Zach’s Corner
Zach's Commercial Realestate Corner. Features news, thoughts on Florida's Commercial Real Estate and more.
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New Walmart Planned at Morris Bridge Road: A Major Boost for East Wesley Chapel Retail Economy
Wesley Chapel, FL — As Wesley Chapel continues its rapid transformation from a quiet suburb into one of the Tampa Bay region’s most dynamic growth corridors, developers and retailers are responding to booming demand with major new projects. Among the most anticipated is a planned Walmart at the intersection of State Road 56 and Morris Bridge Road, a strategic addition that will bring enhanced shopping convenience and a commercial anchor to the community’s fast-growing east side. Meeting Retail Needs in a Growing Community Located adjacent to expanding residential developments — including the expansive Two Rivers community and several large master-planned neighborhoods — the new Walmart project is positioned to serve residents who have increasingly needed easier access to everyday essentials without long drives to established retail hubs. As Wesley Chapel’s population continues to grow, demand for accessible grocery, pharmacy, and general merchandise options has risen accordingly. The proposed Walmart is expected to feature the brand’s full retail format, offering grocery, household goods, and general merchandise under one roof. Beyond the store itself, the project is anticipated to anchor a larger commercial site that could include additional retail, dining, and service businesses, further solidifying the Morris Bridge Road / SR 56…
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Rocky Sniffing Out the Condo Market: A Dog’s-Eye View of 2026
Woof! Rocky here — back for my second installment of Rocky on Real Estate, sniffing out trends in housing and the world at large. If you’re wondering what a dog thinks about the national condominium market, let me tell you: there’s a whole lot more to sniff than just fire hydrants in front of tall buildings. The Lay of the Land (and the Scent of Change) Something smells different in 2026 — and it’s not just my human’s shoes. Across the country, there are more condos for sale than this time last year, and even a dog can tell when inventory is rising. Nationally, condominium inventory is up roughly 20% year-over-year, giving buyers more options and — thankfully — less frantic barking over bidding wars. More listings mean less pressure, more time to sniff around, and better negotiating power for buyers. That shift is backed up by a January 2026 front-page story from The Wall Street Journal, which bluntly declared: “Condo Owners Face Worst Market Since 2012.” According to the Journal, demand for second-home condos has cooled noticeably, and prices fell 1.9% year-over-year during September and October 2025. That kind of number definitely gets a dog’s attention. Index shown for…
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New Housing Development Momentum in Apollo Beach — Luxury Waterfront, Master-Planned Communities, and New Home Growth
Apollo Beach, Florida — one of the Tampa Bay region’s most desirable coastal communities — is experiencing a notable wave of new residential housing development. Activity spans boutique luxury waterfront estates, expanding master-planned communities, and a growing pipeline of new-construction homes. This housing momentum reflects sustained demand for quality living near Tampa Bay’s waterfront, convenient access to regional employment centers, and a steadily expanding base of local amenities. Hammock Bay Offering 47 Luxury Homes with Waterfront Access Hammock Bay: Luxury Waterfront Community Taking Shape One of the most anticipated residential projects in the area is Hammock Bay, a luxury waterfront community currently under development along the scenic Tampa Bay shoreline in Apollo Beach. Situated on approximately 16 acres of prime coastal land, Hammock Bay will feature just 47 expansive homesites, each offering private boat access and direct waterway exposure — a rare opportunity for true waterfront living in the region. Homesites at Hammock Bay are priced starting in the $600,000s, with completed home-and-lot packages reaching into the multi-million-dollar range. Planned residences range from approximately 3,500 to more than 7,500 square feet, blending custom and pre-designed floorplans. A gated entry, modern architectural styling, and premium coastal finishes position the community for…
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Walmart Signals Continued Confidence in Florida With Four New Store Openings in Early 2026
