From its humble beginnings as a small local bank to now having more than $1 billion in assets, Bank of Central Florida has built its reputation by growing with the businesses it serves, just like CEO and Founder Paul Noris envisioned.
66 SIGNED, WITH LOVE
We have all looked up at the iconic sign above the Southside Cleaners building and chuckled to ourselves—or even pulled out our phone to capture the latest saying. Go inside the history of the phrases, and meet the people whose love for the business is no joke at all.
30
PAST GLORY, FUTURE PROMISE
Elvis Presley and the Wizard of Oz are part of a storied past that jumpstarted the Lakeland Civic Center. Today, a new and different approach is being taken to rekindle the Center as a hub of entertainment, business and community.
76
ALL PATHS LEAD TO FAMILY
Every family embarks on its own journey, but few set out to go nearly 9,000 miles on foot side by side. The Strawbridge family reminisces on the crazy, meaningful trek that taught them countless life lessons and forever bonded them in a distinct way.
PUBLISHER
Curt Patterson
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Jason Jacobs VP, FINANCE
Deb Patterson
BOOKKEEPER
Bechard Bookkeeping
CIRCULATION
CIRCULATION DIRECTOR
Jason Jacobs
DISTRIBUTION
David Heideman
GENERAL COUNSEL
Ted W. Weeks IV
ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING DIRECTOR
Curt Patterson | 863.409.2449
ADVERTISING SALES
Sharon Blackburn | 813.789.4361
LAKELANDER CREATIVE SERVICES
Jason Jacobs | 803.960.0030
EDITOR, CONTENT STRATEGIST
RJ Walters
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Allie Brinton
DIGITAL MEDIA PRODUCER
Jordan Randall
CONTRIBUTORS
EDITORIAL
Katy Lister
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Christopher Lee Helton
The Lakelander is published 12 times annually by Lakelander Media, 1505 Florida Ave. S, Lakeland, FL 33803. Reproduction in whole or in part without express written permission of The Lakelander is prohibited. The Lakelander is not responsible for any unsolicited submissions.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6
There are mountaintop experiences and there are rooftop experiences. One you hold onto and remember forever, while the other seems mundane, despite the fact you’re rarely on a roof unless you are cleaning your gutters or own a rooftop bar.
The thing about Lakeland, and the people who make it such a joy to live here, is even the rooftop experiences here are worth holding onto.
Hanging out with Bob and Stephanie Fischer as they changed the letters on the legendary Southside Cleaners marquee felt like spending time with cousins even though I had never met them before. Unpretentious, funny, willing to let us take the hundreds of photos it requires to get just the right shot for the cover, even though Stephanie surely felt better about her hair the first 15 minutes compared to the next 15. Such is having any hair in the Florida humidity.
I could see all of the drivers at the intersection staring up at the sign as they (im)patiently waited for the light to turn green, and one driver even shouted out to us on her way by.
What was just as impressive about the rooftop experience though was how little Bob and Stephanie talked about themselves. They continually commended their staff, they talked about how take the greatest advantage of the strong brand equity that came with purchasing the long-established business and the way they worked together was worthy of being considered #couplesgoals.
People and places like this are what makes Lakeland iconic, and I know I’m not alone in this sentiment. I’m fully aware that Lakeland is a compilation of imperfect people running at their own speed with their personal convictions and opinions, just like anywhere in the world, but the fact you don’t have to go out of your way to find kindness and community is extremely rare.
When we started brainstorming the Icons Issue we were set on featuring a World Series MVP with local ties, certain names that are synonymous with Lakeland success were on all of our lists and we considered how we could loop in star entertainers with connections to the Swan City.
In very Lakeland-esque fashion, though, Lakeland being who it is was enough.
The RP Funding Center is more than meets the eye and more than a compilation of its own greatest hits of years gone by with a new leadership team who is set on proving that. The Pub Sub is a sandwich that could easily garner a social media following to compete with local influencers—the human kind—and you’ve probably heard about the Strawbridge family a time or two but might not know how they traded in work boots for trail gear to create a penultimate adventure.
The stories, the people, the places, and even the things of Lakeland aren’t comparable to other places, simply because Lakeland is its own kind of iconic, and you can appreciate that whether you’re sitting in traffic on Florida Ave. or you’re having a rooftop experience.
RJ Walters EDITOR
Did You Know?
More people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year in the US than all other cancers combined.*
*Cancer Facts and Figures 2024. American Cancer Society.
Call To Schedule Your Free Skin Cancer Screening!
THE BUZZ
COMMENTS FROM LAKELANDERS
North Lakeland
South Lakeland
KATY LISTER
Katy was born and raised in South Bend, Ind., but she has been living in Lakeland for the past three years while attending Southeastern University. She is pursuing a degree in communication and is passionate about studying mass communication media–film, television, magazines, and social media–and how it affects humanity. In the future, Katy hopes to have a job that allows her to use her creativity in some capacity.
When she’s not writing and researching for The Lakelander, you can find Katy walking backwards on campus (hey, she’s a tour guide) or helping lead SEU’s Unpland Improv team. Katy loves exploring local antique shops and getting iced coffee at Pressed.
CHRISTOPHER LEE HELTON
Christopher is a professional music and celebrity photographer for numerous agencies. His work has been published by Rolling Stone, New York Times, MTV, VH-1 and many more. He has met the likes of Michael Jackson, Bill Clinton, Axl Rose and Charles Barkley, to name a few.
He got his start in photography in Central Florida and photographed many of the iconic shows in the early years of the Lakeland Civic Center, now RP Funding Center. He currently resides in Colorado.
