First dates are a lot of things: funny, sweet and sometimes a bit awkward. But often, they have the best results! Read from Publix associates who submitted stories about memorable first dates with their significant others.
“My wife and I met on eHarmony in October 2016. I lived in Maryland, and she lived in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan. We communicated over the internet for several months, but first met each other in person in Athens, Greece, in March 2017, so I consider our week in Greece our first date. We were able to see many of the historical sites and visit the island of Santorini. Ultimately, she was able to move to America, and we now have a daughter named Athena to commemorate our first date.”
— Strategy Team Leader Steffyn Workman, Lakeland, Florida
“Sam and I met in April 2016. He was a new store manager, and I was a new retail associate relations specialist. In November 2016, Sam asked if I would accompany him to a wedding where he was a groomsman. We will never forget our first slow dance to “Holy” by Florida Georgia Line. We continued to attend weddings as a couple, and everyone joked ours would be next. Fast forward to June 22, 2019, we danced our first dance as husband and wife to that same song.”
— Associate Relations Specialist Aneesah (Eses) Fadil, Jacksonville Division, wife of Store Manager Sam Fadil, #1169, Orange Park, Florida
“The first words my future husband Greg said to me in 1992 were, ‘You want to run together?’ It was the first time I had been to Frontrunners, an LGBT running group. We ran together that first day and have been running side by side for the last 27 years! Greg has been alongside my Publix career for 27 of my 35 years. He is a great Publix spouse and my valentine!”
— Store Manager Chuck Kaelin, #398, Tampa, Florida
“Being a single dad for some time now, I immediately thought of the first date with my twin daughters, Addison and Kate. It was their first daddy-daughter dance at their elementary school in March 2018. They were so excited to get new dresses and do their hair with a little added makeup appropriate for 9-year-olds. Everything had to be perfect for them. We had a blast dancing with all their classmates. And we ended the dance together. How lucky I was with twins to have a date on each arm!”
— Retail Business Analyst Bob Lawrence, Miami Division
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“Chris and I met at #1336, now #1579, in Largo, Florida, in 2009 when I was a cashier and he was a front service clerk. Ten years later, we’re married and continuing our Publix careers. We had our first official date at Chick-fil-A, sitting for four hours talking until we realized they wanted us to leave. He became my best friend and still is. I can’t imagine a better first date than learning all about a person you never thought would be more than a friend or co-worker.”
— Assistant Store Manager Annie Jelenc, #1199, St. Petersburg, Florida, wife of Grocery Manager Chris Jelenc, #1034, Largo, Florida
“My husband and I met our first year of college in August 2001. I had just moved to Lakeland, Florida, and didn’t know anyone, so it was exciting to meet Chris on my first day of college. We started studying together and spending any free time we had hanging out. On Sept. 20, 2001, we officially had our first date, which included washing our cars, dinner at Chili’s and meeting each other’s parents! We married after college in 2006 and just celebrated our 13th anniversary.”
— Group Benefits Administrative Assistant Crystal John, wife of I/S Customer Support 2 / Customer Tech Support Analyst Chris John, Lakeland, Florida
“My husband and I are high school sweethearts. Our first date was dinner and a movie, but it started before that. He left a teddy bear in my locker on Valentine’s Day. We dated for four years, and we’re going on 13 years married. He’s still my best friend and valentine!”
— Bakery Retail Improvement Specialist Katie Burns, Atlanta Division
“Terry and I met on a blind date on Aug. 4, 1996, for lunch at TGI Fridays. After ordering, I excused myself to go to the restroom, then stopped to talk to someone I knew. I went back to the table and apologized. He said, ‘I thought you left me here. I was going to ask the server to see if you were still in the restroom.’ We continued our date by going to see a movie. As luck would have it, the only thing playing was “Matilda.” We got married one year after our first date, and, 23 years later, we still laugh when we talk about that date and the movie.”
— Human Resources Administrative Assistant Pam Winchester, Lakeland, Florida
“Austin and I were set up by our mutual friend, Susanna, at #1152, Parrish, Florida. We met for coffee, which he hates, and talked for three hours. We started to walk to our cars and I said, ‘We should do it again sometime,’ which is a reference from “Friends.” He was going in for a hug. I awkwardly stuck my hand out and we shook hands. We got married Nov. 30, 2019.”
— Assistant Store Manager Erika Kolb, #1394, St. Petersburg, Florida
“We went to the movies to see “American Sniper” when it came out. The movie was great, but I noticed him tensing up at certain scenes. After the movie, he walked me to my truck but seemed upset. He opened up and told me the movie hit close to home during his tour days, as he’s a U.S. Marine veteran. With how quickly he trusted and confided in me, we hit it off right away, and I couldn’t help but fall in love. Fast forward, we’re now married with a 4-year-old daughter.”
— Due Diligence Specialist Catie Atkins, Lakeland, Florida
“Our first date was a blind date! We went to CityWalk in Orlando, Florida, to eat at Margaritaville. I was extremely shy and barely said a word to Ryan the entire time, including the car ride over. I did ask him if he wanted some of my shrimp at the restaurant, but that was the extent of it. He certainly tried to get me to talk, but I was strictly set on “yes” or “no” responses. On the way home, we stopped for late-night milkshakes at Steak-N-Shake. At the end of the night, he asked for my number to go out again!”
— Office Manager Dinah Sumner, wife of Industrial Maintenance Certified Class A Technician Ryan Sumner, Lakeland, Florida
“We met on a blind date! I had just been through a breakup, and my Publix family was eager to help me move on. They were ordering department shirts one day and got on the topic of local singles with the lady helping them. She mentioned her son was trying to meet someone, and when one of my coworkers discovered he had coached their child’s basketball team, they decided to set us up! October was our 10-year blind date anniversary. Each year, we have dinner in the same booth at the same restaurant to celebrate.”
— Buyer Alexis DelliVeniri, Lakeland, Florida
“Our first date was a beautiful day filled with many expectations! I had been waiting the last year and a half for that moment. Hurray! I was on a flight to my home country to meet my fiancée for the first time. My headphones were repeatedly playing our favorite songs, and my eyes replayed her smile like an endless movie. After 48 hours I finally heard the golden words, ‘Welcome to Madurai, India!’ There is no way to explain how I felt at that moment. I was running inside the airport and searching faces. I finally found her, and we spent beautiful time together the whole day without pausing for a minute.”
— I/S Senior Engineer Palanivel Manoharan, Lakeland, Florida
“My wife and I were friends before we started dating. I was seeing someone else at the time but didn’t see it going anywhere, so I broke up with her and asked my wife out. Our first date was dinner and a movie. Our mutual friends invited us out to play pool later in the evening, and we decided to go. When we got there, we ran into the girl I broke up with and her friends, as well as another ex-girlfriend of mine. It was an awkward evening from that point on, which our friends enjoyed a lot. It worked out in the end. Fourteen years later, we’re still together, and it’s a story my wife likes to tell.”
— Marketing Analytics Consultant Scott Newbern, Lakeland, Florida
Publix couples answer questions about their relationships and give a little advice about keeping the love alive.
