Fresh Market “type” Grocer targets Lake Nona

Source: Orlando Business Journal

Lake Nona residents might be closer to catching a highly anticipated specialty supermarket, because of a South Florida retail developer.

Palm Beach Gardens-based Blackfin Partners wants to add more retail space to its plans for a new shopping center on the west side of Narcoossee Road just south of Lake Nona High School. The reason: interested users in that center now include a possible niche grocer, according to President Nathan Landers.

Landers declined to name the specialty grocer he’s working with, but concepts like Whole Foods Market, The Fresh Market, Sprouts Farmers Market, Earth Fare and Lucky’s Market are looking to plant their flags in Central Florida. Incidentally, Fletcher, N.C.-based Earth Fare has been hunting for Orlando-area spaces averaging about 22,000 square feet, but Landers said he couldn’t share any specifics on his potential deal.

Meanwhile, Blackfin Partners also is in talks with a pharmacy, a fast-food restaurant and additional retail users for the estimated $10 million shopping center, dubbed Shoppes at Tyson Place.

“The market is obviously a higher-income, higher-educated consumer base and as far as I can see, the closest type of specialty grocery is 10 miles away,” Landers told Orlando Business Journal. “It’s a natural fit for the market, and it’s a home run for everyone because this is really what the residents are looking for.”