Zach’s Corner
Zach’s Commercial Realestate Corner. Features news, thoughts on Florida’s Commercial Real Estate and more.
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Forty Years of ICSC: What Has Changed—and What Still Matters
My relationship with ICSC began shortly after I entered the commercial real estate industry in 1975. Early in my career, I attended its events as an assistant mall manager with the DeBartolo Companies. At the time, I was just beginning to understand the shopping center business—and the extraordinary importance of relationships within it. Over nearly four decades of attending ICSC conventions, I have watched both the organization and the commercial real estate industry undergo remarkable changes. In those early days, there were no cell phones, emails, social media platforms, QR codes or digital property presentations. Computers, at least as we know and use them today, were essentially nonexistent in our daily business lives. Face-to-face contact was how business got done. Who you knew—and the reputation you built—could be critical to your success. Deals often began with a personal introduction, developed through repeated conversations and grew stronger over lunches, dinners, convention meetings and handshakes. ICSC created the environment where those relationships could begin and grow. It brought mall owners, developers, retailers, brokers, lenders, architects and other industry professionals together under one roof. For a young professional, simply walking the convention floor, listening to experienced people and observing how they conducted business…
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Yard House to Replace Bahama Breeze on Tampa’s Rocky Point
Tampa’s Rocky Point restaurant scene is getting a major change as one longtime waterfront concept prepares to make way for another. Yard House plans to replace the existing Bahama Breeze at 3045 N. Rocky Point Drive East, according to building plans filed with the City of Tampa. The conversion will bring Yard House to a prominent waterfront location along the Courtney Campbell Causeway and give the growing restaurant brand its second Tampa location. Darden Plans Major Remodel Both Yard House and Bahama Breeze are owned by Orlando-based restaurant giant Darden Restaurants. Earlier this year, Darden announced plans to discontinue the Bahama Breeze brand after determining it was no longer a strategic priority. Fourteen restaurants were designated for permanent closure, while another 14 — including the Rocky Point restaurant — were selected for conversion into other Darden concepts. New plans now reveal what is coming to Rocky Point. The existing approximately 12,200-square-foot Bahama Breeze will undergo a complete remodel and reopen as Yard House. Current plans call for Bahama Breeze to close in February 2027, with Yard House expected to open approximately a month later in March, although restaurant construction schedules can change. Yard House Expands in Tampa Yard House is…
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BrickTop’s Plans First Tampa Bay Location at University Town Center
University Town Center’s restaurant lineup continues to grow, with another upscale concept choosing Sarasota for its first Tampa Bay location. BrickTop’s, a Nashville-based American bistro specializing in steaks, seafood, sushi and cocktails, plans to open a new restaurant at 55 N. Cattlemen Road within the University Town Center district. The approximately 7,500-square-foot restaurant is targeting a mid-to-late summer 2027 opening. Its arrival adds another higher-end dining concept to a rapidly expanding collection of restaurants, retailers and entertainment businesses transforming UTC into one of Southwest Florida’s largest commercial destinations. BrickTop’s Expands Its Florida Footprint BrickTop’s was founded in 2006 and operates upscale restaurants in several markets across the Southeast. Its menu combines traditional American steakhouse offerings with seafood, sushi, sandwiches and brunch. Existing Florida locations include Naples, Miramar Beach and the Palm Beach area, with additional expansion underway. The Sarasota restaurant will give BrickTop’s access to the growing customer base surrounding University Parkway and Interstate 75 while establishing the brand’s first location in the greater Tampa Bay region. UTC Continues Building Its Restaurant District BrickTop’s joins a growing collection of restaurants opening or planned around UTC. Recent additions include concepts such as Blu Kouzina, Yūgen and Just Salad, while additional restaurants…
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New Publix Takes Shape as North Naples Retail Center Redevelops
