Is Publix Coming to Sanibel? The Future of Bailey's General Store and Its 127-Year Island Legacy
Last Updated: November 3, 2026
November 3, 2026 Update
The possibility of a Publix supermarket replacing the historic Bailey's General Store on Sanibel Island has generated considerable interest among residents, property owners, business owners, and visitors. But beyond the discussion of a potential new grocery store is a much larger story about Sanibel's history, local business ownership, community character, and the Bailey family's extraordinary contributions to Southwest Florida.
First, an important clarification: Ownership of the former Bailey's General Store property at Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Road has not changed. Founded in 1899, Bailey's earned the distinction of being Lee County's oldest continuously operating business, making the future of its historic Sanibel property a matter of regional significance as well as local interest. Publix has explored the possibility of developing a grocery store on Sanibel, but a completed sale to Publix has not been confirmed.
For many longtime island residents, Bailey's represents something that cannot easily be replaced by a new building or a nationally recognized supermarket. Founded in 1899, Bailey's became known as Lee County's oldest continuously operating family business, surviving hurricanes, changing generations, and the transformation of Sanibel from an isolated agricultural community into an internationally recognized barrier island destination.
Yet there is another important part of this story that deserves attention. The Bailey family is still in the grocery business. A Bit of Bailey's on Sanibel and The Island Store on Captiva continue serving residents and visitors, carrying forward a family tradition that began 127 years ago.
What Is Happening With Publix and Bailey's on Sanibel?
In August 2026, The News-Press reported that Publix representatives had participated in a pre-application meeting with City of Sanibel officials regarding a possible grocery store development.
A pre-application meeting is an early planning discussion. It allows a prospective developer to review concepts, identify regulatory issues, and better understand what may be required before submitting a formal development application.
It does not mean a project has received approval, construction is scheduled, or a property transaction has been completed.
The same reporting revealed that a September 2025 permit application for construction of a new Bailey's commercial center had been canceled.
The canceled application represented a change from the rebuilding plans previously discussed by the Bailey family. However, it did not establish that the property had been sold or that Publix would necessarily become the next occupant.
As of November 3, 2026, the following distinctions remain important:
Ownership of the Bailey's property has not changed.
Publix has explored a potential Sanibel grocery store.
The previously submitted Bailey's redevelopment permit application was canceled.
A confirmed Publix opening date has not been established.
The Bailey family continues operating grocery stores on Sanibel and Captiva.
These facts provide a more accurate picture than describing the property as already sold or a proposed Publix supermarket as a certainty.
Bailey's General Store: Lee County's Oldest Continuously Operating Family Business
The Bailey story began in 1899 when Frank P. Bailey established the Sanibel Packing Company, which evolved into Bailey's General Store.
At the time, Sanibel was a very different place. There was no causeway connecting the island to the mainland. Agriculture was an important part of the local economy, and residents depended on boats to transport people, supplies, and agricultural products.
The original Bailey's business operated near San Carlos Bay, providing essential goods and services to island families and farmers.
Over time, Bailey's became far more than a grocery store. It was a place to exchange news, see neighbors, purchase necessities, and maintain the personal connections that helped define island life.
Founded in 1899, Bailey's earned recognition as Lee County's oldest continuously operating family business, a distinction reflecting generations of ownership, perseverance, and service to Southwest Florida.
The business continued through multiple generations of the Bailey and Johnson families, adapting to changing island needs while maintaining its identity as a locally owned institution.
A History of Rebuilding and Resilience
Bailey's history is closely intertwined with Sanibel's experience with hurricanes.
In 1926, a hurricane destroyed the original store. Frank Bailey rebuilt farther inland, allowing the business to continue serving the island.
As Sanibel's population grew and transportation improved, Bailey's expanded. In 1966, a larger general store opened near the intersection of Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Road.
That location became a familiar landmark for generations of island residents and vacationing families.
Hurricane Ian struck Sanibel on September 28, 2022, causing catastrophic damage throughout the community. Bailey's General Store and the surrounding shopping center sustained extensive damage.
The damaged commercial buildings were demolished in 2023, although the historic service station was preserved during demolition.
For longtime residents, the loss of Bailey's was not simply the loss of a convenient place to purchase groceries. It represented the disappearance of a familiar gathering place and an important connection to the island's past.
The Bailey Family Helped Shape the Sanibel We Know Today
The significance of Bailey's extends well beyond its grocery aisles.
Generations of the Bailey family helped shape Sanibel's civic institutions, conservation traditions, charitable organizations, and community identity.
Francis Bailey, a descendant of founder Frank Bailey, was among the individuals involved in the establishment of the City of Sanibel when the island incorporated in 1974.
The family's name is also associated with some of the island's most recognizable institutions and preserved lands, including the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, the Bailey Tract of the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, and the Bailey Homestead Preserve.
These connections reflect a legacy extending beyond commercial success. They illustrate how longstanding island families helped create and support institutions that continue to distinguish Sanibel from many other coastal communities.