DAVID HEIDEMAN
David grew up in Minnesota and Iowa, but made the move to Lakeland to be close to family and enjoy the Sunshine State’s amenities. Most of his working life was spent in upper management in the restaurant industry. He also controlled inventory and shipping for a large manufacturer and owned a fulfillment company. His favorite hobbies are spending time with family, attending church, dining out and enjoying the activities the area has to offer.
David enjoys working with his colleagues at The Lakelander, where he leads the Distribution Department (you’ll see his smiling face filling racks of magazines!) and does other special projects.
WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH BANK OF CENTRAL FLORIDA
How Bank of Central Florida Developed from Small Beginnings into a Community Cornerstone
Eighteen years ago, Paul Noris set out with a bold vision—to build a community bank that would do more than manage money; it would empower growth. Today, as CEO and Chairman of the Board, he reflects on the tangible impact Bank of Central Florida has made through building relationships.
As he drives through the region, the milestones are unmistakable. He passes thriving local businesses that once needed help to secure their first property. He sees nonprofit organizations that the Bank has championed, and he frequently crosses paths with entrepreneurs who have flourished under the guidance of his team of dedicated Relationship Managers. For Paul, these aren’t just success stories—they’re daily reminders of why the Bank was founded in the first place.
“All of our people take a great deal of pride in the responsibility we feel to make sure that the community starts to grow,” Noris says. “If you would’ve asked me back in 2007 whether the bank would’ve survived for 18 years and grown to the level that we’ve grown, I would’ve probably thought you were a little crazy, to be honest.”
Front: Paul Noris, Bank of Central Florida CEO and Chairman of the Board
Back: (Top row first, right to left) Randy Estrada, Alexandra Lee, Kim Knaisch, Clint Tedder, Dawn Lyons, April Mullins, Emily Jesse
“If you build your community, you’ll build your bank. If we help this community, whether it’s through capital allocation or charitable contributions, or actually just rolling up our sleeves and working hard alongside other people in this community, we will make it happen.”
Paul Noris, CEO and Chairman of the Board for Bank of Central Florida, founded the
bank more than 18 years ago with a vision to
serve the community with personalized banking solutions. Today, the Lakeland-based
institution has more than $1 billion in assets.
The honest truth is Noris never had a career roadmap that culminated with him as the chairman and CEO of a flourishing bank. He earned a bachelor’s degree in finance from University of Florida, tried his hand at construction work after graduation and quickly realized that wasn’t for him. He took a friend up on the offer to get into the mortgage industry, and almost four decades later— including a stint of nearly 10 years serving as the local president of SunTrust Bank—he is the leader of a bank that employs more than 100 staff, that has more than $1 billion in assets and is committed to continually evolving to serve clients’ ever-changing needs.
In a city that was home to primarily larger regional banks and only a couple of community banks, Noris saw the opportunity to build a homegrown entity that could become a financial partner that would grow right alongside local businesses. In essence, he and his team had to personally go through the entrepreneurial process that they are now dedicated to helping others go through.
“We were building a company just like all of our clients do,” he explains. “We decide what our growth targets [were] going to be, where we (were) going to go…I joke all the time that, around here, if you identify a problem, you better help us identify a solution because there is no one to turn to in Atlanta or Charlotte or wherever to send us some answers.”
One of the goals of the bank from 2020 to 2025 was to expand its presence along the I-4 corridor from Tampa to Orlando. Bank of Central Florida now has six locations, including two in Tampa Bay, which benefits a lot of Lakeland based companies who do business in the metro area.
As the bank’s footprint continues to grow, its leadership team meets weekly to keep aligned and stay focused on helping business owners and prospective entrepreneurs navigate the realities of the market, the trends that are informing development, etc. It’s all part of what Noris refers to as servant leadership—i.e. using your influence and abilities to empower and develop others.
“He thrives on the concept of servant leadership and will go out of his way to encourage, support and lift up the people in his life - from employees and clients to friends and family,” says Paul’s wife, Lynn Noris. “Paul has a great deal of determination, work ethic and vision.”
Paul says that the purpose of Relationship Managers requires Bank of Central Florida to find, hire and empower staff who truly love serving others and seeing them succeed.
Relationship Managers focus on understanding each business’s unique vision and determining how the bank can be a supportive partner in both prosperous and challenging times.
He noted that about 80 percent of the bank’s revenue comes from commercial accounts, and their sweet spot is truly working with small to medium sized companies.
“We really want to understand sort of what their business is doing today, but where they’re trying to go and how they’re trying to grow their company so that we can be there, be supportive for them,” Noris says.
That nurturing character flows naturally into the bank’s involvement with the community. Paul has served on the board of directors for Lakeland Chamber of Commerce and Explorations V Children’s Museum and currently serves on the board of overseers at the Barney Barnett School of Business at Florida Southern College, as well as the United Way of Central Florida board of directors, where he and Lynn co-led the organization’s annual campaign.
Since 2020, Bank of Central Florida has provided more than $700,000 in sponsorships and donations to local non-profits.
“Paul Noris inspires many through his leadership and spirit of giving back to the local community,” says UWCF President and CEO Christina Criser Jackson. “I am grateful for the privilege to work alongside and learn from such an incredible leader. I know many of our team members have benefited from his insight and mentorship.”
Noris said one of his greatest joys is helping local businesses transition from one generation of leadership to the next, especially as part of a community that is so tight knit. Those types of partnerships are the win-win scenarios the bank thrives on.
“If you build your community, you’ll build your bank,” a mentor once told Noris, a philosophy he wholeheartedly embraces. “If we help this community, whether it’s through capital allocation or charitable contributions, or actually just rolling up our sleeves and working hard alongside other people in this community, we will make it happen.”
WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS
DEVELOPED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RP FUNDING CENTER
CURRENT PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL AND PROVIDED BY RP FUNDING CENTER
HISTORIC CONCERT PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER LEE HELTON
hen someone rolls up to the RP Funding Center for Collectorama next month in their shiny red Corvette, it’s unlikely they will realize that 42 years ago the iconic pop star Prince recorded the “Little Red Corvette” music video on that very site.
And to think that Elvis hosted concerts not once, but twice, at what was established as the Lakeland Civic Center in 1975 might seem like revisionist history to Lakelanders who didn’t grow up in the area.
As the RP Funding Center celebrates its 50th anniversary this year it’s fun to take a trip back in time to an era of rock n roll shows and epic experiences, but it’s just as important to recognize how vital the facility is to the future of the city, even if Mötley Crüe or Van Halen aren’t walking through the door anytime soon.
Vivian Campbell Dio
THE CENTER OF ATTRACTION
Step inside the 100,000 square foot multi-purpose facility today and you will be greeted at the front entrance by an exhibit that is an ode to the entertainment megaplex that in some ways helped put Lakeland on the map as more than just a bypass between Tampa and Orlando.
To celebrate half a century of connecting people and being a preeminent spot for shows, sporting events, conventions, conferences, parties and more, the RP Funding Center staff curated relics and memorabilia from major events over the years, including:
Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus
Florida High School Athletic Association state championships
Elvis Presley
Disney on Ice
Larry the Cable Guy
Guns N’ Roses
Wizard of Oz
Willie Nelson
Elton John
Former Lakeland City Manager Gene Strickland, who worked for the city for nearly 35 years, said it best during an interview released on RP Funding’s Center’s social media last month.
“What would this city be like today if this building was not sitting in this area next to downtown? Can you imagine?,” he asks the audience. “I’m telling you, this building gave Lakeland a start into the future that’s had the greatest impact of anything that’s ever been built in this city.”
The city’s stated purpose when the then $13 million complex opened was to become “the center of the state” and provide a venue that drew in crowds from the metropolitan areas as well as gave locals something to be excited about that was on par with what bigger cities offered.
It did just that, and at times, in spectacular fashion.
Acclaimed rock ‘n’ roll photographer Christopher Lee Helton fondly remembers thousands of fans going wild for acts like Quiet Riot and Cyndi Lauper in the Civic Center arena, a space now best known for hosting graduation ceremonies and sporting events.
“Man, it was magical to me…my favorite thing, probably like everybody else, [was] when the lights go down,” he says. “Being between Tampa and Orlando, they could pick up both crowds and have a better chance of selling out.”
He recalls one time, following an after party that preceded a concert at the Civic Center, going out to breakfast at the local Denny’s with the singers of W.A.S.P., a popular metal band in the 80s.
“We’re there and all these people show up and they put up chairs all in front of us just to sit there while we’re trying to eat,” he says.
Helton’s work has been published in Rolling Stone magazine and the New York Times, and more recently he collaborated with Hulu to provide content for a docuseries on Bon Jovi. He traveled the globe, first as a bodyguard and then as a photographer, for a plethora of famous acts, but he still has a soft spot for Lakeland even since he relocated to Colorado years ago.
The RP Funding Center is also nostalgic for many Lakelanders who grew up here.
Susan Chere Mask was 9 years old when her mom took her to see The King, Elvis Presley, in concert in 1975. Her mom told her that when Elvis was quiet for a moment on stage she should yell “I love you, Elvis!”—so she did. Elvis yelled back, “I love you, too!” He proceeded to take off the scarf he was wearing around his neck, and handed it to a security who hand delivered it to Susan. Today, the scarf is still a prized possession for Chere, who has worked for nearly 20 years as a teacher for Polk County Public Schools.
AN ERA OF AMENDING
Cindy Collins gets it. She worked for years for ASM Global, the premiere venue and event management company in the world, and she could literally talk about music all day long.
She has worked with some of the world’s most revered superstars, and some of her favorite shows in recent memory are country singers Chris Stapleton and Tyler Childers.
She often hears from locals about the “wonderful beginnings” of the RP Funding Center, and she doesn’t disagree with their sentiment.
But in her role as the director of RP Funding Center she is happy to give Lakelanders an allaccess pass to how the facility is working to be more community minded and relevant than ever, including some fun surprises along the way.
“There are some things that we’re not doing that we used to do, but there are things that we’re doing now that we never did before. We have become a focal point for sports—state competitions, conference championships, things like that,” says Collins, who moved to Lakeland from Kentucky in late 2023.
Additionally, she and her team have been consistently connecting with the business and educational community to provide valuable experiences for professionals and students. One example is the Florida Woodturning Symposium the Center hosted earlier this year.
She said it was amazing to see lifelong craftsmen bond with a younger generation who had probably never heard of a wood lathe or other hand held tools they had the chance to experience up close and personal.
“I asked one of the kids, ‘What was your favorite thing, what did you learn?’ [The students] said, ‘I’ve often wondered, What am I ever going to use geometry for?, and now I realize there are everyday things that you have to know measurements like a quarter of an inch and know things about right angles, tools, etc.’”
Axl Rose Guns N’ Roses
Eddie Van Halen Van Halen
“I’m telling you, this building gave Lakeland a start into the future that’s had the greatest impact of anything that’s ever been built in this city.”