North Naples is getting another Publix as one of the area’s established retail centers undergoes a significant redevelopment. Construction is now underway on a new Publix Super Market at Gateway Shoppes at North Bay, located near the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Wiggins Pass Road. The project will give Publix its 23rd location in Collier County while providing a new grocery anchor for an increasingly valuable North Naples commercial corridor. Publix Anchors Gateway Shoppes Redevelopment The new Publix is part of a larger redevelopment of Gateway Shoppes by Benderson Development, one of Florida’s largest privately held commercial real estate companies. Unlike some of Publix’s recent projects that replace older stores, the North Naples location is entirely new construction. Benderson has described the project as a major redevelopment that will introduce a refreshed mix of retail and dining options to the property. Construction was visibly progressing in August, with the first portions of the new building beginning to take shape. An official opening date has not been announced. Publix typically waits until closer to completion before confirming grand-opening dates. A Strong North Naples Retail Location Gateway Shoppes sits at one of North Naples’ important commercial intersections. The center has frontage…
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Walmart Bets on Lehigh Acres Growth With New Store
One of Southwest Florida’s fastest-growing residential areas is attracting another major commercial investment. Walmart has purchased land for a new store near Lehigh Acres as part of the Blackstone commercial development along State Road 82, adding a major retail anchor to a corridor experiencing significant residential growth. The project represents a familiar development pattern playing out across Florida: retail follows rooftops. Thousands of homes are planned or under development east of Fort Myers, creating demand for grocery stores, restaurants, medical services, banks and other everyday businesses. A New Commercial Node Along SR 82 The Blackstone development is located near State Road 82 and Blackstone Drive, between Fort Myers and Lehigh Acres. Walmart is expected to become the primary retail anchor, but plans for the surrounding development have identified a much larger collection of national brands. Proposed users have included McDonald’s, Panda Express, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, 7 Brew Coffee, AutoZone, Mister Car Wash, Suncoast Credit Union and Heartland Dental, along with additional commercial space. The mix provides a strong indication of how retailers view the surrounding market. Rather than relying primarily on tourism, these businesses depend on daily traffic generated by nearby households. Their interest reflects the growing population base surrounding…
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Rays, Tampa and Hillsborough County Reach Landmark Deal for New $2.3 Billion Stadium
After decades of debate over the future of Major League Baseball in Tampa Bay, the region may finally be approaching a resolution. The Tampa Bay Rays, City of Tampa and Hillsborough County have completed definitive agreement documents for a proposed $2.3 billion stadium development in Tampa, marking one of the most significant milestones yet in the effort to relocate the franchise from St. Petersburg to Hillsborough County. The proposed stadium would rise on the Hillsborough College Dale Mabry campus, directly across from Raymond James Stadium and near George M. Steinbrenner Field and Tampa International Airport. If ultimately approved, the project would do far more than move the Rays across Tampa Bay. It could establish one of Florida’s largest concentrations of professional sports and entertainment while triggering significant redevelopment throughout the surrounding Dale Mabry and Drew Park area. For Tampa commercial real estate, the implications could be enormous. A $2.3 Billion Stadium Development The proposed project centers around a new indoor Major League Baseball stadium on Hillsborough College’s approximately 113-acre Dale Mabry campus. Earlier concepts have called for an approximately 30,000-seat ballpark designed to provide the Rays with a permanent, climate-controlled home. The overall project is currently estimated at approximately $2.3…
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Just Salad Opens at University Town Center as Sarasota-Bradenton Retail Growth Continues
University Town Center’s rapidly expanding restaurant lineup has another new addition. Just Salad has officially opened at The Market at University Town Center, bringing the New York-based fast-casual restaurant brand to one of the Sarasota-Bradenton region’s busiest retail destinations. The restaurant is located at 5231 University Parkway, Suite 113, where it serves salads, warm bowls, wraps, soups, market plates and smoothies. But the opening is about more than another place to grab lunch. Just Salad arrives during a significant wave of investment at University Town Center as new restaurants, retailers and experiential concepts continue choosing the University Parkway corridor for expansion. For commercial real estate, the activity provides another indication of UTC’s evolution from a traditional regional shopping destination into one of Southwest Florida’s largest concentrations of dining, retail and entertainment. Just Salad Expands Its Florida Footprint Founded in New York City in 2006, Just Salad has grown to more than 100 locations across several states and Washington, D.C. The company has increasingly expanded throughout Florida. In the Tampa Bay region, Just Salad already operates a South Tampa restaurant at 3810 W. Neptune Street. Additional Florida locations are planned, including a restaurant in Odessa at Preserve Marketplace and two locations…
