Detwiler’s Farm Market planning a new warehouse. Are more grocery stores coming, too?
Detwiler’s Farm Market has broken ground on a new distribution center, warehouse and corporate headquarters in Manatee County.
The planned 133,000-square-foot facility in Florida International Tradeport, on the west side of Interstate 75, directly across from Ellenton Premium Outlets, would serve Detwiler’s six brick-and-mortar stores from Palmetto to Venice.
The new facility would also set the company up for future expansion.
Family members have previously said they were considering opening stores in St. Petersburg, Tampa, Brandon, North Port and Port Charlotte. Detwiler’s Farm Market opened its sixth store in December — its first in Bradenton.
But company founder Henry Detwiler Sr., 59, said on Tuesday that future expansion plans are probably still five years out, “so nobody gets too excited.”
Asked about the challenges of steering such a fast-growing company, Detwiler said he has a good family, good directors and officers to share the management load.
Detwiler’s home office and distribution center is now in about 20,000 square feet of space at 7388 16th St. E., Sarasota, in southern Manatee County near Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
Detwiler’s warehouse key to expansion
“This is something we’ve been working on for a long time,” Sam Detwiler, president of Detwiler’s Farm Market, said in a news release.
“Our goal is to be able to bring our prices down lower and continue to stay true to our ‘Eat Fresh for Less’ motto,” Sam Detwiler said.
Henry Detwiler Sr. added: “We’re looking forward to all being under one roof in our new distribution center so we can serve our customers even better.”
Detwiler’s is a classic American success story. Henry Detwiler and his wife, Natalie, once lived in a Myakka City mobile home with their nine children.
In 2002, Henry Detwiler opened a roadside stand in Sarasota County. In 2009, he opened his first brick-and-mortar store at 6000 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota, and quickly gained a following that led to opening more stores.
Florida International Tradeport is a 2 million-square-foot industrial park by Benderson Development.
The property features 12 leased buildings with another eight buildings now underway and scheduled for completion later this year.
Benderson has been developing the industrial park in phases since breaking ground in 2018 in response to a shortage of Class A space and low vacancy rates.
What to know about Detwiler’s
▪ Palmer, 6000 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota
▪ Venice, 1250 U.S. 41 BYP, Venice
▪ University, 6100 N. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota
▪ Palmetto, 1800 U.S. 301, Palmetto
▪ Clark, 2881 Clark Road, Sarasota
▪ West Bradenton, 3500 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton
▪ Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., except for the Palmer and Venice stores which close at 7 p.m. All stores are closed on Sunday.
▪ Website: www.DetwilerMarket.com
