New projects light the spark of redevelopment in long-neglected area of Pinellas County
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Jan 21, 2022

Two new projects along 66th Street N in Pinellas County are setting the stage for a wave of redevelopment in the area.

For years much has remained stagnant near the collection of shopping plazas and subdivisions clustered at the edge of Kenneth City and Lealman. Two projects announced within weeks of one another start a transformation that could lead to a spark of new economic development in the corridor.

Sprouts Farmers Market and At Home

Jeff Fuqua, founder of Atlanta-based Fuqua Development, told the Tampa Bay Busines Journal in December that Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. and At Home will anchor a retail plaza at 4501 66th St. N, which used to be the last remaining Kmart in Tampa Bay.

Fuqua Development purchased the approximately 10.9-acre property for $6 million and specializes in creating “non-prototypical shopping centers,” according to its website. The site includes a large parking lot and a 120,620-square-foot supermarket.

Construction is expected to begin in the next few months, and a portion of the redevelopment could open by the end of the year. The majority of the former Kmart building will be retained, but a small portion will be demolished to accommodate Sprouts, which is taking up around 24,000 square feet. At Home will be 88,000 square feet.

The site plan indicates two outparcels will be built along 66th Street N and that the developer will add a traffic signal near the entrance.

Catapult Adventure Park

Catapult Adventure Park — an indoor amusement park — recently signed a 10-year lease at 4460 66th St. N, according to Foundry Commercial.

The park, which has rock walls, inflatable attractions, slides and more, will be filing a 30,000-square-foot building adjacent to Harbor Freight. The company is heavily renovating the space, including redoing the electrical and flooring. They expect to open in the second quarter of 2022.

Catapult offers activities for children and adults and specializes in group events. This will be Catapult’s biggest location in Florida. The company currently has locations in the Pacific Northwest, Puerto Rico and Tarpon Springs.

This development lies directly across the street from the upcoming Sprouts and At Home.

“There’s a lot of competition right now with similar concepts trying to get these big-box spaces,” Jennifer Jones, senior associate broker with Foundry, told the Tampa Bay Business Journal. “The demographics are so strong in this area, and I think with the addition of Catapult and Sprouts, and At Home across the street, you are going to see a lot of movement and focus here.”