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Pataaka Opens in Midtown Atlanta as Spring Quarter Emerges as a Dining Destination
Midtown Atlanta’s restaurant scene has another major addition as one of the city’s newest mixed-use developments continues to fill out. Pataaka, a modern Indian restaurant from Atlanta chef Anish Nair, officially opened August 22 at Spring Quarter, the mixed-use development at Spring and 10th streets in Midtown. Located at 1020 Spring Street NW on the ground floor of Sora, Spring Quarter’s luxury residential tower, Pataaka brings a chef-driven Indian concept to a development that is quickly establishing itself as one of Midtown’s newest dining destinations. For commercial real estate, however, the opening represents something larger. Pataaka joins a growing collection of restaurants at Spring Quarter at a time when the development’s retail space is now fully leased — demonstrating how restaurants and experiential retail are increasingly being used to activate major mixed-use projects. A New Take on Indian Dining in Atlanta Pataaka is led by Executive Chef and Partner Anish Nair, an Atlanta-based chef with more than 25 years of culinary experience. Nair was born in Chennai, India, and studied at IHM Chennai before beginning his career as a pastry chef. He moved to the United States in 2002 and eventually made his way to Atlanta, where his résumé has…
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Raising Cane’s Plans First Brevard County Location Near Viera
One of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the country is targeting another new Florida market. Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers has filed plans for its first Brevard County restaurant, with a proposed location near Viera and Melbourne along one of the Space Coast’s busiest commercial corridors. Plans call for the redevelopment of the former Bob Evans property at 100 Sheriff Drive, near the Interstate 95 and Wickham Road interchange. The proposed restaurant would give Raising Cane’s its first foothold in Brevard County while adding another nationally recognized restaurant brand to the rapidly growing Viera area. For commercial real estate, the project is also another example of national quick-service restaurants following population growth into Florida’s expanding suburban markets. First Raising Cane’s in Brevard County Raising Cane’s filed plans in February 2026 to develop the Brevard County restaurant. The proposed development calls for an approximately 2,683-square-foot restaurant with dual drive-thru lanes. Rather than developing an untouched parcel, the project would redevelop the former Bob Evans restaurant property. That makes the location particularly interesting from a commercial real estate perspective. Existing restaurant properties along major commercial corridors can become highly desirable redevelopment opportunities as consumer preferences and tenant demand change. A site originally developed…
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Quintal Brasil Brings Brazilian-Style Pizza to Pinellas Park’s Growing Park Boulevard Corridor
Pinellas Park’s increasingly diverse restaurant scene has another new addition. Quintal Brasil Pizza has opened at 6119 Park Boulevard, introducing an all-you-can-eat Brazilian-style pizza experience to one of central Pinellas County’s busiest commercial corridors. The restaurant opened in July and is owned by Ray and Kaline Barreto, who are quickly building a collection of Brazilian food and beverage concepts along Park Boulevard. Quintal Brasil joins two other businesses operated by the couple in the same shopping plaza — Brazilian pub Boteco Bossa Nova and Wildlife Açaí & Café. For commercial real estate, the opening represents something larger than another restaurant tenant. It demonstrates how independent operators can create their own destination through multiple complementary concepts while adding another layer of diversity to an established suburban retail corridor. Brazilian Pizza Comes to Pinellas Park Brazilian pizza differs considerably from the traditional American pizza experience. The style generally features a thinner crust, lighter application of tomato sauce and a much wider variety of toppings. Quintal Brasil’s menu combines familiar choices with pizzas that may be entirely new to many Tampa Bay diners. The Portuguesa, for example, combines ham, hard-boiled eggs, onions, bell peppers and olives. Another option, the Sertaneja, features onions, coalho…
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