- Gene Strickland, retired City Manager
Simon Le Bon Duran Duran
Nikki Sixx Motley Crue
There’s also a sewing expedition that annually showcases advances in manufacturing technology, the annual Miss Florida Scholarship Competition and a bevy of other events that focus on educational opportunities and the skills and talents of the next generation.
Lakeland’s burgeoning business community is constantly making connections and learning together inside RP Funding Center. Last year, hundreds of entrepreneurs and business owners came together for the inaugural Central Florida Business Expo that included a keynote presentation by New York Times bestselling author Donald Miller. The event was so well received that the 2025 Central Florida Business Expo is already on the calendar for September 24.
Local realtor Marlana Alvarez moved to Lakeland eight years ago, and she says the Center has been a place where she has been able to effectively plug into the business community.
“Every time there’s a big event or conference where there needs to be more than a couple hundred of us this is where we get together,” she says in an “Our Stage, Your Story” segment produced for the Center’s social media accounts. “My best memories are going to the Chamber of Commerce’s annual breakfast, big conventions and local conventions hosted here that I’ve been able to be a part of.”
Nancy Wilson Heart
Jimmy Buffett
Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band
Prince
A quick Google search will show you that RP Funding Center is subsidized by the city, meaning a portion of the city’s budget each year is allocated to cover the operating losses of the facility. To bring in nationally known acts and shows on a regular basis would (and did in the past) require hefty budgets for marketing, artist fees and production costs that carry a level of risk city leadership has to carefully weigh with many priorities to juggle. That’s one reason the lineup of events has drastically changed over the years.
Impressively, a subsidy that was more than $2 million just a few years ago is now under $1 million, a testament to Collins and her team’s efforts.
When it comes down to the facts, the economic impact of the RP Funding Center is undeniably significant.
A 2019 study by Downs & St. Germain Research revealed the Center had an annual economic impact of $88.6 million based on 323,000 visitors, including 43 percent who were from outside of Polk County.
“I’m a music girl, don’t get me wrong,” Collin says. “If I have a concert there’s going to be some people from out of town and they might stay a night, and if we’re lucky they might stay two nights. But when you bring in these competitions, people are staying in town for four or five nights. They’re buying gas, they’re shopping, they’re staying in hotels, they’re eating at restaurants. This means double the economic impact and it’s not just local money changing hands—it’s new dollars coming into the community.”
A FUTURE TO GET EXCITED ABOUT
With that in mind, the RP Funding Center staff are diligently pursuing more ways for local business to financially benefit from the hundreds of thousands of visitors to the building each year, as well as provide more relevant entertainment and enrichment opportunities.
RP Funding Center now serves Swan Brewing beer, Keel & Curley wine and locally roasted coffee, a way for out-oftowners to first experience some Central Florida favorites.
Collins continues to work closely with Catapult to find ways for new restaurateurs or caterers to gain exposure, and in the future she plans on doing more cross promotions with the Florida Children’s Museum and Bonnet Springs Park.
Recently, a partnership with the Florida Wildlife Corridor and Lakeland CRA came to life in a big way—in a fashion that measured 3,416 square feet to be exact.
On the east wall of the building a mural titled “Echoes of Resilience” showcases some of Florida’s most iconic wildlife in a vibrant fashion, including a roseate spoonbill, a Florida panther, a great horned owl and an American alligator.
The purpose of it was to draw attention to the corridor that spans nearly 18 million acres of land throughout Florida that is essential for the survival of many endangered species and to enhance the facade of the half-century old structure.
Today, the RP Funding Center hosts a wide range of entertainment, business, art and community building events. That includes concerts, events like the annual sewing convention and theatre experiences like Swan Lake of the World Ballet Series.
“We are definitely going a hundred miles an hour at connecting and giving the community an opportunity to come in and be part of [what we are doing],” Collins said, noting her staff has really enjoyed mingling with neighbors at First Friday events downtown, including the Dos de Mayo themed event they sponsored in May.
Collins said she appreciates how supportive the City Commission has been recently, and she believes city leaders “do the most they can under the constraints they have” which includes road projects, infrastructure upgrades, etc.
When it comes to making new memories, Collins is working hard to find clever ways to bring more fun back to the community.
She said one unequivocal success earlier this year was a free concert by the United States Navy Band that brought together hundreds of families of people who have proudly served the country in that capacity.
“I was just kind of expecting a bunch of patriotic tunes—and there were some of those—but oh my gosh, there was Broadway from Wicked, there were some really good vocals and there was music I knew. It was amazing,” Collins said.
Later this year, the United States Army Band is coming to town for a free concert that should match that energy.
When it comes to celebrating the Center’s 50th anniversary in grandiose fashion, Collins was excited to recently announce that The Marshall Tucker Band is coming to town on September 13. The Southern rock band known for hits like “Can’t You See” and “Fire on the Mountain” played at the Lakeland Civic Center during its inaugural season. Thanks to a sponsorship Collins secured, RP Funding Center is selling tickets for $19.74 (to celebrate the year the Center opened with a reduced service fee of $2.50.
“They’ve played here several times and they are definitely a band of the south,” Collins said.” They’re down to earth…they’re wonderful guys, and if you really want to show me that you want music, let’s sell this out.”
She said the number one thing that will determine whether she succeeds or fails to bring more national acts back to Lakeland is whether people in Central Florida buy the tickets.
“I can ask all my promoter friends to bring in a show, but if the tickets don’t sell, they’ll only bring one [performer or band,]” she says. “ As the music world says, ‘You’ve gotta feed the gig.’”
Collins is on the precipice of being able to announce some more big-time shows, and if people in Central Florida show up in droves it could mark a turning point for the caliber of entertainers performing at RP Funding Center.
