Getting ready for growth: Main Street choosy about new tenants

As 2016 begins and population continues to rise in the East County area, Lakewood Ranch Main Street is close to hanging a “No Vacancy” sign when it comes to retail.

Amanda Zipperer, the Lakewood Main Street property manager, said she will be selective when it comes to filling the one remaining retail space.

Zipperer said the current balance of Main Street is excellent with 14 restaurants, 21 offices and 31 retail stores. That balance did not happen by accident.

“A lot of people use the word ‘eclectic’ to describe it,” she said. “There are no duplicates. They’re all different.”

Schroeder-Manatee Ranch is selective about granting a lease in the 157,822-square-foot commercial center. A new applicant can’t be wanting to open something similar to a business already established.

“We want added value,” Zipperer said. “With a smaller street, we’ve been specific.”

New businesses Li’l Nancy’s at the Ranch and Craft Growlers to Go and Tasting Room are both set to open early in January. Then it would appear that 2016 will have just one remaining retail surprise along a street that hosted 59 events in 2015.

Of course, things can change.

“With any center, you have people come and go,” Zipperer said.

With the expected growth in the area, prospective businesses are likely to form a line in case someone leaves.

“What makes it Main Street is the outdoor venue— it’s a no-brainer,” Zipperer said.

That venue was the scene of fundraisers that raised $750,000 for charities in 2015.

All those events did cause concern among some business owners, who felt closing off streets negatively impacted their businesses and that they caused too much competition between the brick-and-mortar shops and vendors who set up tents.

Don Baugh, co-owner of Vanessa’s Fine Jewelry, is Main Street’s longest tenant, having been on the street for 10 years. He said events that close down the street can make doing business a little more difficult, especially when those events happen throughout the week.

“But, they’re for charity, so we work with them,” he said.

Some businesses, such as Main Street Trattoria, have eliminated competition with event street vendors by setting up a booth at the events. The trattoria sets up a table on the street outside the restaurant and sells pizza by the slice.

“Some events are more beneficial than others,” Zipperer said. “But, they bring visibility.”

Zipperer said some of the most successful events hosted by Main Street are the ones that residents can count on. Music on Main is the first Friday of the month.

Don Whitson, owner of Katy Rose Olive Oils, has been on the street for almost seven years. Music on Main nights are one of his best business nights of the month. Other events don’t help him out as much, such as ones focused on children or young families.

“But they help other businesses, and that’s OK,” he said.