Cashier Dallas Alvarez, #1753, Neptune Beach, Florida, surprised a family for Halloween.

Dallas loves this quote from our founder, Mr. George: “We’re not only in the grocery business, we’re in the people business.” Building relationships allows her to create lifelong memories for customers visiting her store.

In October 2023, one of Dallas’ regular morning customers, Alex, mentioned wanting her family to dress up as Publix associates for Halloween.

“They are such a sweet family with such sweet smiles,” said Dallas. “I told them that the next time they came to Publix, I’d have a surprise for them.”

Making it her mission, Dallas started creating the perfect Halloween costume for the family’s 1-year-old son, Cal.

The result: a handmade apron that she custom-hemmed for Cal — complete with a nametag. “Best costume ever!” Alex said.

Dallas even included a hat and “no tipping” pin to complete the ensemble.

“It was a real sweet connection,” Dallas said about the moment she gave Cal his costume. “They’ve been back plenty of times now, and we’ve formed our own special relationship.”

Because of her commitment to going above and beyond for her customers — including little ones like Cal — and creating Publix fans for life, Dallas was given the Mr. George Gold Coin Award.

Take a moment to read about other Mr. George Gold Coin recipients in Publix News.

The Mr. George Gold Coin Award is given to associates who embrace the Publix culture and provide premier service the way Mr. George himself would have. Receiving a gold coin means you’ve made a real difference in the lives of others by going above and beyond. Associates can become eligible for a gold coin by receiving praise through the customer care department, which reviews each case based on established criteria and guidelines.