On September 6, Collins and her team are inviting Lakelanders to celebrate the past and get excited about the future with an open house at RP Funding Center that will show off historic memorabilia, feature family friendly activities and connect people with local vendors.
It’s a party half a century in the making.
Chrissie Hynde The Pretenders
Rob Halford Judas Priest
Quiet Riot
Celebrate 50 Years by Making New Memories
May 31 and June 1
Repticon Reptile and Exotic Animal Show
June 15
The LOL Podcast
June 24-28
89th Annual Miss Florida Scholarship Competition
June 26-28
Collectorama
July 18-19
Fancy Flea Vintage Home and Garden “Just Beautiful Things”
August 8
Girls Night The Musical
September 6
RP Funding Center 50th Anniversary Open House
September 13
Marshall Tucker Band : All Our Friends Tour 2025
WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL
It’s
a hearty, endlessly customizable meal you don’t need a plate for. People get off a plane or complete a long car ride from another part of the country, walk up to the deli counter and their internal compass tells them they are home.
It took 62 years for Publix to introduce its distinctive version of the sub sandwich, but since 1992 the Pub Sub has serendipitously become an icon that represents modern foodie culture (did you know you can ask for almost any deli item to be put on a Pub Sub?) and the chain’s undying commitment to making customers smile.
The travel website “Thrillist” once called Pub Subs “the country’s best sandwiches,” there is a trove stories of people being cheered up during life’s most challenging moments by someone bringing them their favorite Pub Sub order, and on April 1 this year, Lakeland Moonwalk—a bounce house and inflatables rental company—posted a “gotcha” by dreaming up a Pub Sub bounce house that included everything except a pool of mayonnaise to dive into.
Many people who grow up near Publix stores don’t think twice about grabbing the company’s best-selling sub, the Chicken Tender Sub, or chowing down on a fresh Ultimate Sub, complete with Boar’s Head deli meat and fresh sliced cheeses. But the popularity of the Pub Sub is highly atypical considering it is a grocery store creation that competes head-to-head with food chain retailers and specialty shops dedicated to doing it better than anyone else without thousands of other product SKUs to focus on.
“As far as I know it was born out of customers calling it a Pub Sub long before we ever stated it through our communications.“
- Tim Cox
HOW PUBLIX BECAME A SUB HUB
Lakeland is home to the headquarters for the supermarket chain “Where Shopping is a Pleasure,” and the first Publix opened in Winter Haven in 1930, but the birthplace of the Pub Sub is about 500 miles north. Although a trio of Floridians claim to have concocted the first official “chicken tender sub” in the late 1990s by convincing a deli worker to ring up their custom creation as a sub, the Tampa Bay Times debunked that story. The actual recorded history insists that Publix subs first rolled out in 1992 at the opening of store No. 33, located in Marietta Ga.
Terry Simpson, who retired from Publix in 2016 after working in a number of roles over the course of 43 years, including Business Development Director for Publix Bakery, and then Business Development Director for Publix Deli, said “the crispy crust and delicious airiness of the bread” set the stage for what would help turn a deli counter into a custom-made sandwich kingdom.
It makes sense that the 90s was also the decade when Publix began carrying Boar’s Head products and that Publix went from having zero stores in Georgia to more than 100 in roughly eight years.
Tim Cox, who worked for the grocer for more than 40 years and is widely revered for his work as the Director of Creative Services, said he would love to be able to tell people that the Pub Sub moniker came from a hugely successful
marketing campaign, but that’s not the case.
“As far as I know it was born out of customers calling it a Pub Sub long before we ever stated it through our communications,” Cox says. “Fan pages (on social media) would pop up and customers were using that terminology long before…in part just due to our sub’s popularity.”
Simpson said it was humbling to see people acknowledge the quality of their product by raving about it online, and over the years Publix has worked diligently to turn the initial success of Pub Subs into a longterm pillar of the brand.
Simpson notes that during his tenure as Business Development Director for Publix Deli, the chain continually expanded its sub offerings, made efficiency improvements to reduce customer wait times, introduced online ordering and brought a handful of signature NFL team subs to different markets.
For example, the Tampa Buccaneers sub features chicken tenders, bacon, cheddar cheese and a “spicy gold sauce,” while the Miami Dolphins sub is a spin on a Cuban sandwich that includes a lemon garlic aioli sauce and crispy jalapenos.
In 2024, Publix unveiled a partnership with the NHL’s Florida Panthers, and the Publix marketing team acknowledges more fan favorites are likely to be added in the future.
FOREVER DIALED IN
Woven throughout the history of the Pub Sub’s rise to fame is the company’s relentless devotion to customer service and experience. Publix is staunch to ensure the quality and variety of its products, whether its for catering or a picnic lunch and whether it’s at a store here in Lakeland or somewhere as far away as Walton, Ky.
Sure there are times at the end of the day when you might run into bread that is a little extra crusty or find your favorite fixings are out, but the grocer that employs more than 260,000 associates is ready to pit its popular offerings at more than 1,400 stores against any competitors.
Technical Specialist Heather Beck, who joined us for a photoshoot of the delectable sandwiches, said deli associates undergo a rigorous training regimen to prepare for the pace and responsibility of making fresh subs, and employees at brand new locations are fine tuning their skills for at least six to eight weeks before the store even opens to the public.
The learning curve can be steep with an ever changing menu that attempts to include something for just about everyone. And just when an associate has the menu down, there’s undoubtedly something new on the horizon. In February, Publix unveiled the new “soft sub roll,” a more pillowy white canvas for subs to add to its lineup of sub rolls and wraps that includes gluten-free and keto options.
