In a significant move for the Tampa Bay industrial market, Plant City officials have unanimously approved the development of a massive 3.4 million-square-foot industrial complex. The Stalwart Business Park, set to span approximately 410 acres, will be built along Paul Buchman Highway between Half Mile Road and Knights Griffin Road, adjacent to an active CSX rail line.

According to developer Stalwart Equities, the business park will feature nine buildings upon completion and is designed to accommodate a wide array of tenants, including those needing specialized infrastructure. The site benefits from access to natural gas, electrical utilities, and water capacity, enabling features like a 150-megawatt data center and cold storage capabilities with dedicated rail service.

Stalwart says it is already in negotiations with at least one prospective tenant for a 400,000-square-foot space. A company spokesperson confirmed that construction is projected to begin this October, with completion slated for mid-2027. The project’s cost remains undisclosed, with the spokesperson calling the figure “proprietary.”

Founded in 2016, Brooklyn-based Stalwart Equities has built a $700 million portfolio, with a focus on infill locations near ports and densely populated areas.

Southwest Florida Retail Center Fully Leased Ahead of Opening

Naples’ Winchester Center, a new 60,000-square-foot retail development at Immokalee Road and Orange Tree Boulevard, has reached full occupancy ahead of its anticipated opening later this year. The final two tenants to sign leases are That NY Bagel Place and Family Foot and Leg Center, according to project developer Barron Collier Cos., which is developing the site with Metro Commercial Development Group.

These latest additions join a tenant lineup that includes anchor Sunshine Ace Hardware, which occupies 22,650 square feet, as well as Little Caesars Pizza, Anytime Fitness, Heartland Dental, Luxury Nails, Cold Stone Creamery, Orangetree Hibachi & Sushi, and Marutos Cuban Café and Bakery.

Additional plans for the development include a three-story, temperature-controlled self-storage facility and a two-story NCH Immediate Care and Physician Offices. The Healthcare Network of Southwest Florida has also secured $1.75 million in state funding to build a 19,967-square-foot facility offering “pediatric, adult and senior care, obstetrics and gynecology services, dental care and other service as well as a drive thru pharmacy for underserved communities,” according to Barron Collier.

Foot Locker’s St. Pete HQ Move Uncertain Amid Pending Acquisition

Foot Locker’s planned relocation of its global headquarters to St. Petersburg faces new uncertainty after Dick’s Sporting Goods announced a $2.4 billion deal to acquire the company. The acquisition, pending shareholder and regulatory approval, is expected to close in the second half of 2025.

While Foot Locker had signed a lease earlier this year for a 110,998-square-foot space in Carillon Business Park at 570 Carillon, neither the company nor its landlord, The Feil Organization, has commented on the status of the move. The location is just off Roosevelt Boulevard, near Interstate 275.

Foot Locker announced the St. Petersburg move in August, three years after the city and Pinellas County committed nearly $500,000 in incentives to attract the company. Despite the acquisition, Dick’s said in a statement that it plans to operate Foot Locker as a standalone business.

Lakewood Ranch Building to House McLeod Land Services HQ

McLeod Land Services has purchased a Lakewood Ranch office building for $3.42 million and plans to relocate its headquarters there. Located at 7349 Merchant Court, the building previously sold for $4.65 million in 2023 and underwent significant renovations that year.

According to the American Property Group of Sarasota, which brokered the sale, the facility includes “dozens of private offices,” a kitchen/breakroom, training spaces, a large server room, and 58 parking spaces. The second floor is air-conditioned and reserved for storage.

Founded in 1991, Sarasota-based McLeod specializes in site development and employs more than 190 people. Its current office is at 7405 28th Street Court East. The company has not specified whether it will maintain operations there following the headquarters move. Adam Doak of American Property Group handled the transaction.

New Wellness Center to Open in Sarasota’s Fruitville Commons

Neuage Health & Wellness, a physician-led wellness chain, is expanding into Florida with a new location in Sarasota. The company has leased a 1,506-square-foot space in the Fruitville Commons shopping center, previously home to a chiropractor’s office.

The new site, Neuage’s sixth location, joins existing facilities in Missouri, Alabama, and Kansas. The company has further expansion plans across the Midwest and Southeast, according to commercial real estate firm ERES Co., which brokered the deal.

“Neuage signed a lease for the space earlier this month,” said ERES’ Chris DiBitetto, who represented the tenant. Fruitville Commons is a mixed-use development located near I-75 and already features tenants such as F45 Training, Dunkin’, and Venus Med Spa.

Bonita Springs Office Building Sells for $1.38M

The Barkley Healthcare Group has acquired a one-story office property in Bonita Springs for $1.38 million. The building, located at 3376 Woods Edge Circle, spans 5,846 square feet and was built in 2001, according to a LoopNet listing.

The seller was a joint ownership entity between Leone Holdings and Haidar Inc. Barkley, which specializes in neuropathy treatment and has an existing office in Fort Myers, is expected to use the new property for medical operations. Premier Commercial's Matt Stepan and W.T. Pearson negotiated the deal.

Originally reported by Louis Llovio in Business Observer.