A Publix Super Market at Palm Bay Center, 4711 Babcock St. NE, will close for the last time at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 11. The store has operated for nearly 50 years and will be demolished to make way for a new, larger Publix as part of a redevelopment project. The closure affects longtime customers who have shopped there for decades. The existing building will be torn down, and the site will be redeveloped with a new Publix location. The company has directed customers to check its website for updates about the project and future opening dates. Nearby alternatives include Publix stores at 1150 Malabar Road SE in Palm Bay, 2261 W. New Haven Ave. in West Melbourne, and 1451 S. Babcock St. in Melbourne. These locations are within a short drive of the closing store. Publix has not provided a timeline for when the new store will open, but the redevelopment is expected to begin soon after the July 11 closure. The decision to close the aging store comes as part of Publix’s broader strategy to modernize its locations and expand in growing areas of Brevard County. The company said it will keep customers informed through its website and social media channels. The closure marks the end of an era for the Palm Bay community, where the store has been a fixture for generations. Shoppers who relied on the store for groceries will need to adjust to new locations, but Publix has emphasized that alternatives are readily available in the surrounding areas.