Until recently the south side of State Road 56, by the Interstate 75 interchange, created the most commercial buzz.
Tampa Premium Outlets and a slew of restaurants turned grassland into a shopping and dining mecca.
More is on the way.
Starbucks is the latest opening on the south side of the highway. It’s next to Culver’s.
But, now it’s the north side of the state road that’s starting to see a surge of new restaurants and shops as the next phase of Cypress Creek Town Center kicks into gear.
Sierra Center Boulevard, off the entryway at Grand Cypress Drive, is the center of the activity.
The town center straddles both sides of State Road 56, at its juncture with Wesley Chapel Boulevard and Interstate 75. The southern side largely is being developed by Simon Properties and Richard E. Jacobs, with Sierra Properties in control on the northern side. Its properties are listed under the ownership of Pasco Ranch, Inc.
Ford’s Garage and Pollo Tropical, which opened in recent months, were first up for Sierra.
Now, Wendy’s and Taco Bell are nearly ready for fast-food delivery.
Heading east along Sierra Center, work crews are rolling out a parking lot and laying landscaping for a multi-store retail center.
According to county permitting records, Men’s Wearhouse, Mellow Mushroom, Mattress One, T-Mobile, and Great Clips are future tenants.
Hutton, with headquarters in Chattanooga, is developing the retail center. Hutton representatives could not be reached for additional details.
A stand-alone Chuy’s Mexican Restaurant is slated for a spot just east of the shopping strip, according to county records.
In January, a pre-application meeting was held with county planners to discuss a location on Sierra Center for Bahama Breeze Island Grill.
Another restaurant headed to Cypress Creek is Newk’s Eatery. According to QSR Magazine, the company, based in Jackson, Mississippi, plans to open as many as 30 new restaurants in Florida in five years. Central Florida and the Tampa Bay area are target markets, with a menu of fresh-made soups, salads, sandwiches and California-style pizzas.
According to its website, the founders also opened McAlister’s Deli.
On the northern side of Sierra Center, permits for infrastructure have been issued attached to brand names of Dick’s Sporting Goods, Pet Smart and Burlington.
Five Below also is landing in the town center. The shop is a cornucopia for teens and preteens looking for games, jewelry, candy, makeup, computer gear, DVDs, books, school supplies and novelties. Everything is low-budget at $5 or below.
A six-story, 132-room Hyatt hotel is in permitting stages for infrastructure on another outparcel in the eastern area of Cypress Creek.
Cypress Creek could end up with two grocery stores.
Aldi representatives inquired in March about opening one of its discount grocery stores on an outparcel owned by Sierra that is at an entrance into Tampa Premium Outlets.
In June, a pre-application meeting was scheduled to discuss an approximately 24,000 square-foot grocery store at the northwest corner of State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard – across from the Aldi site. That grocery store was not identified.
Plans also call for another 11,500 square feet of retail.
Published July 12, 2017
