Publix recently made headlines with an announcement that it will allow open carry in its stores. But what about other grocery stores in Jacksonville, such as Winn-Dixie, Rowe’s, Fresh Market, Aldi, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe’s?
On September 10, a state appeals court ruled Florida’s open carry ban unconstitutional. In response, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier posted on social media, stating, “Open carry is the law of the state.”
The court’s ruling applies only to individuals legally allowed to possess firearms and does not affect other existing gun law restrictions in Florida.
In Jacksonville, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office confirms that state and federal regulations continue to prohibit firearms in certain locations, including bars, schools, and government buildings. Private businesses, such as Publix, maintain the authority to establish their own firearm policies on their property.
While Publix has not explicitly confirmed that open carry is permitted, its statement to Florida Today suggests a permissive stance: “Treating customers with dignity and respect is a founding belief at Publix. In any instance where a customer creates a threatening, erratic or dangerous shopping experience — whether they are openly carrying a firearm or not — we will engage local law enforcement to protect our customers and associates.”
Meanwhile, other chains, such as Winn-Dixie, Aldi and Sam’s Club, have stated that they will continue to prohibit open carry in their Florida locations, including those in Jacksonville.
Here’s what to know before your next grocery run.
What does open carry mean?
Open carry means anyone can publicly carry a legally owned firearm in plain sight or partially concealed.
Is open carry legal in Jacksonville, Florida? Here’s what JSO says
In September, the First District Court of Appeal ruled Florida’s Open Carry Ban (Statute 790.053) unconstitutional, finding that prohibiting the open carry of firearms violates the Second Amendment. Following the decision, JSO leadership directed officers not to detain or arrest individuals solely for openly carrying a firearm.
Here’s what to know about open carry according to JSO:
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Open carry in public: Adults who can legally possess a firearm are now not prohibited from the open carry of it in most public places.
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Private property rights: Businesses, stores, and private property owners may still prohibit open or concealed carry of firearms on their premises.
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Restricted areas: Open carry is allowed in public, unrestricted areas. Restricted areas remain: courthouses; police and sheriff’s offices; certain government buildings; school property, including K–12 campuses, school buses, and school-sponsored events; and colleges and universities.
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Additionally, it remains illegal to possess a firearm as a convicted felon or while committing a crime.
Which grocery stores allow open carry? Can you open carry in Walmart, Costco, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, and Target stores in Jacksonville, Florida?
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Aldi: “We are asking that our customers refrain from openly displaying firearms in any of our stores, except for authorized law enforcement personnel,” the company has said. They do authorize concealed carrying.
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BJ’s Wholesale Club: It does not have a straightforward firearms policy listed on its main website, but it notes that it reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone at any time.
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Costco: Costco does not allow open or concealed carry of firearms and prohibits all firearms in its warehouses.
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Fresh Market: Requests that customers not openly carry firearms inside its stores. The company’s stance follows a campaign by gun safety advocates in 2016, though it has recently been re-emphasized in light of new open-carry laws in Florida.
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Sam’s Club: Sam’s Club does not allow open carry of firearms and prohibits all firearms in its warehouses.
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Sprouts: Sprouts Farmers Market prohibits all firearms and dangerous weapons on its premises, and it posts signage at store entrances to indicate this policy.
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Target: Since July 2014, Target has requested that firearms not be brought into its stores. “We … respectfully request that guests not bring firearms to Target – even in communities where it is permitted by law,” the company said in a statement.
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Trader Joe’s: Officials said in 2019 that they follow local laws, but they “do not welcome weapons of any kind in our stores and never have.”
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Rowe’s: As of October 2025, Rowe’s IGA has not released a public statement detailing its policy on open carry in response to the Florida appeals court ruling. Unlike other major grocery chains in the state, the company has not clarified its position. In the absence of a stated policy, Florida’s open carry law remains the default guideline at Rowe’s IGA locations.
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Walmart: Walmart does not allow open carry of weapons in any of its stores, but it does allow the concealed carry of weapons in accordance with state laws. If a customer is observed openly carrying a firearm at a Walmart location, it is up to the discretion of the store management to decide what to do.
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Whole Foods: Whole Foods has a longstanding policy that prohibits firearms from its stores, regardless of local laws.
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Winn-Dixie: “Our priority is creating a safe and welcoming shopping experience for all customers and associates,” a spokesperson for the parent company, Southeastern Grocers, told the Orlando Sentinel. “As a private business, our policy remains unchanged: We do not permit open carry of firearms inside our stores. We respectfully ask customers to secure firearms safely before entering, and we appreciate the continued cooperation that helps us maintain an environment where everyone feels comfortable.”
Publix locations in Jacksonville, Florida
There are 19 Publix stores in Jacksonville.
A new store is expected to open soon in Deerwood Village Shopping Center, located at 9964 Old Baymeadows Road.
Contributing: C.A. Bridges and Samantha Neely, USA Today Network-Florida.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Concerned about open carry in Florida? Which grocery stores allow it
