Owens Produce makes deal with HCA Healthcare to return to U.S. 41 site in Dunnellon

Danielle Johnson, Ocala Star-Banner
·4 min read

DUNNELLON — Since 1996, Owens Produce has been a Dunnellon staple for fruits and vegetables, and shoppers will find plenty of jams, salsas, pickled items, cheeses, meats and other goods too.

Owners Linda and Clayton Owens had operated the produce stand at U.S. 41/North Williams Street and Southwest 111th Place for the past nine years until they were told in June that the property had been sold and they needed to vacate immediately.

After more than a month-long hiatus and multiple plans changed, Linda Owens has good news.

“WE ARE GOING HOME,” she recently wrote on Owens Produce’s Facebook page.

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In an increasingly rare showing of corporate and local collaboration, HCA Healthcare, which purchased the land, welcomed the produce stand back on site while it is in the early stages of developing the property.

“They had no idea that we had been on the property as a tenant and wanted to make it right,” Owens told the Star-Banner.

HCA bought 6.64 acres for $3.8 million

The Nashville-based health care company, which has more than 450 care sites throughout Florida – including HCA Florida West Marion Hospital and HCA Florida Ocala Hospital – bought the land for $3.8 million from Hernando-based SREE NSNK HOLDINGS LLC on June 17.

The 6.64-acre property is across the street from the Walmart Supercenter and just north of the Aldi plaza in Dunnellon.

“The purchase is for future development based on community needs,” HCA Florida Ocala Hospital Director of Communications and Community Engagement Kaitlyn Butler had written in an email.

Owens Produce had not been told who purchased the property, and the community rallied around the local business to offer support and suggestions of new locations.

They planned to move onto the site of American Legion Post 58 on Aug. 4 but ran into a few problems, and Owens reached out to Butler at HCA after learning who the buyer was. She quickly got in touch with HCA’s corporate real estate official and praised how responsive, kind and helpful they were.

“I just wanted some kind of closure,” Owens said. “I didn't want to always wonder: ‘Well, could we have gone back if we had just reached out to them?’ "

HCA offered the spot back, and Owens Produce accepted.

In this photo from July 7, a sign lets customers know that the Owens Produce stand has moved from its North Williams Street location between SW 110th Street and SW 111th Place in Dunnellon. The stand had to vacate when HCA Healthcare purchased the property, but the company reached an agreement in August to allow Owens Produce to return.
In this photo from July 7, a sign lets customers know that the Owens Produce stand has moved from its North Williams Street location between SW 110th Street and SW 111th Place in Dunnellon. The stand had to vacate when HCA Healthcare purchased the property, but the company reached an agreement in August to allow Owens Produce to return.

“When we heard about Owens Produce and their needs, we wanted to do the right thing and work with them to stay in their location knowing we wouldn't be in development for some time,” HCA Florida Ocala CEO Chad Christianson said in a statement to the Star-Banner. “We are looking forward to bringing additional, vital healthcare services to Marion County in the near future. In the meantime, we are glad to partner with a local business and a family that has made a positive impact on this community.”

Loyal produce stand customers elated at news

While some produce stand customers initially planned to oppose whatever entity purchased the property, Owens has encouraged positivity, and there was a change of heart for many when they learned that HCA had not known about Owens Produce and that it offered the location back.

“God Bless HCA for understanding small towns they are moving into!!” one Facebook commenter wrote. “Welcome back home to our dear friends at Owens Produce, and our new friends at HCA Healthcare!”

“That’s wonderful news!” another said. “High praise to HCA for making things right once they understood the situation.”

Owens herself said she was somewhat relieved to find out the new owner would likely bring a medical facility to the Dunnellon area.

Some followers also suggested HCA let the produce stand stay permanently as a counterpart to their health-focused business, but Owens said they have not discussed that possibility.

“We don't know how long term it's going to be, but it's just the best thing right now for us,” Owens said, adding that HCA agreed to give them 90 days notice to vacate when the time comes.

The produce stand will open back up at full capacity at 20145 SW 111th Place on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 9 a.m. They will be open 9 a.m. to 5:30 pm. Wednesdays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

While Dunnellon has a population of around 2,000, according to 2020 Census data, Owens Produce has garnered support from a wider range.

The produce stand has over 3,000 Facebook followers and has accumulated hundreds of likes and comments on some of its posts updating the community about the journey, as well as plenty of phone calls.

“Everybody's been real supportive, and they're just happy that we're going to be back where we were,” Owens said. “We just love our customers. We just have the best customers, and we just appreciate everybody so much and their patience too.”

Contact reporter Danielle Johnson at djohnson@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: HCA will allow Owens Produce to return to Dunnellon U.S. 41 property