Gateway Plaza: When will Starbucks, Ross, Planet Fitness, Burlington and others open?

Laurie K. Blandford, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Updated ·2 min read

Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify the plaza's owner and developer.

The dilapidated former Kmart plaza at the corner of U.S. 1 and Virginia Avenue in Fort Pierce will look completely different at the end this year.

New businesses will start opening next month at the soon-to-be revamped Gateway Plaza, starting with Planet Fitness in mid-February, said Rebecca Miller, president of Miller Permitting & Land Development, who represents the plaza's owner and developer, Time Equities Inc.

All the other businesses that have committed so far are expected to open by the end of the year, including Burlington, Ross Dress for Less, Bravo Supermarkets, Five Below, dd’s Discounts, T-Mobile and America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses.

Construction at the new Planet Fitness in the Gateway Plaza, the former Kmart plaza at the corner of U.S. 1 and Virginia Avenue, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Fort Pierce. Developer Rebecca Miller, president of Miller Permitting & Land Development, said the gym should be completed in mid-February. Other business that have committed so far – Burlington, Ross Dress for Less, Bravo Supermarkets, Five Below, dd's Discounts, T-Mobile and America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses – are expected to open by the end of the year.

“I’m a lover of Fort Pierce,” Miller said, “and I could not be happier that this is happening.”

Plus, two more businesses are expected to sign on and will be announced next month, Miller said. She also has four more units in negotiations.

The revamping includes renovating each unit, replacing the roof and resurfacing the parking lot.

Construction started last year on Planet Fitness and is expected to continue next week on America’s Best and Bravo, which is the former Kmart on the south end of the strip mall. It has two phases: demolition and buildout.

Two more buildings will be constructed by the end of the year on the 14.2-acre property that includes an empty former boatyard north of the plaza, Miller said:

A new 4,500-square-foot building south of the former Burger King (right) building will be divided into two units for Starbucks and T-Mobile in the Gateway Plaza in Fort Pierce.
A new 4,500-square-foot building south of the former Burger King (right) building will be divided into two units for Starbucks and T-Mobile in the Gateway Plaza in Fort Pierce.

  • A new 4,500-square-foot building south of the former Burger King building will be divided into two units for Starbucks and T-Mobile.

  • A new 4,000-square-foot retail bank with a drive-thru for TD Bank will be built on the northern-most lot of the former boatyard, which has room for up to three buildings.

The property doesn’t include the adult arcade in former Payless building, the closed Burger King, the Seacoast Bank or the PNC Bank. However, the Wawa gas station that opened in 2021 is part of the property.

The plaza was built in 1969 and expanded in 1982 and again in 1983. It was anchored by an 88,732-square-foot Kmart that opened in 1976 and closed in 2017. It also was home to a Winn-Dixie grocery store that closed in 2013.

Inlet Mechanical supervisor Johnny Raqueta works on the air conditioning system in the new Planet Fitness at the Gateway Plaza, the former Kmart plaza at the corner of U.S. 1 and Virginia Avenue, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, in Fort Pierce. Developer Rebecca Miller, president of Miller Permitting & Land Development, said the gym should be completed in mid-February. Other business that have committed so far – Burlington, Ross Dress for Less, Bravo Supermarkets, Five Below, dd's Discounts, T-Mobile and America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses – are expected to open by the end of the year.

Since then, most businesses have left. Only a few remain, including a Family Dollar and Little Caesars.

All the existing businesses are staying — for now. It will be up to them to renew their leases when necessary because the cost will increase after the renovations.

“We’re not trying to kick anyone out by any means,” Miller said. “We want them there. We want the traffic. Our goal is not to impact any businesses.”

Laurie K. Blandford is TCPalm's entertainment reporter and columnist dedicated to finding the best things to do on the Treasure Coast. Follow her on Twitter @TCPalmLaurie and Facebook @TCPalmLaurie. Email her at laurie.blandford@tcpalm.com. Sign up for her What To Do in 772 weekly newsletter at profile.tcpalm.com/newsletters/manage.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: When will Starbucks, Ross, Planet Fitness, Burlington, Five Below open?