Grocery Shopping in MetroWest: Publix, Aldi, and Neighborhood Options
From the longtime Publix anchor to the brand-new Aldi on Hiawassee — here's where MetroWest actually buys its groceries
MetroWest is a 1,805-acre master-planned community in southwest Orlando (ZIP 32835) with two primary grocery anchors on South Hiawassee Road. The Publix Super Market at Metro West Village (2435 S Hiawassee Rd) has anchored the community's main shopping center since the 1990s and is open daily 7 AM to 10 PM. A new Aldi at 1403 S Hiawassee Rd is replacing the former Winn-Dixie at Metro West Marketplace and is scheduled to open in summer 2026 as part of Aldi's national acquisition of nearly 400 Southeastern Grocers locations. Specialty grocers including Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe's, Sprouts Farmers Market, and The Fresh Market are all within 3-5 miles in the adjacent Dr. Phillips community.
So you're moving to MetroWest and the practical question lands: where do people actually buy groceries here? Fair question — and the honest answer is the old playbook (Publix on one side of Hiawassee, Winn-Dixie on the other) is in the middle of a quiet reshuffle.
MetroWest is compact enough that grocery shopping doesn't have to be a project. Most of the community is organized along South Hiawassee Road, which means the major options are within five minutes of any front door. Here's what's here, what's coming, and where locals slip out to when they want more than the basics.
The Anchor: Publix at MetroWest Village
If MetroWest has a "default" grocery store, it's the Publix Super Market at Metro West Village at 2435 S Hiawassee Rd. This is Store #276, open daily 7 AM to 10 PM, and it anchors the larger MetroWest Village shopping center at the intersection of Hiawassee Road and Westpointe Boulevard.
Location is what makes this one work. The center sits in the geographic middle of the community, so most MetroWest neighborhoods — from Stonebridge on the south end to Veranda Park up north — can reach it without touching a major arterial. National tenants like Marco's Pizza and Pet Supermarket round out the lineup, so you can knock out groceries, dinner, and dog food in one stop.
If you're new to Florida, the Publix lifestyle takes about one trip to internalize. The deli subs (the famous "Pub Sub") are a religion, the BOGO sales drive weekly meal planning, and the staff walks you to the aisle when you ask. It's not the cheapest option in MetroWest, but for most residents it's the everyday store.
The Newcomer: Aldi Is Replacing Winn-Dixie
Here's where the MetroWest grocery story gets interesting. For decades, the second grocery option was the Winn-Dixie at 1401 S Hiawassee Rd in Metro West Marketplace, a mile north of the Publix. That store has closed, and a brand-new Aldi is taking the space at 1403 S Hiawassee Rd, with a planned opening in summer 2026.
This isn't a one-off. Aldi acquired Southeastern Grocers (parent of Winn-Dixie and Harveys) in a deal that finalized in 2024, and is converting nearly 400 former locations into Aldi stores across the Southeast. The MetroWest store is one of three Central Florida conversions Aldi confirmed for 2026, alongside Deltona and Melbourne.
For MetroWest shoppers, this is a meaningful change in character. Aldi runs a completely different model — smaller footprint, around 1,400 items vs. 30,000+ at a typical full-service grocer, heavy private-label focus, the quarter-deposit cart system, and prices that consistently rank among the lowest in U.S. grocery. Bring your own bags and a quarter. What you get back: a noticeably smaller weekly bill, especially on produce, dairy, and pantry staples.
The Big-Box Option: Walmart Neighborhood Market on Conroy
The third pillar sits just east of the community on Conroy Windermere Road. The Walmart Neighborhood Market at 8801 Conroy Windermere Rd (Store #2499) serves the 32835 ZIP and is the go-to for one-stop convenience: groceries, pharmacy, household basics.
Neighborhood Markets are Walmart's smaller grocery-focused format — closer in size to a Publix than a Supercenter — and the Conroy location is a 5-7 minute drive from most of MetroWest. It's where residents go for the quick weeknight stop when Publix prices feel ambitious or they need an off-hours pharmacy.
Heading South for the Specialty Stores
Here's MetroWest's quiet superpower: it's directly north of Dr. Phillips, one of the most grocery-dense neighborhoods in Central Florida. When residents want more than the standard Publix/Aldi/Walmart trio, they head south. The full list of Dr. Phillips grocery options has its own article, but here's what's a 10-15 minute drive from MetroWest:
- Whole Foods Market — 8003 Turkey Lake Rd, Phillips Crossing. About 3-4 miles south of MetroWest.
- Trader Joe's — 8323 Sand Lake Rd. The cult-favorite small-format grocer with affordable wine and seasonal snacks. 4-5 miles out.
- Sprouts Farmers Market — 7603 Turkey Lake Rd. Opened late 2020, strong on organic produce, bulk bins, and supplements.
- The Fresh Market — 5000 Dr. Phillips Blvd. Upscale specialty grocer for prime cuts and prepared meals.
- Wild Fork — 7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd. Frozen meat and seafood specialist.
The practical takeaway: MetroWest residents get two grocery ecosystems. Everyday shopping happens inside the community; specialty and gourmet happens five minutes down the road in Dr. Phillips.
International and Specialty Markets
MetroWest is genuinely diverse, and the grocery options reflect that. Bravo Supermarkets, the Hispanic-focused chain, has multiple locations within easy driving distance and is the local default for Caribbean and Latin American ingredients — masa, plantains, sofrito, queso fresco — at prices the big chains can't match. Smaller independent Asian and halal markets are scattered along Conroy Road and West Colonial Drive for shoppers willing to drive 10-15 minutes east.
Pros and Cons of MetroWest's Grocery Scene
The Pros:
- Two grocery anchors within the community, both on Hiawassee Road — most residents are 5 minutes from a full-service store
- The incoming Aldi adds a genuine budget option, which MetroWest has frankly lacked for years
- Dr. Phillips' specialty grocery cluster is a short drive south — Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Sprouts all within 3-5 miles
- Walmart Neighborhood Market on Conroy fills the late-night and pharmacy gap
- Strong international and Hispanic grocery presence reflects the community's diversity
The Cons:
- The Winn-Dixie-to-Aldi transition has left a temporary gap on Hiawassee Road until the new store opens
- No specialty/organic grocer inside MetroWest itself — you'll cross Conroy or Apopka-Vineland for those
- Hiawassee Road traffic at 5-6 PM can make a "quick grocery run" feel less quick
- No Costco or Sam's Club inside MetroWest (closest warehouse clubs are 10-15 minutes out)
What the Locals Know
MetroWest's grocery story is, honestly, a story about Hiawassee Road. Two anchors, a mile apart, on the same north-south spine that defines the community. The Publix at MetroWest Village isn't going anywhere — the Saturday parking lot tells you how essential it is. The new Aldi at 1403 S Hiawassee is the story to watch this year; once open, MetroWest will have arguably the best price-tier diversity of any single grocery corridor in southwest Orlando.
The smart play for new residents is to use both. Publix for produce, deli, and the BOGO rotation; Aldi for staples and pantry items where private-label quality is good enough — which is most of the store. Keep Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Sprouts in Dr. Phillips on the rotation for what the budget stores don't do well. That's how locals shop here. 🛒
For current store hours, weekly ads, and product information, visit Publix at Metro West Village and the Aldi store locator for the latest on the new Hiawassee Road location.
Considering a move to MetroWest or one of Orlando's other West Orange communities? Explore MetroWest homes for sale and our Dr. Phillips community guide, or contact us for honest, no-pressure relocation advice from people who actually live here.
