New retail project expected to bring restaurants, fitness center to East Manatee

The Starling Group expects to break ground on its Heritage Harbour Retail project in about 45 days.

The 55,145-square-foot shopping center, at 8265 Heritage Harbour Green Way, would be the most significant retail development in Manatee County’s second-largest master-planned community to date.

Planned are a 20,000-square-foot fitness facility, several potential restaurants and more.

The shopping center would be located directly north of a Dairy Queen Grill and Chill at 8307 State Road 64 E. and a Taco Bell at 8347 State Road 64 E.

“We are in for permits now and expect to start site work in about 45 days,” said Brian Kennelly, Starling’s chief operating officer. “There is pent-up demand for cohesive neighborhood shopping, and we have seen traffic patterns change with the opening of the Fort Hamer Bridge.”

The first tenant announced for the Starling project is Crunch Fitness. Other potential tenants include a couple restaurants, a dry cleaner, hair salon and vitamin shop, Kennelly said.

Also planned for the parcel are two smaller building pads, possible locations for a doctor’s or dentist’s office, he said.

The Heritage Harbour location would be the third in Manatee County for Crunch Fitness, said owner Vince Julien, who also has centers at 4836 14th St. W., and 8440 Lockwood Ridge Road.

In all, Julien has 12 locations in Manatee, Pinellas, Hillsborough and Orange counties, with another eight planned.

“Looking at East Manatee, we asked ourselves, ‘Where do we want to be?’ ” said Julien, a Panther Ridge resident.

“I like the growth going on along State Road 64, and the fact that the Fort Hamer Bridge opens up the area to Parrish residents, who are underserved in fitness centers and restaurants. I’m in love with that corridor,” Julien said.

The Heritage Harbour Retail project should open no later than September or October, Kennelly said.

Crunch Fitness will be among the first businesses opening, Julien said.

Jim Rigo, principal Manatee County planner for the project, said in an email that the project recently came in for its second review.

There are minor buffering and connectivity issues, Rigo said.

Heritage Harbour is a 2,500-acre community built on the site of the former Harrllee Ranch that opened in 2002.

This story was originally published January 24, 2018 at 12:37 PM with the headline "New retail project expected to bring restaurants, fitness center to East Manatee."