What’s in store for former Winn Dixie site?

EAST COUNTY — A Walmart Neighborhood Market could be in store for the southeast corner of Lockwood Ridge Road and State Road 70. A lone bulldozer has begun steadily breaking the pavement of an abandoned parking lot. 

The site, formerly home to a Winn Dixie grocery store, is on its way to revitalization. 

Developer Gryboski Howe & Gravley has submitted preliminary site plans for the 23-acre property that include three retail structures, ranging from 37,338 square feet to 43,190 square feet, plus the addition of five smaller buildings, ranging from 4,330 square feet to 9,463 square feet, for a total of 156,896 square feet of retail.

“We’re taking up all the asphalt as we speak,” said Dan Howell, manager of GH&G. “The (Winn Dixie) building is coming down, which will make everybody very happy. There are certain tenants that are already moving forward, and there are some we are negotiating with still. We have high-quality tenants for this.”

Forristall  Demolition will begin demolition of the old Winn Dixie building as soon as permits from Manatee County are finalized, possibly by April 16. 

The preliminary site plan for the future West Lake Plaza shows a Walmart Neighborhood Market, a Wal-Mart brand grocery store that offers fresh produce and other Publix-like offerings. 

Wal-Mart Stores East LP filed a final site plan for the project April 8, and Manatee County staff has started reviewing the application.

In November, Pennsylvania-based convenience store chain WaWa filed plans for its fifth location — indicating it will occupy a 6,128-foot structure and 7,898-square-foot canopy for gas pumps in the northwestern corner of the plaza, as well. 

Howell said GH&G does not have any specific tenants in mind for the parcels within the project, although a site for a car wash is under contract.

“Our goal is to get it done as quickly as we can, but it’s not uncommon for outparcels to sit until there’s a user available,” Howell said.

The project sits across Lockwood Ridge from Benderson Development’s Lockwood Commons plaza, anchored by a Publix Supermarket and other tenants. Discount grocery Aldi also has submitted site plans for a 17,018-square-foot store immediately north of the site, at 4505 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton.

“I can tell you that I believe the vast majority of homeowners are delighted to see this abandoned and neglected corner being developed,” said Debby Landes, president of the Cascades of Sarasota’s homeowners association. “As to whether the area needs a Walmart Neighborhood Market, I leave that to the economists. My hope is that the developer will put the same degree of care into landscaping his project as the Benderson people have done in the Publix complex.”

GH&G purchased the 26-acre property at 5503 45th St. E., and 4502, 4512 and 4536 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton for $6.5 million in January from Space Coast Credit Union. The site consists of 23 developable acres and three acres for retention ponds.

 It previously sold in January 2014 for $5.11 million.