2023 OUTLOOK

Waterside Place, the latest destination hotspot in Lakewood Ranch, was first imagined a little over six years ago. Executives from Schroeder-Manatee Ranch (SMR), the parent company of Lakewood Ranch, envisioned a lively town center for their newest community, Waterside. They conceived the space as an inviting mix of retail, dining and experiences that would not only serve locals but also act as a regional attraction, drawing visitors from Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, St. Petersburg and beyond. “Our goal was to create a space that was activated throughout the day,” says Kirk Boylston, president of Lakewood Ranch Commercial. “We wanted to create a destination where people could play all day, visiting restaurants and shops, or just hanging out.”

Today, that vision has been realized. Waterside Place is a vibrant town center, surrounded by 866 apartments and townhomes and by the larger Waterside community, which will consist of more than 5,000 single and multi-family homes, once built out. The town center’s thoughtful design offers wide sidewalks, plentiful parking, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a comprehensive sound system, all conceived with an eye to hosting a rich schedule of events that encourage visitors to stay, work and play.

The complex is filled with a variety of office spaces as well as 1,250- to 2,000-square-foot retail spaces, all of which have been leased. “Our goal was to encourage everyone to walk throughout the entire project and discover the wide variety of retail offerings” says Boylston. Current and forthcoming businesses include the upscale women’s boutique Monkee’s, M/I Homes; Marmalade Waterside Boutique; John Cannon Homes Design Center, Integrity Sound, Capstan Financial, Shore Rejuvenation Day Spa, Modish Salon, The Yoga Shack, and Man Cave for Men.

Nor will visitors go hungry. Construction is underway on numerous specialty restaurants, from O&A Coffee Supply and Forked at Waterside to CROP Juice, Kilwins, Duck Donuts, KORÊ Steakhouse, and Tim’s Wine Market. Commitments have also been secured for four free-standing waterside restaurants: Osteria 500, an Italian eatery and sister establishment to Sarasota’s Napule; Good Liquid Brewing Company (already operational); Mexican American restaurant and tequilero Agave Bandido, and the 7500-square-foot Deep Lagoon Seafood and Oyster House.

“We wanted to populate Waterside Place with local and regional operators, so we identified the best tenants in the market and we got to work securing their business,” says Boylston. “We’re delighted with the results; we feel we have the perfect mix of tenants, with no overlap.”

Programming plans for Waterside Place have been equally robust. A Sunday morning Farmers’ Market is already thriving, attracting some 9,000 attendees per week. Visitors can enjoy a weekly summer movie series and live music at the Plaza on Friday and Saturday evenings. And by the end of 2022, a custom-built water taxi will ferry residents and visitors to Waterside Place from the six communities surrounding the mile-long and half-mile wide Kingfisher Lake.

Public response has been overwhelmingly positive. “We haven’t had any bad feedback, which is remarkable,” Boylston says. “The restaurants that have already opened are enjoying terrific business and we only expect numbers to increase as more businesses open. We’re extremely excited about Waterside Place’s potential and as more venues open and events are added, it’s only going to get better.”

To learn more about Waterside Place and find a current calendar of events, visit watersideplace.com.

-Ashlyn

WELCOME TO THE CENTER OF IT ALL

WELCOME TO THE CENTER OF IT ALL