- November 4, 2024
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The building that now houses PC Bike and other shops at Palm Shopping Center will likely be torn down next May, but shop owners who’ve seen plans for the center’s redevelopment are excited.
“I think it’s going to be just awesome,” said PC Bike co-owner Jake Scully. “When the thing is done, it’s going to be really important for this area.”
Bed Bath & Beyond?
Scully and other tenants met Tuesday with developer Michael Collard, who plans to buy the center from Inland American Retail Management LLC. When Collard listed businesses that might be renting space there — Bed Bath & Beyond, World Market, Jo-Anne Fabrics and Crafts, Moe’s, Chico and ULTA, among others — they were impressed.
“The retail traffic in this place has been terrible for years,” Scully said. “We’re very excited to have more retail traffic in here.”
Palm Harbor Shopping Center is more than three decades old and has had plenty of empty storefronts in recent years. A Blockbuster, CVS Pharmacy and Bealls Outlet in the center have all closed, as did several restaurants.
And when Inland began preparing to sell the center, the company didn't give many details, leaving its tenants treading water among rumors of major changes and worrying about the future of their businesses.
Scully was relieved to have some information from Collard.
“It’s definitely a complete change from the complete lack of information we had from Inland,” he said.
Scully and other tenants said Collard told them his closing is scheduled for November, and that demolition and construction work in the shopping center should begin around May. Collard and representatives from Inland did not return phone calls made this week by the Palm Coast Observer.
Scully isn’t sure yet when he’ll have to move, but he knows it won’t be far. He might stay in Palm Harbor Shopping Center.
NiKi's Pizzeria plans to stay
Joanne Longhway, of NiKi’s Pizzeria, had considered closing the restaurant until she spoke to Collard and saw plans for the new center. Now, she plans to stay.
“I’m feeling good about the location,” she said. “It will be beautiful.”
Right now, she’s renting month to month until construction begins in May. Then she’ll close for about a year while the new center is under construction, and return after the building ends.
She hopes the construction will go quickly, she said, and that it doesn’t get tied up in wrangling over permit issues.
“I’m just hoping the city pulls through,” she said. “Because we want to get back to work.”
