Wiregrass Ranch Update Signals More Retail, Restaurants and Momentum for Legacy Project

WESLEY CHAPEL, Fla. , New details about the future of Wiregrass Ranch were shared during the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s first quarter Economic Development Briefing, where attendees heard updates on retail, dining, healthcare and the long-awaited Legacy Wiregrass Ranch project.

According to information shared during the meeting, Fresh Market is coming to Wesley Chapel, and additional “South Tampa-style” restaurants are also in the pipeline. The update adds to growing interest in what could be next for the Wiregrass Ranch area as development continues across one of Wesley Chapel’s most prominent master-planned communities.

The meeting also included new discussion about Legacy Wiregrass Ranch, a project being described as Wesley Chapel’s first true downtown. During the briefing, Scott Sheridan, COO of Locust Branch LLC, the development arm behind Wiregrass Ranch, presented a first quarter update and heard feedback from attendees about the importance of green space, the arts and places for families to gather and enjoy the area.

Attendees were also shown a rendering video for the future Legacy project. Based on information presented at the briefing, the development is expected to feature a hotel and conference space, a more walkable downtown-style layout, and a large entertainment venue with an estimated capacity of about 2,500 people. The presentation offered one of the clearer public looks yet at how the project may take shape as a mixed-use destination for Wesley Chapel.

Another major point shared at the meeting was the scale of healthcare investment happening locally. Approximately $750 million is being invested in healthcare across Wesley Chapel, according to the update, and Orlando Health is expected to occupy soon. That level of investment reflects the continued pace of growth in the community and the increasing demand for new services and infrastructure.

The briefing also included word that V Pizza, known for its Neapolitan-style pizza, is coming to the area. In a lighter moment, a question was also raised about Trader Joe’s, and while there was no direct confirmation, there also was not a firm no, leaving that possibility as one residents will likely continue watching.

County Commissioner Seth Weightman also attended the event and reminded the room that Bruce B. Downs Boulevard was once referred to as the “road to nowhere,” a comment underscoring how dramatically the Wesley Chapel area has changed over the years.

Taken together, the updates point to continued momentum for Wiregrass Ranch and the broader Wesley Chapel area. With new retail, restaurants, healthcare expansion and the Legacy project all part of the discussion, the presentation painted a picture of a community still growing and evolving into a larger regional destination.

For more local business, growth and development news, visit www.wesleychapelcommunity.com and follow Wesley Chapel Community on Facebook, X, and Instagram.