Minto Communities, the master developer of Westlake, has sold a 20-acre parcel to Publix for a new retail center and grocery store. The transaction closed July 16.
The Lakeland-based grocer recently received City of Westlake approval to develop a 140,000-square-foot open-air plaza. Phase 1 of the development will include eight retail bays anchored by a 50,000-square-foot Publix grocery and liquor store. Publix was also approved to develop an additional 70,000 square feet of retail space on the property, which is expected to be built later in Phase 2.
Publix at Westlake Plaza will be located on the west side of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road between Town Center Parkway and Persimmon Blvd. “We are pleased to bring the first grocery store and retail center to Westlake to serve our fast-growing population,” Minto Vice President John Carter said. “You know you’ve arrived when Publix comes to town, and we couldn’t be happier. Soon, our residents will be able to enjoy the convenience of shopping for their essentials right around the corner from their homes.”
This transaction marks the start of a “retail rush” in the 3,800-acre Westlake, which is approved for 4,500 homes and more than 2 million square feet of non-residential development.
Adjacent to the new Publix is a 50-acre business park Minto created called Westlake Landings. Konover South is under contract to acquire seven acres to develop a pod of quick-service restaurants and two multi-tenant, open-air shopping centers — one of 7,000 square feet and the other 9,450 square feet. Collectively, the site will be known as the Shoppes of Westlake Landings. It will be adjacent to a 7-Eleven convenience store and gas station currently under construction.
Minto is also under contract with a local developer to buy 5.75 acres within Westlake Landings to build a 107,290-square-foot self-storage facility and is talking with others to develop a flex office/warehouse space on 18 acres. An investment group is eyeing the final piece of land in Westlake Landings for an entertainment/sports concept.
“We created this mixed-use business park to proactively plan for our commercial development activities in Westlake,” Carter said. “Westlake Landings allows us to be more intentional in our approach and curate the right types of businesses to service our residents.”
