East Winter Garden site for new project

Amy Calandrino, of Beyond Commercial, a commercial real estate firm headquartered in Maitland, is representing the landlord, Winter Garden Salon Development LLC, with a new development called The Point on Plant Street in Winter Garden.

The development, located at 996 E. Plant St., features more than 30,000 square feet of retail and office space with a planned opening of early 2024, if approved.

The proposal will go for a final vote in front of the planning and zoning board in early December before heading to the City Commission meetings in January and early February 2023.

“As someone who lived a long time in Winter Garden and graduated from West Orange High School, I’ve seen tremendous growth in Winter Garden over the years,” Calandrino said. “I’m beyond excited to see this as The Point for further expansion and opportunity for … small businesses … to flourish. I just know the vibe of this development is going to be incredible.” 

PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT

The proposed development includes suites of multiple sizes, ranging from 2,100 square feet to 10,200 square feet. The structure is located near the heart of downtown Winter Garden in close proximity to the West Orange Trail and State Road 429. 

Among the first confirmed tenants is Mosaic Hair Studio, owned by husband and wife Mike Van den Abbeel and Kiri Wollheim, chief investors in the project. 

Van den Abbeel said his original plan was to construct another location for Mosaic Hair in Ivanhoe Village and the Milk District but said he saw the real potential of the expansion after the property was acquired and Winter Garden expanded the CRA. The two current locations sit at 537 Virginia Drive and 116 N. Bumby Ave.

“Mosaic Hair Studio has a track record for finding early areas that are family-friendly and are a walkable business community,” Van den Abbeel said. “Our current locations of salons have weaved together the community.” 

Calandrino said she has been working on the tenant side of development, while Van den Abbeel has been working with the developer with his vision. The two said they plan to fill the space with tenants that are hyper-local brands and thriving local businesses.

“We are coming in with a tenant perspective, which helps, because they understand the importance of branding,” she explained. “The property will be unique, because it’s going to have a public outdoor area and courtyard area. We are going to intentionally curate the tenants, so there’s a synergetic drive. We are working with a world-class designer, which will help create the vibe we are envisioning as modern with a nod to the roots of Winter Garden.”

In addition, the development will include a 3,125-square-foot space to feature a restaurant concept. 

TALKING TRANSFORMATION

Calandrino and Beyond Commercial have worked with small businesses since the company’s inception in 2010 and already have received significant interest for tenant occupancy.

The organization is currently pre-leasing for suitable tenants with retail, office and restaurant opportunities, as well as health, lifestyle, fitness and other retail businesses. 

Calandrino said she believes east Winter Garden is in the midst of a transformation and the project will seek to bridge the space from Dillard Street to “The Point on Plant Street.”

“This will not be the first time that this group is a forerunner in site selection,” she said. “In 2004, they (Mosaic) established their first location on Virginia Drive and later expanded in 2012. Today, the area is known as Ivanhoe Row, housing The Yard and a plethora of retail opportunities. In 2018, (Mosaic) acquired property within the Milk District to build their stunning second location.  At the time, the Milk District did not quite have the coolness factor it has today. Mike and Kiri certainly have the vision to see the potential in a site, and we expect that to be no different here in Winter Garden.”