Center Point at Waterside is fully leased

Center Point at Waterside has found its perfect mix of local and national tenants. 

The 50-acre mixed-use plaza that sits in the southeast corner of University Parkway and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard started construction in 2019 with a 77,000-square-foot medical building. 

Now, six years later, the last outparcel is open for business, and the final commercial space has been leased.

Casto Southeast Realty is the developer of Center Point. The company has a good reputation and countless connections through past projects. It’s not always easy to secure a space in one of their developments. 

Joe Douglas made a deal with Casto to purchase the 1.63-acre parcel on the corner of University Parkway and Business Boulevard to bring his upscale steak and seafood restaurant, 131 Main, to Lakewood Ranch. 

Douglas said the deal was made locally, but President Brett Hutchens visited his Charlotte restaurant to try the food first, then accept the check. Hutchens, his wife Fabienne and their dog dined on the patio.

“It wasn’t just (writing) a check, it was a check and an interview,” Douglas said. “Fortunately, it went our way.” 

The restaurant opened at Center Point in April. The other four locations are in North Carolina. 

Center Point appealed to Douglas because he’s also a real estate developer. Most of the businesses lease, but Casto allowed Douglas to buy his parcel. He likes to build from the ground up. 

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

Now open, 131 Main completes the row of freestanding buildings that front University Parkway. Ruth’s Chris Steak House anchors the opposite corner on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard. In between are 7 Eleven, McDonald’s, Bar Italia, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, a bank and a dentist's office. 

Hutchens said it takes balance to fill a plaza. Tenants need to complement one another, not compete. 

In January, there was one space left to lease within the inner strip of businesses, and there were plenty of options. In the end, Casto chose to offer visitors something sweet.

The Milkshake Factory will fill that final spot with milkshakes and chocolates. The concept was launched by fourth-generation chocolatiers. The family business started expanding in 2023 through franchising.

The Milkshake Factory is now in 15 states with 22 stores open and over a dozen in the works. 

Bradenton residents Renee and Brent Schadenberg are the local franchise owners. They’re opening another Milkshake Factory at 7230 Manatee Avenue West. The couple’s territory spans from Bradenton to Fort Myers. 

Opening dates are not scheduled for either location as of yet. 

Flower Child

The latest and last restaurant to open in Center Point is Flower Child, a fast-casual, health-conscious restaurant. 

“This is the first store in Florida for Flower Child, which a lot of people in our business can’t believe,” Hutchens said. “Mostly, those concepts try Miami first and then grow elsewhere.”

Dave Luz, vice president of operations for Flower Child, said the brand thrives in communities that align with the company’s values — wellness, quality of life and a strong sense of community. 

“We know that Lakewood Ranch is one of the fastest-growing communities in the state, with a highly engaged, health-conscious population — our ideal guest,” Luz said. “So, that means we don't always enter a market with the obvious choice if we have an opportunity with a market like Lakewood Ranch.”

Casto made a point to include several wellness options at Center Point. Chamberlin’s is an all natural grocery store. The Thrivery is a juicery and cafe focused on nutrition. There’s also a pilates studio and med spa.

Photo by Lesley Dwyer

The Lakewood Ranch location is No. 41 for Flower Child, which was created by Sam Fox of Fox Restaurant Concepts before the restaurant group was bought by the Cheesecake Factory in 2019. 

Hutchens thought Flower Child was “phenomenal” long before the lease was signed, so he was the one who wanted to be picked that time. UTC had also been trying to coax Flower Child into the Florida market.

Lucky for Hutchens, he knows the realtor for the Cheesecake Factory. Luz credits Hutchens for being the “catalyst” for bringing the brand to Lakewood Ranch. 

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Brett and Casto,” Luz said. “Their passion for creating a curated, community-driven dining and retail experience was clear from day one.”

Luz added that Lakewood Ranch “checked all the boxes for an impactful debut in the state.”