Local and national businesses continue to flourish at Babcock Ranch, the No. 5 best-selling master-planned community in the U.S. With the Publix-anchored Crescent B Commons shopping center near full capacity and construction now underway for a freestanding Pet Supermarket and a drive-thru Starbucks, town developer Kitson & Partners is planning the neighboring Shoppes at Yellow Pine, complete with a lakefront restaurant.
“As our town grows, we’re focused on providing our residents and surrounding neighbors with close-to-home options for everyday essentials as well as shopping, restaurants and professional services,” said Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners, which is developing America’s first solar-powered town. “It enhances conveniences while reducing the need for longer car trips and supporting our goals of sustainability.”
Since residents lined up for the September 2021 grand opening of Crescent B Common’s first business – the 48,000-square-foot Publix – remaining spaces have filled quickly. Recent business openings include NV Realty, Kumon learning center, Dental Care at Babcock Ranch, Great Clips, the Animal Hospital at Babcock Ranch offering on-site wellness, emergency and surgical care, and the popular U-Yee Sushi, supplying a steady ding of notifications on Matt Buehler’s cellphone from happy customers.
“U-Yee Sushi is phenomenal and always packed,” said Buehler, Kitson & Partners’ senior vice president of retail. “Our businesses are all very busy and residents are really supporting them.”
Crescent B Commons is also home to Publix Liquors, Clover Nails & Spa, The Postal Place Pack & Ship, The Royal Paw Grooming and doggie daycare and Stellar Vision.
Resident-owned Pi Local Pizza and M’xuma Tacos Mexican Grill offer a taste of local flavor for guests attending Babcock Ranch’s many events and exploring the town’s new parks and trails. The restaurants are also favorite spots for homebuyers visiting the Discovery Center, where they learn about Babcock Ranch’s neighborhoods, builders and the new Midtown development phase.
Crescent B Commons recently completed a 1,700-square-foot playground with towering slides and raised decking with tables and chairs for alfresco dining. Also on tap is a national bank with a drive-thru.
With Babcock Ranch in the national spotlight and plans underway for the next phase of development in Midtown, regional and national businesses are taking notice, prompting Kitson & Partners to accelerate the introduction of The Shoppes at Yellow Pine. Groundbreaking is planned toward the latter part of 2023. The new center will offer 120,000 square feet of commercial, retail, office and restaurant space – 1.5 times the size of Crescent B Commons – plus patios and outdoor dining areas.
In addition to new eateries, including a freestanding restaurant overlooking Sunset Lake, Buehler anticipates The Shoppes at Yellow Pine to attract general shopping, medical offices, a hardware store and services. “There’s so much demand for businesses to open in Babcock Ranch,” he said. “Everybody’s heard about the town and know they want to be here.”
Created by Kitson & Partners with respect for the natural environment and the philosophy that smart growth and sustainability work hand in hand, half of the town’s footprint is set aside as greenways, parks and expansive lakes, providing recreation and scenic backdrops for Babcock Ranch’s homes and the Founder’s Square downtown district.
