A new neighborhood shopping center proposed for St. Cloud is poised to bring in a big-name grocery anchor and a cluster of convenience-focused tenants, according to reporting. The roughly 50,966-square-foot project is expected to include dedicated space for online pickup and delivery, a standalone liquor store, and a gas station, with Publix and Winn-Dixie identified as likely anchors.
As reported by the Orlando Business Journal, the development proposal outlines the center’s size and its tentative tenant mix. Reporter Riley Benson notes that the plan splits the site into multiple outparcels and tenant bays designed to accommodate both traditional walk-in shoppers and curbside pickup customers.
What the plans show
The proposal maps out a mid-sized retail hub, more neighborhood center than regional mall, anchored by a large grocery store and flanked by several smaller shop spaces. The layout makes room for a fuel canopy and a freestanding liquor store, while also reserving space for staging online orders and handling drive-up pickup. Taken together, the plans are geared toward everyday shopping runs rather than destination-style retail.
Why St. Cloud?
Developers have been targeting St. Cloud as the city fills in with new housing and public infrastructure, creating steady demand for groceries and basic services. WESH reported in 2024 that the city opened a new fire station to keep pace with rapid population growth, and ClickOrlando recently covered plans for a K-8 school inside a new subdivision, a project that has already raised traffic questions. Together, those moves signal the kind of residential expansion that helps explain why grocery chains are studying the area now.
Retail corridor and traffic counts
Broker materials for the broader corridor underline why east-side sites are catching retailers’ eyes. A PropertyShark listing for nearby Narcoossee Crossings highlights frontage on South Narcoossee Road, which sees more than 37,500 vehicles per day and sits only minutes from master-planned communities such as Sunbridge. Those traffic counts and proximity numbers are exactly the metrics grocery operators typically scrutinize when weighing new stores.
Next steps
The Orlando Business Journal report does not include an estimated opening date and indicates the project is still in the planning phase. The center will need county approvals and likely several months of lease negotiations before any construction can begin, so it may be a while before passersby see shovels hit the dirt. We will be watching county filings and any announcements from the chains for lease confirmations and a construction timeline.
