Specialty grocer to open in Lakewood Ranch
By Breanne Williams
Tampa Bay Business Journal
Published: Apr 16, 2024

The Fresh Market will open its third Manatee County store in Lakewood Ranch on April 24.

The store, located at 11525 SR 70 E, will anchor The Green at Lakewood Ranch shopping center. Other tenants include LA Fitness, Pacific Counter, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Starbucks, So Fresh and BurgerFi.

The Fresh Market, based in North Carolina, will occupy a 23,500-square-foot box that was initially leased to Earth Fare and later to Winn-Dixie. Earth Fare and Winn-Dixie both faced financial issues, and their Lakewood Ranch locations closed amid dozens of other store closings.

The Green at Lakewood Ranch is owned by North American Development Group, which also owns Seminole City Center and the Brandon Mall. NADG has also struck a deal with The Fresh Market at Seminole City Center, where it will also backfill a space previously home to Earth Fare.

The Lakewood Ranch location will offer in-house barbecue featuring brisket, ribs and pork. The brisket is smoked overnight over locally sourced wood. The store will also have hot pizza and a variety of salads, an olive bar and a soup station.

There will also be a full self-service coffee station and a coffee café bar that will feature iced and hot coffees, lattes, mochas, hot tea and smoothies. The store will also include a bakery and an expanded craft beer selection.