Lakewood Ranch Farmers Market has moved to new location
There has been a farmers market at Lakewood Ranch for nearly as long as there has been a Lakewood Ranch, but it has been at various locations, and for only a few months a year.
This year, the farmers market has a new home at 1561 Lakefront Drive in the new Waterside Place town center, and it will be held year-round from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Sunday.
The farmers market kicks off in its new location Sunday with more than 75 vendors selling organic produce, baked goods, pet products, flowers, and prepared foods.
Waterside is developer Schroeder-Manatee Ranch’s new village south of University Parkway that is planned for more than 5,000 homes in up to 12 neighborhoods, connected to Waterside Place via trails and water taxis.
The first business to open in Waterside Place is LWR Medical Group, but many other businesses have been announced for the dining and entertainment center.
For more information about the farmers market, visit https://mylwr.com/185/Farmers-Market-at-LWR.
In other business around Manatee County:
Love this City
Realize Bradenton has announced the Love this City campaign to encourage community members to rediscover and reimagine Downtown Bradenton, starting Nov. 13, and continuing through May.
Festivities begin with a kick-off celebration at the Downtown Bradenton Public Market on Nov. 13 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Old Main Street. The 50-plus weekly market vendors will be joined by a community art project, scavenger hunts, the Made Here Craft Show, and the return of Chef at the Market with a Chef from Mattison’s Riverwalk Grille.
Self-guided scavenger hunts are available online for a way to explore the Riverwalk, Village of the Arts, and Downtown Bradenton. Each hunt has a unique Love This City prize and a grand prize is available for people who complete all three scavenger hunts.
A “Love This City Holiday Gift Guide” showcases local businesses. This guide is available online and in print throughout Downtown Bradenton. For more information, visit RealizeBradenton.com/LoveThisCity.
Businesses are promoting the campaign with blue-and-white “Love This City” wall and window decals.
Another Panera Bread planned
Panera Bread has filed paperwork with Manatee County government for a 4,200-square-foot restaurant with outdoor seating and a multi-lane drive-thru at 4103 14th St. W.
The proposed Panera Bread location would be the fifth in Manatee County. Existing restaurants are located at 1520 Cortez Road W., 6351 Manatee Ave. W., 11505 State Road 70 E., and 2821 University Parkway.
The Alloro luxury apartments coming
The Alloro at University Groves, a new luxury apartment community for active adults ages 55-plus, began going vertical on Thursday. Planned are 183 one- and two-bedroom apartments, including seven penthouse suites, with square footage ranging between 708 and 2,228 square feet and monthly rents beginning at $2,025.
The Alloro, located at 3540 Broadway Ave., is part of the larger 142-acre University Groves mixed-use development, which was initially approved in 2003.
University Groves is located north of University Parkway, between Shade and Tuttle avenues. Portions of University Groves already completed include The Point at Bella Cove apartments, Soleil East carriage homes by D.R. Horton, Tire Kingdom, Culver’s of Sarasota, an AT&T store, Dunkin’ Donuts and Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, the Herald reported in 2018.
The Alloro is being developed by Troy, N.Y.-based developer The United Group of Companies. Construction partner in the $64.5 million project is Current Builders. The project’s loan originator is Trez Capital.
Working on the railroad
Port Manatee has reached agreement for Regional Rail LLC to operate the seaport-owned short-line railroad through at least 2036, with options through 2051.
Under an agreement to take effect Dec. 1, Port Manatee Railroad LLC is to be operated as a subsidiary of Kennett Square, Pa.-based regional rail, which already operates seven other U.S. short-line railroads, including three others in Florida, with more than 550 total miles of track.
Port Manatee Railroad, which began operation by the port in 1970 – the same year the seaport opened for business – encompasses more than seven miles of tracks directly connecting with a main line of Jacksonville-based CSX Transportation.
Port Manatee Railroad operates a pair of energy-efficient diesel-electric locomotives and offers capacity to accommodate 300 rail cars.
This story was originally published November 5, 2021 at 6:00 AM.