Buildings may be rebuilt, businesses may evolve, and commercial properties may eventually change hands. But contributions to conservation, education, community organizations, and local history remain part of the island's identity.
Bailey's Is Still Here: Two Family-Owned Island Grocery Stores
One of the most important facts in the current discussion is that the Bailey family has not disappeared from Sanibel and Captiva's retail community.
For residents who want to preserve island history and support independent local businesses, there are still two Bailey family-operated stores where they can shop.
A Bit of Bailey's on Sanibel Island
Location: 975 Rabbit Road, Sanibel, FL 33957
A Bit of Bailey's opened in 2025, bringing the family grocery business back to Sanibel in a smaller neighborhood-market format.
One of the advantages of shopping at A Bit of Bailey's is that customers are not necessarily limited to what they see on the shelves. Because the new market has a smaller footprint than the original Bailey's General Store, the family offers a special-order service for products that are not regularly stocked. Customers can request items they need, allowing the store to provide a broader selection than its physical space might suggest. It's a personal touch that reflects the customer service Bailey's has been known for across generations.
The store offers many of the familiar products and services associated with the Bailey's name, including fresh produce, meats, seafood, deli selections, baked goods, prepared foods, and everyday essentials.
Although the store is smaller than the former Bailey's General Store, it continues the family's tradition of providing personal service and everyday necessities to island residents and visitors.
A Bit of Bailey's is more than a reminder of what once stood at Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Road. It is an operating family business and an opportunity for customers to continue supporting a longstanding Sanibel institution.
The Island Store on Captiva
Location: 11500 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva, FL 33924
The Island Store has its own remarkable history, dating back more than a century. Today, it operates as part of the Bailey family's grocery business.
Located in Captiva's village center, the store provides groceries, deli items, baked goods, fresh foods, beverages, and everyday essentials in a traditional island setting.
It is an important reminder that the Bailey family's presence extends across both islands.
For visitors who want to experience a piece of Captiva's commercial history, and for residents who appreciate locally operated businesses, The Island Store remains part of that experience.
Supporting Local Businesses Is One Way to Preserve Island History
When conversations turn to preserving Sanibel's character, much of the attention understandably focuses on buildings, architecture, land use, and development regulations.
But island character is also preserved through everyday decisions.
Choosing to shop at a locally owned business helps support the employees, families, and business owners who contribute to the community throughout the year.
For those who hope to see the Bailey family's history continue, shopping at A Bit of Bailey's and The Island Store is a meaningful way to support that legacy today.
Why Rebuilding Bailey's Is More Complicated Than Replacing a Building
The former Bailey's shopping center occupies a prominent commercial location near the intersection of Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Road.
Rebuilding a major commercial property on a barrier island presents challenges that extend well beyond construction costs.
New buildings must address applicable flood-elevation requirements, storm resilience, accessibility, drainage, parking, landscaping, and other development standards.
Construction costs, insurance, financing, and the economics of operating a grocery business can also influence redevelopment decisions.
These are considerations for any property owner contemplating a substantial investment, particularly following a major natural disaster.
The Bailey family previously pursued plans for an elevated and redesigned commercial center. The subsequent cancellation of the permit application does not, by itself, explain the family's financial considerations or establish its future intentions.
Those decisions belong to the property owners, and speculation should not be presented as fact.
Would Publix Be Allowed Under Sanibel's Development Regulations?
Sanibel is known for its development standards and longstanding efforts to maintain a distinctive island character.
The city's Land Development Code includes provisions addressing formula retail establishments, a category generally associated with businesses that use standardized branding, merchandise, appearance, or operating characteristics across multiple locations.
An important distinction is that Sanibel's formula-retail definition excludes grocery stores.
That exclusion has been part of the public discussion surrounding a potential Publix location. It does not, however, mean a grocery store would automatically receive permission to build whatever it proposes.
Any formal development application would still need to comply with applicable zoning, building, environmental, site-design, and other regulatory requirements.
For a location as prominent as the former Bailey's shopping center, potential review considerations could include traffic circulation, parking, pedestrian and bicycle access, landscaping, signage, lighting, building scale, and compatibility with surrounding properties.
The details would depend on the actual proposal submitted to the city.
What Would a Publix Mean for Sanibel Residents and Businesses?
The possibility of Publix coming to Sanibel raises legitimate questions about convenience, competition, redevelopment, and the island's commercial identity.
Some residents may welcome additional grocery shopping options and the possibility of renewed commercial activity at a highly visible intersection.
Others may be concerned about the effect of a large supermarket chain on existing independent businesses and the distinctive shopping environment that separates Sanibel from mainland communities.
Both considerations deserve attention.
A new grocery store could potentially bring employment opportunities, additional consumer choices, and new investment to the property.
At the same time, its actual effects on traffic, local merchants, shopping patterns, and the surrounding neighborhood would depend on the size, design, and operation of the development.
