopes are high.

“We are excited about the potential partnership with USF,” West told Patch. “Both parties are in the process of the due diligence period, and at this time, there are no additional details to share.”

The proposed store would be smaller than the average Publix at 28,000 square feet, The Oracle noted, but would offer enough space for parking, lighting and security.

Should the store’s construction come to pass, it would be the first Publix on a university campus. The store would be constructed along with Andros Village, a new student housing development set to replace old residence halls. How soon the Publix might undergo construction remains unclear, but Andros Village is slated to be completed in 2019.

Patch file photo