Benderson Development has acquired the Whole Foods and the upcoming two-story Target location at Countryside Mall in Clearwater. This move consolidates control of key anchor sites at one of Tampa Bay’s major regional malls.
The company, Benderson, plays a major role in national retail and mixed-use development. They have a strong presence in Florida and see the Countryside deal as part of a broader strategy focusing on busy areas and centers anchored by grocery stores.
The Target being constructed will fill a 140,000-square-foot two-story building. It will replace the former Sears anchor site that closed in 2018 when Sears downsized nationally. The Countryside site had been divided to accommodate Whole Foods Market and Nordstrom Rack, continuing the trend of reworking large retail spaces…