Highly anticipated development announces first retail tenants

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Master-planned community Lakewood Ranch announced the first retail tenants for its 36-acre Waterside Place development under construction in Sarasota County.

According to a press release, the first tenants will be Foundation Coffee Co., The Yoga Shack, SoFresh and Kilwins.

Foundation Coffee Co. is a specialty coffee shop that will have a bodega-style buildout with a walk-up bar and outdoor seating near a pedestrian bridge. The Yoga Shack is a 1,600-square-foot studio that will have water views from its second-story space. SoFresh is a fast-casual restaurant serving made-to-order bowls, salads and wraps. Kilwins offers sweet treats, including chocolates and handmade ice cream.

Waterside Place is expected to debut in 2020, the release states. It will include 120,000 square feet of commercial, retail and office space, as well as dining options, a park and nature trails. More than 800 apartments and townhomes will be built within Waterside Place, and over 4,000 homes will be connected via trails and water taxis.

Waterside Place will also be home to The Players Centre for the Performing Arts. The local theater company is moving from downtown Sarasota to a new 70,000 square-foot performing arts center in the development, according to the statement. 

“Waterside Place will be an exceptional regional destination that will draw residents and visitors to shop, dine, relax and experience state-of-the-art entertainment, all while being surrounded by stunning lakefront views,” says LWR Commercial President Kirk Boylston in the release. “We have spent nearly two years planning and designing this town center to ensure it will be a vibrant and dynamic contribution to our community’s lifestyle.”

Waterside Place will be central to Waterside, Lakewood Ranch’s newest village. When complete, Waterside will have more than 5,000 homes in up to 12 neighborhoods.

Boylston says boutiques, specialty and experiential retail shops, restaurants, spas and neighborhood-oriented professional services are among the businesses being selected to join Waterside Place.

“We will continue to be thoughtful and highly selective as we add additional retailers to Waterside Place,” Boylston says. “We look forward to working with tenants that are best in class in their category or that offer a unique but proven concept.”

Lakewood Ranch was founded in 1994. It spans more than 31,000 acres in Sarasota and Manatee counties and includes more than 36,000 residents in over 20 villages.