George W. Jenkins, founder of Publix Super Markets Inc., was born Sept. 29, 1907, in Harris City, GA. At age 17, he came to Florida and took a job as a food store clerk in Tampa. In 1930, he decided to open his own store, taking the name from the Publix Theaters movie chain. He opened this store on Sept. 6, 1930, and operated here until 1940, when he built his dream store on W. Central Ave., two blocks east of this site.