Without a finalized public proposal, those effects cannot be reliably quantified.
A Pfeifer Realty Group Perspective: Island Character Is More Than Architecture
At Pfeifer Realty Group, our connection to Sanibel and Captiva extends beyond real estate transactions.
Through years of involvement with local conservation organizations, charitable initiatives, community boards, and island businesses, we have seen how much the character of these islands depends on the people who invest their time, resources, and energy in the community.
The Bailey family represents an extraordinary example of that commitment.
For more than a century, their business helped meet the needs of island residents while family members contributed to the institutions and traditions that make Sanibel special.
It is understandable that many people feel a strong emotional connection to the former Bailey's General Store.
It is equally important to recognize that the family's contributions are not erased by changes to a commercial property.
Preserving island character requires more than remembering the businesses that once occupied familiar buildings. It also means supporting the businesses that continue operating, participating in local organizations, respecting private property rights, and engaging constructively in community planning.
The question of whether Publix will eventually open on Sanibel remains unresolved.
The Bailey family's place in island history does not.
Frequently Asked Questions About Publix and Bailey's on Sanibel
Has Publix purchased Bailey's General Store on Sanibel?
No completed sale has been confirmed. As of November 3, 2026, ownership of the former Bailey's General Store property at Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Road has not changed. Publix has explored the possibility of developing a grocery store on Sanibel, but preliminary discussions do not establish a property purchase.
Is Publix officially coming to Sanibel Island?
A Publix opening has not been confirmed. Publix representatives participated in a preliminary development meeting with city officials, as reported in August 2026. That discussion does not constitute final development approval or guarantee that a Publix supermarket will open.
Where would Publix be located on Sanibel?
The public discussion has centered on the former Bailey's General Store shopping center at the intersection of Periwinkle Way and Tarpon Bay Road. The property is a prominent commercial location on Sanibel Island.
Why did Bailey's General Store close?
The historic Bailey's shopping center suffered extensive damage during Hurricane Ian in September 2022. The damaged commercial buildings were demolished in 2023. The family subsequently pursued redevelopment plans, but a previously submitted construction permit application was canceled.
Is Bailey's General Store still in business?
Yes. Although the former General Store building is gone, the Bailey family continues operating A Bit of Bailey's at 975 Rabbit Road on Sanibel and The Island Store at 11500 Andy Rosse Lane on Captiva.
Was Bailey's the oldest business in Lee County?
Bailey's, founded in 1899, earned recognition as Lee County's oldest continuously operating family business. Its history spans more than 125 years and multiple generations of the Bailey and Johnson families.
Who owns Bailey's General Store?
Bailey's remains a family-owned business operated by descendants of founder Frank Bailey, including members of the Johnson family. Multiple generations have continued the business since its founding in 1899.
Does the Bailey family still own The Island Store on Captiva?
Yes. The Island Store is operated as part of the Bailey family's grocery business. The historic Captiva market continues to serve residents and visitors with groceries, prepared foods, deli selections, and other island essentials.
Can Publix open on Sanibel despite restrictions on chain stores?
Sanibel's Land Development Code excludes grocery stores from its formula-retail definition. However, that exclusion does not eliminate other applicable zoning, development, building, and environmental requirements. Any proposed Publix development would still be subject to the city's applicable review and approval processes.
Has Sanibel approved a new Publix supermarket?
The publicly reported August 2026 discussions involved a preliminary development meeting, not final approval. A subsequent final approval has not been established in the information reviewed for this article.
When would Publix open on Sanibel?
No confirmed opening date has been established. Any potential timeline would depend on property arrangements, development applications, approvals, construction, and other factors.
How can residents support the Bailey family's legacy?
Residents and visitors can shop at A Bit of Bailey's on Sanibel and The Island Store on Captiva. Supporting these locally operated stores helps sustain a family business whose history dates to 1899.
Can A Bit of Bailey's order groceries or products that aren't in stock?
Yes. Because A Bit of Bailey's operates in a smaller space than the original Bailey's General Store, customers can request products that are not currently stocked. The store offers special ordering to help accommodate individual shopping needs, extending its selection beyond what is available on the shelves.
What Happens Next for the Former Bailey's Property?
The future of the former Bailey's General Store location remains a developing story.
Any confirmed change in property ownership, formal development application, city approval, or construction announcement would represent a significant update.
Until those developments occur, it is important to distinguish documented facts from speculation.
For the Sanibel and Captiva community, the story is also an opportunity to recognize the extraordinary contributions of a family whose history spans 127 years of island life.
The future of one commercial property remains uncertain. The Bailey family's legacy, and its continuing presence on both islands, is firmly established.
Pfeifer Realty Group will continue following developments involving the former Bailey's property and other important changes affecting Sanibel and Captiva. Our goal is to provide residents, property owners, and visitors with factual local information, historical perspective, and a deeper understanding of the community we call home.