When Walmart commits capital to new ground-up locations, the move is rarely speculative. It’s data-driven, demographic-led, and almost always aligned with long-term population and spending trends. That’s why Walmart’s plan to open four new stores across Florida in early 2026, including a highly anticipated Apollo Beach location, is worth paying attention to—especially from a commercial real estate perspective. These locations are not random dots on a map. They sit squarely within growth corridors where rooftops, traffic counts, and household formation continue to accelerate. The Four Florida Locations Coming Online Apollo Beach – Hillsborough County The Apollo Beach store anchors Walmart’s early-2026 Florida rollout and reinforces what many in the industry already recognize: South Hillsborough County remains one of the most compelling growth markets in the Tampa Bay region. With continued residential development and expanding infrastructure along U.S. 41 and nearby arterials, this location is positioned to serve both established neighborhoods and new communities coming online. From a retail standpoint, Apollo Beach represents daily-needs retail at scale, with strong implications for nearby pad sites, service retail, and complementary tenants. Ocala – Marion County Walmart’s Ocala opening aligns with steady in-migration and affordability-driven growth in Central Florida. As Ocala continues to absorb…
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Tampa Ranks #2 Among Top U.S. Retail Markets in 2025 — What It Means for Florida CRE
Why Population Growth, Tight Supply, and Investor Demand Are Powering Tampa’s Retail Momentum What It Means for Florida Commercial Real Estate As 2025 comes to a close, Tampa has another milestone to add to its growing list of national accolades. The Tampa Bay metro ranked No. 2 among the top U.S. retail markets for 2025, according to CoStar Group, trailing only Charlotte. For Florida’s commercial real estate community, this ranking isn’t just a headline—it’s a data-backed confirmation of what brokers, developers, and investors have been seeing on the ground for several years: Tampa’s retail fundamentals are strong, balanced, and increasingly resilient in a shifting national market. Strong Retail Fundamentals Drive Tampa’s Ranking CoStar’s 2025 retail league table evaluated 43 U.S. markets with at least 100 million square feet of retail inventory, measuring performance across five core indicators: Percent of inventory leased Availability rate Market rent growth Sales volume change Total investment return Tampa didn’t dominate a single category outright—but it performed consistently well across all five, a key reason it earned the runner-up position nationally. Low vacancy, steady rent growth, and attractive total returns created a picture of balance rather than volatility—an increasingly valuable trait in today’s CRE landscape. Why…
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Rocky on Real Estate and World Affairs… 🐾
Hello, humans and hoomans-in-training!Rocky here — a Florida pup with a keen nose for all things real estate. Over the past three years, I’ve chased plenty of bunnies, greeted more neighbors than I can count, and — believe it or not — kept a close eye on how the Florida real estate market has changed. With the Oracle of Omaha stepping away from the airwaves, I figured there might be room for one good nose in real estate commentary. Despite my very full schedule (see above), I’ll be making time each month to share a few observations and “heads-ups” on things I think are worth considering. Looking Ahead to 2026 As we move toward 2026, it seems pretty clear to me that Florida real estate — and the South as a whole — remains a strong long-term investment and growth strategy. I recently sniffed out a few insights from TVG Strategy that do a great job reviewing the past five years while looking ahead to what’s next. One point really stood out: “Florida has transformed into one of the most closely watched commercial real estate markets in the nation.” I couldn’t agree more. Why Florida Keeps Winning (From a Dog’s…
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RaceTrac’s Potbelly Acquisition: A New Growth Strategy in Foodservice and Commercial Real Estate
RaceTrac’s acquisition of Potbelly Sandwich Shop — finalized in late 2025 — is shaping up to be one of the most strategically significant foodservice moves in the convenience-store sector in years. The $566 million all-cash transaction signals a deliberate shift by RaceTrac toward branded, higher-margin foodservice, with ripple effects across retail traffic patterns, site selection, franchising strategy, and commercial real estate (CRE) nationwide. RaceTrac + Potbelly: What’s Happening In September 2025, RaceTrac agreed to acquire Potbelly, a fast-casual restaurant brand with 445+ locations across 32 states, purchasing the company for approximately $17.12 per share and closing the deal within the same quarter. The move brought Potbelly under the umbrella of a privately held convenience-store operator known for disciplined real-estate development and high-volume locations. Since the acquisition, Potbelly leadership has emphasized that the brand’s long-term growth vision remains intact. Expansion plans targeting up to 2,000 units nationally have not changed, and RaceTrac has made clear that it intends to support — not dilute — Potbelly’s brand identity or organic growth strategy. According to Potbelly executives, including SVP of franchising and development Jennifer Durham, RaceTrac does not plan to place Potbelly in every convenience-store location. Instead, selective co-development opportunities may emerge in…