Publix Media Relations Manager Lindsey Willis actually prefers her Pub Sub without a bun, instead choosing a fresh salad that packs the same memorable flavors.
Simpson says his go-to is the Ultimate Sub with everything on it, while Cox’s favorite is the Boar’s Head Italian sub with black olives, banana peppers, salt, pepper and oregano—with a special request that is a must.
“The key part is to put the sub dressing on the bread before you put the other ingredients…if you put it on first, it soaks into the bread and it’s less messy,” he says.
It’s doubtful Cox’s creation would ever make it on the set of a meticulously planned commercial shoot for Pub Subs, something the longtime creative helped build campaigns around during his tenure.
“For television commercials it had to be dialed in. We would have experts from the deli retail business on set to make sure that everything was prepared to specification.”
FEEDING THE SOUL
Even more important than the ingredients—which run aplenty—is the way Publix works to build relationships with customers.
It is the expectation of Publix corporate that an associate responds personally to every customer who has feedback or complaints about a product, including subs, no matter how arduous that can be with emails, letters, social media, etc.
Cox says the brand equity of Publix is built on the earned trust of its customers, and the company’s marketing often strives to connect that trust to the intangibles that have made the grocery chain so successful.
“It’s really trying to connect with people in a way where they believe what you say. It’s also the kind of thing that allowed us to do holiday commercials where we’re really not trying to sell a turkey, what we’re really trying to do is share a little story that resonates with our customers…to communicate in a way that says, ‘Yeah, they get me.’”
“The key part is to put the sub dressing on the bread before you put the other ingredients… if you put it on first, it soaks into the bread and it’s less messy.“
- Tim Cox, regarding his go-to order of an Italian sub
MESSIEH ORTHOPEDIC CLINIC
in
Less-invasive
While Publix is not about to disclose how many Pub Subs the company has sold the past 33 years, they are certainly keen to convert customers into fanatics—as evidenced by the new line of Pub Sub merchandise that is hitting 363green.com this year.
Their mission is for the lore and popularity of their deli sandwiches to grow along with every new customer, including those youngsters who shyly ask for a free cookie at the bakery, who might just spend the rest of their lives shopping at Publix.
“Our blend of condiments, especially our specialty sub sauce, all combine for the utmost sub experience,” Simpson says. “Add a pint of deli tea and some dirty chips, and life is good!”
“Add a pint of deli tea and some dirty chips, and life is good!“
- Terry Simpson
Best-Selling Pub Sub: Chicken Tender Sub
Most Popular Toppings: Lettuce, Tomato, Onions
There are four different sub rolls and six different wraps to choose from
The fan favorite limited-edition Turkey Cranberry sub debuted in 2010
WRITTEN BY RJ WALTERS
PHOTOS BY JORDAN RANDALL
he sign that Bob and Stephanie Fischer needed to confirm they were ready to move forward with purchasing a long beloved Lakeland laundromat last year was not the sign everyone talks about. Part of what drew them to Southside Cleaners was seeing the employees—many who have been there for more than a decade—in action.
“We have the best staff here who are incredibly proud of the work they do. They work hard and we are so fortunate we inherited them with this business,” Bob says.
There is no time for idle hands at a clothing care business that regularly processes 20,000 to 25,000 garments per month, where you will often find deputy uniforms, wedding dresses and graduation gowns on the same rack. The couple, who have known each other since fourth grade and who worked together in the battery industry prior to purchasing Southside Cleaners, also own Myers Cleaners in Plant City, a location they plan on rebranding with the Southside name in the near future.
In a city the size of Lakeland, there is a multitude of drycleaning options, but the Fischer’s bought into something that’s more than just a money making proposition when they took over the established entity that was operated by the Myers family from 1962 until September 2024.
Recently, while standing atop the roof with the couple as they changed the letters on the sign, something quite typical occurred: a driver rolled down her window and yelled out, ‘I love you guys!’
Marge Myers, who co-owned the business with her husband, Burt, was the brains behind the witty memorable sayings for nearly five decades, and today, her legacy lives on as drivers and passengers on South Florida Ave. look up to see the latest riddle or proverb and people take to social media to share photos of the sign and comment on the newest phrases.
Before climbing up to the rooftop with the couple to document their Monday morning ritual of assembling a new message, we sat down to chat with them about the business, the process of managing the iconic messaging and what it has been like to take over a well-known Lakeland institution.
The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
THE LAKELANDER
How did you decide you wanted to purchase this business? And how did you navigate what it would mean to come into a business that was owned by the same family for so long?
BOB FISCHER
What we found here was similar to the businesses that we ran, which was a family owned business. This was a generational family owned business with employees who had been here a long time. I think our average employee [has been here] seven years. We have a 30-year employee, 15-year employees, 14-year employees…and we liked what that meant.
The due diligence was quite extensive, more extensive than you would think it would be. We had some forensic accountants, we had CPAs, we had all sorts of stuff.
TL
What have you learned about this industry that you didn’t expect?
BOB
That people spend a lot of money on their clothes. I’d say the cost of some garments is just mind blowing. You set a white Oxford shirt next to [another] white Oxford shirt, and this one is $1,500 and this one a guy got for $6.99—and it’s hard for me to tell the difference.
TL
Talk about being right here in the heart of Lakeland, in this beautiful spot with tons of natural light coming in.
BOB
We get all sorts of excitement around here. We think the location is pretty cool. It’s so funny because we go places and people ask you, ‘What do you do?’ and once you bring up Southside they know it because of the Southside Cleaners sign. This is a fun intersection.
STEPHANIE FISCHER
Oh yeah, we’ve seen a few accidents here!
