Publix serves the southeast US. That's not an area known for large cities and dense populations. A dense, affluent, urban neighborhood in a metro of 1.5M people should be a priority market for Publix especially knowing the barriers to entry for a competing store are so high due to the land constraints. When the deal was first considered the concept may have been more foreign to them, but as Miami, south florida, and Atlanta have densified, this model has become more common. Regency has a center with the same structure in Aventura, so they are also familiar with a pedestal store over parking. So for Publix's sake, the delay may have helped them be able to build a better store.