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Nonno Umberto Seafood & Steakhouse Reopens in Sarasota After Hurricane Damage
SARASOTA, FL — A beloved Sarasota Italian restaurant is officially back in business after rebuilding from devastating storm damage, marking a feel-good local comeback with broader implications for restaurants, tourism, and commercial corridors across Southwest Florida. Nonno Umberto Seafood & Steakhouse — formerly known as Le Colonne — reopens in St. Armands Circle this Monday at 5 p.m., nearly a year after severe flooding from Hurricane Helene forced its closure. Owner Simone Salustri led a comprehensive rebuild of the restaurant’s foundation, floors, plumbing, and electrical systems, welcoming guests back just in time for the new year. A Resilient Comeback Story The road to reopening was anything but easy. After floodwaters destroyed much of the restaurant, Salustri pivoted to a food truck to generate funds for reconstruction. Over roughly eight months, the truck logged nearly 20,000 miles and generated approximately $200,000 in revenue, all reinvested directly into rebuilding the permanent restaurant. The restaurant’s new name, Nonno Umberto, honors Salustri’s father and reflects the family’s Italian heritage and culinary roots. With more than 25 years of experience cooking Italian cuisine, Salustri aims to continue serving longtime locals and visitors for years to come. Why This Reopening Matters Locally Positive Impact on Local…
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SteeleHarbour Capital Secures Key Financing for Downtown Sarasota Site — A Signal the Urban Core Still Has Momentum
Downtown Sarasota continues to prove its resilience as a high-confidence urban market, even amid tighter capital conditions nationwide. This week, SteeleHarbour Capital Partners secured a $20.5 million construction loan from Bank OZK, positioning the firm to move forward with pre-development on a prominent downtown site at 1520 Ringling Boulevard — a location just steps from Main Street and the city’s most active commercial and cultural corridors. The financing was arranged by Berkadia, a national commercial mortgage banking firm, and represents a meaningful vote of confidence in Sarasota’s long-term fundamentals. Why This Site Matters The roughly 3.3-acre parcel sits within one of Sarasota’s most strategic downtown pockets — close enough to Main Street to benefit from foot traffic and lifestyle demand, while still offering the scale developers need for meaningful mixed-use density. Importantly, the site benefits from as-of-right zoning, giving SteeleHarbour flexibility to respond to market conditions without lengthy entitlement risk. That alone makes the property notable in a downtown environment where entitlement complexity often slows projects before they begin. While final plans have not yet been publicly disclosed, the project — internally referred to as Fifteen20 — is expected to be positioned as a high-end mixed-use or residential development, consistent…
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Sarasota Memorial Breaks Ground on New North Port Hospital, Poised to Open in 2028
Sarasota Memorial Health Care System (SMH) has officially broken ground on a major new full-service hospital in North Port, Florida — a transformative project expected to be completed in late 2028 that will significantly enhance healthcare access while accelerating long-term real estate and economic development across southern Sarasota County. The new facility will be the first acute-care hospital located within the City of North Port, marking a major milestone for one of Southwest Florida’s fastest-growing communities. Designed as a modern, scalable medical campus, the hospital will deliver emergency care, surgical services, specialty medicine, diagnostics, and outpatient services closer to where residents live and work. The actual proposed site plan stages from SMH – From SMH A Major Healthcare Investment in North Port The Sarasota Memorial Hospital–North Port campus represents a $507 million investment in healthcare infrastructure and local economic growth. The project is situated on a 32-acre site along North Sumter Boulevard near the I-75 interchange, positioning it at the heart of one of the region’s most active growth corridors. Key Project Highlights Nine-story acute-care hospital 100 patient beds at opening, with capacity to expand to 208 beds Three-story medical office building adjacent to the hospital Campus design capable of…
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