St. Johns County Retail Boom: New Big Box Stores on the Horizon!
In St. Johns County, Fla., it seems like the retail scene is all set for a major upgrade! The area around World Golf Village is buzzing with excitement as big box stores are popping up at every turn. It’s like the county is *rolling out the red carpet* for major retailers, and the latest possibility on the block is a shiny new Walmart Supercenter.
A New Walmart on the Way?
Walmart has officially submitted an application to put a Supercenter at 3405 International Golf Parkway, which places it just about two miles west of the popular Buc-ee’s and Costco stop right off I-95. This news is creating quite the buzz, and folks are wondering if this retail giant will make its grand entrance soon.
Bursts of New Retail Excitement
Not too long ago, the grand opening of Bass Pro Shops took the county by storm, becoming a new hot spot for outdoor enthusiasts. Just think, a full-fledged warehouse filled with everything from fishing gear to camping equipment! It opened its doors after beginning construction earlier this year, adding more retail variety to the already rich offerings.
What About Those Empty Spaces?
In contrast, there’s a part of the World Golf Village complex that’s still looking a bit lonely. That large commercial area near the intersection of the interstate and International Golf Parkway is largely unoccupied. Notably, the county-owned IMAX theater hasn’t seen any movie magic in quite some time.
Sun-Ray Cinema to the Rescue!
But wait! There’s hope on the horizon! The owners of Sun-Ray Cinema, who previously captivated audiences in Five Points, Jacksonville, are eyeing that dormant IMAX theater as their next project. According to Shana David-Massett, the owner, this gigantic screen presents an exciting opportunity: “It’s the biggest screen we could possibly get! Man we can do things with that screen that we’d like to show people,” she told local sources.
Proposals and Challenges
David-Massett is submitting her application to St. Johns County, but there’s one hiccup she’s hoping to address. The county’s current contract is only for one year, which she argues isn’t practical. She exclaimed, “The idea of investing all of our energy and putting our brand on this building in order to have it only for a year contract is just not realistic for us.” Now that’s a valid point! Who wants a one-year contract when you can build something lasting?
What Lies Ahead?
With the retail boom thriving and new applications being sent in, it seems St. Johns County is gearing up for a vibrant future filled with shopping options. Residents are anxiously watching to see whether this new Walmart and Sun-Ray Cinema project will take off. With many shopping alternatives and more entertainment options in the pipeline, life in this corner of Florida promises to get even more exciting!
Stay tuned as St. Johns County embarks on this journey towards becoming a *retail wonderland*! Who knows what could be coming next? One thing’s for sure, shoppers may want to hold onto their wallets—there’s no stopping this retail train!