TL
When you had conversations about purchasing this business, you obviously realized this sign would be part of the responsibility and how the world sees you. How did you come up with a plan for the sign?
BOB
You know, during the negotiations, we asked several times for the (original owners’) list (of sayings)...we did see it, it was like a 2-inch thick book. What they would do, they’d go on family vacations and she would hand write things when she would see stuff. This was handwritten and typed on a typewriter… front and back, with over 3,000 different sayings. It was funny because he would say if it’s family or politically motivated, that [the sayings] were just as relevant in 1970 as they are today, which is really kind of neat. So we did not get the list, but we negotiated for it…we tried.
We have had a lot of fun doing it. Customers, employees, family and friends— they just kind of throw things at you, we catch them and we get them on a list.
STEPHANIE
There was a time period where my mom didn’t text me anything other than sign ideas. I’m like alright, ‘Thanks, Mom.’
TL
How do you guys ultimately decide what goes on the sign?
BOB
Stephanie carries the baton here a lot more than I do. I go in and rate them—I rate them one to three on what I think is funny—and then I try to do length, which you can go 15 (characters) wide…and six rows…but with only 15 letters across it gets tricky.
We have an Excel spreadsheet so we kind of pick out what it’s going to be, and then we determine what letters we’re gonna need. We grab the letters and then we go up and change it every Monday morning around 8 or 8:30.
TL
Have you had any phone calls, emails or texts that disagreed with or disliked a phrase you put on the sign?
BOB
We had a Google review about one we did that someone thought was political. Generally we stay away from political stuff—and with religion and family, that stuff definitely will go up—but we had this one that was funny. It was about the daylight savings time change. (The sign read: Hello darkness. You’re not my friend.) and it was just because of the time change, and the guy took it as political. We tried to say, ‘What are you talking about?’
It is funny to see some of [the phrases] will get thousands of likes (on social media) and then you try to chase that. The one about rolling a joint (where the sign said: I don’t always roll a joint but when I do it’s my ankle.) was pretty funny and got a lot of attention.
STEPHANIE
I have to protect my feelings a little bit. Sometimes I’ll see the comments and I’m like, ‘What do they mean by that?’
TL
How do you feel the sign represents the business and its culture as a whole?
BOB
I think it’s our voice. I think it’s our employees’ voice. Every employee gives us some good sayings.
STEPHANIE
We also get some from friends. They think it’s fun to see their sayings on the sign. We put them into a spreadsheet and we note who sent them to us.
TL
A sign of this size and caliber must take some considerable maintenance. How do you keep it in top shape?
BOB
We do have an insurance policy specifically on the sign, as you can imagine. As far as maintenance, we really haven’t done a whole lot of that in the last six or seven months, I’m sure those old lights—they’re not LEDs—maybe tube lighting, I’m afraid to know (will need some attention.)
The letters are incredibly hard to find. They cost like $50 per letter so we try to take really good care of those.
TL At the Southside Cleaners location in Plant City are you going to have a sign like this?
BOB
I am. This might be controversial, but I think I’m gonna do digital and then we’ll just mirror what’s here. Currently in Plant City, there is a sign outside the door, and I think if I can go digital with that one I might.
TL
How would you describe the overall reception from the local community of you purchasing this business?
BOB
It’s been fantastic. I love how proud Lakelanders are of their city, of where they live. We love the law enforcement here. We think it’s funny coming from Tampa, where we have [the sheriff’s office] and the PD and that’s it. Then we come over here and there are so many different branches of law enforcement, so every opportunity we get to see them we like to give them gift cards and things like that.
TL How would you describe what this sign has done for the business?
BOB
We partner with Tinsley Creative—great guys—and they [share with us] how they partner with so many businesses and are always talking about something that sets [a business] apart from others, and Tinsley said, ‘You have it.’ It’s wild. I think that sign is our introduction to the community, it’s our introduction to people.
How Trekking Thousands of Miles Together Has Shaped the Strawbridge Clan
WRITTEN BY KATY
LISTER
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY THE STRAWBRIDGE FAMILY
MEET THE STRAWBRIDGE FAMILY
Many years ago, Monica Strawbridge had a dream. Hiking the Appalachian trail with a friend was on her bucket list, but, with four kids at home, she knew it would be quite a few years before this dream would come true. Instead of waiting, her husband, Vince, came up with the crazy idea to hike the Pacific Crest Trail–yes, the 2,650 mile trail that stretches from the Canada border to the Mexico border–and bring their kids along even though their youngest, Georgie, was only 11. Rather than calling it a day after hiking the PCT, the Strawbridges felt like their journey was just beginning. As Vince explained it, after the first thru-hike, “we couldn’t shut the valve off.”
Over the next few years, the family of six achieved the “Triple Crown,” which means they completed all three major long-distance hiking trails in the US: the Pacific Crest Trail (in 2018), the Continental Divide Trail (in 2020) and the Appalachian Trail (in 2021). Together, these three trails are nearly 8,000 miles long, meaning that there was a lot of time for the family to grow together and learn things about themselves and each other.
After completing these hikes, Vince knew the story needed to be shared with more than just friends and family. He decided to write a book, “Pretty Good at Walking.” The book highlights memorable moments from their adventures, both the positive and the difficult, in order to draw comparisons between lessons in life and what the kids (and their parents) experienced on the trail. The book is also a celebration of the courage and dedication that Vince and Monica recognize in their children for completing these treks.
