Village North, the 49-acre development that straddles West Chester and Liberty townships, is wasting no time. Developers say what was on paper not long ago is now turning into a real tenant lineup, with eight restaurants and retailers signed on to join a planned Whole Foods anchor. Work on the retail-heavy first phase began about a year ago, and the team is pitching the project as a walkable cluster of shops, patios and gathering spaces off Butler-Warren Road. Several of the new arrivals are expected to be first-timers in the Greater Cincinnati market as the center moves toward a 2026 opening.
New tenants announced
The lease activity was first detailed by the Cincinnati Business Courier and later republished by Local 12, which reported that eight more restaurants and retailers have been added to the project’s lineup. Local 12 notes that some of the incoming operators are being flagged as newcomers to the Greater Cincinnati market.
Phase one details and the Whole Foods anchor
Developers say phase one covers roughly 12.6 acres at the northwest corner of Liberty Way and Butler-Warren Road and is expected to deliver about 90,000 to 91,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space in multiple buildings. Sansone Group and local reporting put the Whole Foods anchor at around 40,000 square feet inside a larger anchor footprint. Sycamore Township-based Clous Road Partners is serving as the project’s master developer, partnering with Sansone on the buildout.
Why developers and officials are bullish
Developers and local officials describe Village North as an urban-style, walkable node that leans on nearby Voice of America MetroPark and the surrounding wave of residential growth. At last spring’s groundbreaking, township leaders cast the project as a long time coming. One trustee summed up the mood with, “Good things happen to those who wait,” a nod to years of planning and shifting timelines. Journal-News and the township’s newsroom have been tracking the project since the 2025 groundbreaking.
Who’s building and who’s leasing
According to Sansone Group, Buffalo Construction is serving as general contractor and Cushman & Wakefield is handling leasing. Developers say that team is tasked with curating a mix of national and regional concepts that will front patios, green space and walkable storefronts. Sansone lists a 2026 opening target for the center, although specific store openings will depend on each tenant’s buildout schedule.
What to watch next
Developers say more tenant announcements are on the way as construction moves ahead, and the latest round of leases suggests Village North is shifting from concept into an operating retail center. As reported by Local 12, shoppers can expect detailed opening timelines and a fuller list of tenants over the coming months, once spaces are finished and operators lock in their buildout plans.
