New at Downtown Palm Beach Gardens: Stores, family programs now, with hotel, offices ahead
PALM BEACH GARDENS — Under a blazing sky recently, demolition crews worked to continue their task: tearing down part of Downtown Palm Beach Gardens.
The retail, office and dining complex that opened in 2005 just west of The Gardens Mall is in the throes of a multiyear, multimillion-dollar redevelopment project that includes adding new buildings while removing others.
The most recent structure to go: a two-story building that housed offices, stores and restaurants on the north side of the complex.
With the addition of Life Time Fitness and REI Co-op, Downtown Palm Beach Gardens has taken on more of an outdoorsy, health-focused feel that is in line with the crowd drawn to Whole Foods Market, one of the development’s original tenants.
Coming next: a 174-room hotel and a residential project on the north side of the property, for which the current demolition work is making way.
Also returning soon: the center’s uber-popular, family-friendly carousel.
“The hotel and residential projects are entitled for development, and we remain committed to supporting the redevelopment of Downtown Palm Beach Gardens,” said Justin Cesario, vice president of asset management for ShopCore Properties, the Chicago-based company that owns Downtown.
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What stores are new at Downtown Palm Beach gardens?
Several big-name brands have been added to Downtown’s roster over the past year.
That includes REI Co-op, a retail chain that offers outdoor gear and more, including a membership program that features access to lessons, trips and bicycle maintenance. The REI in Palm Beach Gardens opened in May 2022, and since then, more than 7,000 people have joined the co-op, said Age Ramos, Palm Beach Gardens store manager.
“Today, there are nearly 60,000 members in the county that are served by our store and our Boca Raton location that opened in 2020,” he said.
Most customers who shop at REI in Palm Beach Gardens are interested in camping, backpacking, cycling, fitness, travel and spending time outdoors in general, Ramos said. The store also participates in the on-site events provided for free to the community by ShopCore, he said.
A recent Earth Day event “focused on teaching children the importance of taking care of the planet,” Ramos said.
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As part of the second phase of the redevelopment, ShopCore is adding a new facade for REI and the tenant above it, CMX Cinemas.
Last year also marked the opening of Life Time Fitness, which sits in a new building on the north end of the development next to a new two-story parking garage. Life Time was part of the first phase of the redevelopment project, which was approved by the Palm Beach Gardens City Council in 2019.
The health club includes about 136,000 square feet of space across four stories with a rooftop pool, full-service salon and spa, café with outdoor dining and saunas.
When the facility opened in August of last year, Life Time President and COO Jeff Zwiefel in a news release lauded ShopCore for its redevelopment vision: “ShopCore has created a perfect environment for this vibrant and active community and, with our opening we look forward to helping more people live healthy, happy lives.”
Other recent openings at Downtown Palm Beach Gardens include:
Sweetgreen: A fast-casual restaurant with a menu that includes salads, bowls and seafood.
Fair Harbor: A swimwear and outdoors clothing retailer.
Luli Fama: A chain selling designer swimwear and resort styles.
Stitch Golf: A store that offers golf gear and apparel. This is the line’s first retail store.
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Long-time mainstays The Yard House and Grimaldi's Pizzeria remain at the downtown, which also welcomed newer restaurants Voodoo Bayou, Avocado Cantina and Subculture Coffee. Parm, an Italian restaurant originating from Little Italy in New York, is expected to open its first Florida location at the downtown, but the opening has been paused.
Downtown partnered with New Jersey-based Leap Brands, which bills itself as providing a platform for retailers and landlords that helps to manage costs and meet customer needs, while using technology to power growth. Fair Harbor, Luli Fama and Stitch Golf are Leap brands.
“As we reimagine Downtown, we’ll continue to bring amazing shops and restaurants that resonate with the lifestyle of our community, just like the Leap brands,” said William Gervin, vice president for leasing with ShopCore.
Palm Beach Gardens destination adds family-friendly features
Previous visitors to Downtown Palm Beach Gardens will recall the popular carousel that sat in an open area near Whole Foods. The carousel first opened at Downtown in 2010 and soon became an iconic feature of the complex and a popular spot for families to gather.
While the carousel remains at Downtown, it has a new home — and it soon will have a new look.
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Most of the carousel’s components were removed this year and sent to California for maintenance and refurbishment. When it returns, the carousel will be reassembled at its new spot on the east side of Downtown Palm Beach Gardens along the waterfront. It’s expected to reopen in time for National Merry-go-Round Day on July 25, a Downtown spokesperson said.
Where the carousel once stood is now a water feature that is popular with children, and through the summer has played host to Downtown Palm Beach Gardens’ Summer Splash series. It’s one of several free events for children and families at the center, which has boosted its public classes and events over the past few years.
On a recent Thursday during the July Summer Splash, Christy Brenman watched as her almost-2-year-old son, Theo, splashed in the water under the hot sun. In addition to the fountains, there were balloons, popsicles and bubbles. The local children’s entertainment provider Rhythm and Hues helped children tie-dye shirts.
It was Brenman and Theo’s first visit to Downtown Palm Beach Gardens, and Brenman said she already was a fan. “It’s just a fun way to interact with other kids, splash around in the water and beat the summer heat,” she said as she playfully splashed a cup of water onto Theo’s head. He giggled and danced in the fountain.
The splash area “is a great thing,” said Brenman, who moved to the area in December from Montreal.
“It’s a great way to encourage the community to come out and enjoy this,” she said.
What's gone from Downtown Palm Beach Gardens?
Most of the major work has happened on the north end of Downtown Palm Beach Gardens. While the rest of the center received a fresh coat of paint and other aesthetic improvements, the two original buildings on the north side have seen the biggest changes.
Most noticeably: One is being torn down.
That building previously housed It'Sugar, Texas de Brazil and the Dirty Martini. The building next to that, where the movie theater and REI Co-op are, previously had among its first-floor tenants a TooJay’s restaurant and an Urban Outfitters store.
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Hotel, offices ahead for Downtown Palm Beach Gardens
The next phase of redevelopment, which was approved by the City Council in August 2021, includes a 174-key hotel that is part of a mixed-use tower, said assistant planning and zoning director Joann Skaria.
The first two floors of that building will be a mix of retail, restaurants and office space, she said.
That building will rise on the northeast side of the development, where the demolition work is happening now. Renderings for the hotel presented to the council in 2021 show that the hotel will be part of the Aloft chain, a brand owned by Marriott that has a more contemporary feel with modern architecture.
Also part of the third phase: a 280-unit multifamily apartment rental building. The site plan approved by the council in 2021 shows the new residential building where the Cheesecake Factory and a surface parking lot are now.
Asked if that means the Cheesecake Factory will close, ShopCore was diplomatic in its response: “Cheesecake Factory remains open for business on Lake Victoria Gardens Avenue,” Cesario said. “Our vision for Downtown remains focused on reinvigorating the property and securing its foothold as a place for community and connection.”
Helping with that connection in a more literal sense: The development plans include a new east-west drive to continue from the existing entrance to Downtown to Alternate A1A, Skaria said. That road is nearing completion.
“It was a positive improvement for the site, and definitely an important stepping stone to get to the hotel construction,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: New to Downtown Palm Beach Gardens: Golf gear; Sweetgreen restaurant
