The City of Westlake has approved the site plan for Konover South to develop approximately 23,000 square feet of retail space within the community. The development company was approved to build two multi-tenant shopping centers and a pod of quick-service restaurants that will collectively be known as the Shoppes of Westlake Landings. Construction is expected to start in the spring of 2022 and be completed toward the end of the year.
“We have already signed a handful of leases and are currently engaged with several other businesses,” said Bob Bedard, senior vice president of development for Konover South. “We expect to be fully leased by the time we open next year.”
Konover is mostly targeting service-oriented businesses and restaurants to fill the two centers — one 7,065 square feet and the other 9,450 square feet — plus the restaurant pod totaling 6,765 square feet. So far, leases have been signed with Heartland Dental, Verizon Communications, Go Green Dry Cleaner, and Sauced BBQ and Whiskey Shack, a full-service restaurant and bar owned and operated by the Ralph Lewis family. The Lewis family has owned the Okeechobee Steakhouse for 75 years.
Lease negotiations for the two centers are underway for a hamburger concept, a smoothie shop and a fitness studio. For the restaurant pod, lease details are being worked out with three national food and beverage chains.
The shops will be built in Westlake Landings, a 50-acre master-planned business park located off Seminole Pratt Whitney Road. Konover is under contract to acquire seven acres in the park. Closing is expected by the end of 2021.
“We are very pleased to see retail development moving forward in our new city,” said John Carter, vice president of Minto Communities, the master developer of the 3,800-acre Westlake community that is approved for 4,500 homes and more than 2.2 million square feet of commercial space. “As we continue to grow, our residents are going to need convenient access to service businesses.”
In September, Chaudhary Petroleum Group opened the first new retail business in Westlake since it incorporated in 2016. A new concept 7-Eleven and gas station off Seminole Pratt Whitney Road features a take-out/dine-in restaurant with made-to-order food, a wine cellar with curated wines, and a nitro cold-brew and iced tea bar.
A second 7-Eleven is set to open in the coming months, while Publix prepares to build a multi-tenant retail center that will be anchored by a 50,000-square-foot grocery store. A warehouse, self-storage facility and entertainment venue are also planned at Westlake Landings.
