Two counties, one Publix: Grocery store chain to build store straddling Duval and St. Johns County lines

NOCATEE, Fla — Picking out your groceries in one county, and paying for them in another.

That's the plan for the Nocatee West Publix as the invisible line will run right through.

A county commissioner says this isn't the first time they've seen a business build on both sides as the area around the Duval and St. Johns county line continues to grow.

"Trying to escape California, and so we were just researching, researching and we found it on the internet," said Aimee Mannino on her way out of a nearby Publix.

Mannino and her husband are two of the more than 20,000 people who started calling St. Johns County home in the past year.

With all that growth, comes more business - like the new Publix planned for the intersection of Valley Ridge Boulevard and Burbank Avenue near the Nocatee Parkway.

Unlike Mannino, that Publix, clocking in at just under 50,000 sqft. will call St. Johns and Duval counties home with about two thirds in one county, and another third in the other.

"It would be cool if like, one of the counties had less tax than the other one and you could decide which tax to pay," said Mannino.

Duval County sales taxes are currently 7.5%, while St. Johns County sits at 6.5%.

That's one of the issues St. Johns County Chief Building Official Howard White says the developer will have to work out.

White says when businesses straddle the county line, St. Johns and Duval counties have an agreement they'll typically default to whichever county the developer wants to go through for permitting and approval.

White says St. Johns and Duval building officials are both aware of the project proposal, and are working out issues like property taxes, sales taxes and emergency response.

A Publix spokesperson says there is no signed lease in place for the property, and corporate cannot comment on sites without signed leases.

Mannino isn't particularly excited about the idea for another Publix in the Nocatee area.

"I think another Publix is not necessary," said Mannino. "I'd much rather have a Trader Joe's or a Target."

With another Publix just two miles away at the Nocatee Town Center, and another just three miles away in the other direction at the shoppes at Beachwalk, Mannino isn't alone.

"I wish they had something a little more diverse than another Publix, maybe a Target or something like that, but we'll see," said Publix Shopper Dave Azotea.

Shoppers may have to wait awhile to stroll down an isle with one foot in one county and the other in another.

Plans were just submitted to St. Johns County for approval did not specify a possible completion date for the Nocatee West Publix at this point in the process.