Vince is part of the Strawbridge legacy that includes three generations known as trusted home construction and renovation experts. He is also the co-owner of Strawnix Waterfront Solutions, a state certified marine contractor that constructs seawalls, boathouses and docks. Vince embodies hard work—and when the time comes to play, he obviously chooses more grueling recreational activities than most.
LIFE ON THE TRAIL
Hiking 2,000-3,000 miles in four months is not exactly, as the Strawbridges would admit, a walk in the park, even with your family beside you the entire way. Difficulties on the trail like freezing temperatures, rain storms, uphill paths, hunger and even the threat of a bear encounter can lead to a loss of motivation, which is not something a hiker can afford with hundreds (or even thousands) of miles left to go.
Each family member had a slightly different answer about what inspires them to keep going despite the challenges. For June, it’s music–specifically Disney music. Georgie is also motivated by music (and snacks) but having an activity to focus on, like her trail photography (showcased throughout this article), is also a helpful distraction. Monica often chooses to listen to sermons or audio books over music, and for Vince, it’s all about having smaller, more attainable goals to achieve, like reaching the next town or finding a peaceful spot to have a drink of water, rest and recharge.
Although the younger Strawbridge kids were not completing schoolwork while hiking—they chose to do their homeschool coursework during the summer instead–there was much to be learned on the trail. Some of these discoveries were amusing, like Georgie’s intense dislike of waking up, and how most of them hate hiking in the cold. They also found out that some family members become an entirely different person on the trail. Vince is up (and full of energy) at 5 a.m., Aiden reacts well in a crisis–like the threat of a mountain lion, but you’ll have to ask Monica about that one–and Henry doesn’t panic no matter what is happening around him.
June realized something about herself while hiking. She has a tendency to give up when she is 90 percent of the way up a hill, a trait that she found herself repeating in post-trail life. Recognizing her inclination to give up while hiking actually allowed her to find solutions for the often steep hills of life, both physical and metaphorical.
Bythenumbers:
7660 miles 389 days 19.69 mi per day 86 pairs of shoes 11 phones 1 haircut
While a difficult and lengthy trek can lead to new anxieties about wildlife, storms and injury, it can also lead, as it did for this family, to gratitude for the provisions they had on the trail. Many long distance hikers will talk about “trail magic” or the idea that the trail will provide what you need when you need it. Vince credits God for the protection and provision that he and his family experienced on their journey. Of course, things did go wrong on the trail; getting lost and dog bites to name just a couple. But, as Georgie explained, nothing ever went so wrong that they couldn’t keep going. “It was always something we could fix right then…thinking about how much…God protected us was just so cool.”
Monica and Vince also noted that being on the trail has given their family an appreciation for simplicity–one can’t rely on luxuries like cars, deodorant and toilet paper on the Appalachian Trail–and empathy for those who have no choice but to live outside, like the homeless community.
LIFE AFTER THE TRAIL
After finishing each of the long-distance hikes, the Strawbridge family had the entirely unsurprising tradition of finding the best food near them and enjoying a well-earned meal together. Their second priority,
Monica explained, was a shower. Of course, there were other things the kids couldn’t wait to do. Getting back into soccer and horseback riding, surrounding themselves with friends and family and having the freedom to wear clothes other than the single outfit that they were allowed on the trail were all immediate goals as well.
One of the first things Vince would do after getting home was begin planning the next hike. Post-trail depression is a real issue that affects long distance hikers. After spending four to five months walking and only worrying about the immediate needs like finding water, making it to the next town and beating the storm, the transition back into “real life” can be a difficult one. Being at home with so many options–what to wear, what to eat, who to see–can feel overwhelming, especially at first, and the Strawbridges experienced these struggles as many others do. Everyday tasks, like going to the grocery store, Monica explained, can be strange. Having so many options (finally something other than tuna and cheese) takes time to get used to. What is the cure for this post-trail depression? Having the next long-distance hike on the horizon, of course!
ONTO THE NEXT TRAIL
The Strawbridge family, it seems, is never truly done with hiking. After so many days walking together, the trail has become part of who they are individually and as a family. Georgie and Vince are currently conquering the HexaTrek, a three month hike across France, through the Alps and the Pyrenees Mountains. They will be joined for several weeks by Monica, June and Aiden for different periods of their 3,000 kilometer journey. Unsurprisingly, Vince and Georgie won’t just be hiking the trail in the same way that most people do. While it takes most individuals around 120 days to finish the HexaTrek, Vince and Georgie will be setting a faster pace and finishing it in 105 days.
While the days of all six family members hiking together are mostly behind them, the Strawbridges did not leave the Pacific Crest Trail or the Continental Divide Trail or the Appalachian Trail as the same people who began them. Completing the Triple Crown is more than just an impressive achievement or a bragging right. It signifies the completion of a mentally and physically challenging accomplishment that would not have been possible without the direct support of family during the hikes. It represents the thousands of small moments and miles that make up each family member’s trail experience.
The Strawbridges will never forget the things that happened to them during their time on the trails: when June, an equestrian at heart, had the opportunity to see wild horses at the top of a hill, when Georgie was separated from her family and sat down to listen to music while waiting for them and the song that happened to play when she hit shuffle–“Rescue” by Lauren Daigle–couldn’t have been more fitting or when Monica accidentally dropped the last remaining bear spray into the river right as the family was heading into grizzly country. While it is true that every trail must come to an end, it seems that the paths Vince and Monica Strawbridge have led their children on in life are the kind that will always lead them back to each other.
The Lone Palm Golf Club, located at 4201 East Lakeland Memorial Blvd, is a private club founded in 1964 by George Jenkins, founder of Publix Markets.
Courtesy of the Lakeland Public Library
Lone Palm Golf Club
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