‘Looking for a Pub Sub’: Florida police remove alligator from Publix parking lot

PINELLAS PARK, Fla. — Since 1954, Publix’s slogan has been “Where shopping is a pleasure.” George Jenkins Jr., the supermarket chain’s founder, probably did not envision alligators as part of the store’s clientele.

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On Thursday, police in Pinellas Park helped remove an alligator from the parking lot of the west-central Florida store, WFLA-TV reported.

Officers arrived at about 6:40 p.m. EDT after receiving a call about a reptile measuring approximately 6 feet in length leisurely walking along a sidewalk and approaching an intersection, according to the television station.

According to a Facebook post by the Pinellas Park Police Department, officials had no clear reason to explain the alligator, who was not in its natural habitat.

“We can only speculate that he was on his way to pick up a PubSub,” police wrote.

With the help of officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the alligator was safely relocated to a large body of water.

“We’re happy to report both he and the shoppers are safe!” the police department wrote.