EUSTIS — Developers are planning to build a new shopping plaza that will bring the bakery-café chain Panera Bread and the discount supermarket Aldi to Eustis.
The new five-building shopping center is set to begin construction in August near Spring Harbor Boulevard and U.S. Highway 441 across the street from the Wal-Mart and Target, said Steven Alafazanos, a vice president for Win Development, a national developer.
He said the plaza will include at least seven businesses including Panera Bread, Aldi, Tijuana Flats, Pacific Dental, Mattress Firm and Vitamin Shoppe.
“It will probably be completed around Christmas time, so everyone should be up and running by February or March,” he said.
Win is in the process of getting final permits from the city to begin construction and said he is excited to see the project come to life. He said there are still a few vacancies in the center that could be filled soon.
“We’re excited to start building and get things going,” he said.
Eustis officials share the same excitement and hopes residents will enjoy the new restaurants and stores.
“Many of these businesses are unique to the area and will offer our residents some great shopping and dining options,” said Tom Carrino, Eustis director of economic development. “The City worked closely with the developers during the site planning process to design a retail plaza that was both sensitive to the lakefront property and attractive to end-users. We look forward to final engineering approval and building construction.”
Panera also has three other locations locally, 2260 E. State Road 50 in Clermont and in The Villages at Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter Landing.
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