Cypress Creek Town Center

Cypress Creek Town Center is a large retail development in Lutz, Florida, north of Tampa and serving the wider Wesley Chapel and Tampa Bay suburban market. Rather than being a single-store retail brand, it is a commercial destination composed of multiple retail, restaurant, hospitality, and outlet components. Its tenant mix has included large-format retailers, discount and specialty stores, food-and-beverage operators, personal-services businesses, and a hotel planned on the edge of the development. The project originated in the early 2000s as a proposed large-scale regional shopping complex. It received initial Development of Regional Impact approval in 2004 and later obtained permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2007. Legal disputes and the broader economic downturn delayed the original concept and effectively halted the first version of the project. The development was subsequently reworked into a modern retail destination associated with Tampa Premium Outlets and a broader collection of adjacent commercial parcels. Saks Off Fifth was announced as the first tenant of the renewed outlet-oriented project in 2012, with an opening initially projected for 2014. The schedule moved into 2015 as additional commitments were made. Costco was announced in December 2014, while other announced or planned tenants included Kohl's, Chick-fil-A, Culver's, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, BJ's Brewhouse, and Panda Express. The outlet component ultimately opened in October 2015 after several changes to the anticipated opening timetable. Some announced tenants, including Kohl's, did not open at the site. Expansion continued after the initial opening. Restaurants and service businesses joined the development, while additional retail plans included Hobby Lobby, Burlington, Five Below, HomeGoods, At Home, PetSmart, and other national chains. A 130-room Hyatt hotel was announced in 2018, alongside plans for more restaurants and a strip-center component containing businesses such as Mellow Mushroom, Great Clips, Mattress One, Men's Wearhouse, and Aspen Dental. Several tenants opened during 2018 and 2019, including Chuy's, Bahama Breeze, Taco Bell, Wendy's, Pollo Tropical, Ford's Garage, Earth Fare, Hobby Lobby, Burlington, Five Below, HomeGoods, At Home, and MOD Pizza. The center's tenant roster has changed over time. Earth Fare opened in February 2019 but later entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed its stores, including its Cypress Creek location. Other future or proposed occupants mentioned in development materials included Aldi, Party City, Dick's Sporting Goods, Aussie Grill, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and Bonefish Grill, although the available reference material does not establish that every proposed tenant ultimately opened. The development is best understood as an evolving suburban retail hub rather than a fixed lineup of stores.

Cypress Creek Town Center developed from an ambitious early-2000s proposal for a major regional shopping complex in Lutz, Florida. The original concept was described as a megamall and entered the regulatory process through Development of Regional Impact approval in 2004. Additional federal environmental and infrastructure permissions were obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 2007. The initial project, however, encountered legal difficulties and was overtaken by the economic downturn, delaying construction and effectively ending the first version of the plan. The project was later revived in a substantially reworked form. In 2012, Saks Off Fifth was announced as the first tenant of the modern outlet-oriented development, then promoted as part of Tampa Premium Outlets. The opening was initially expected in 2014, but the timetable shifted into 2015 as construction and tenant commitments progressed. Costco was announced in December 2014. By early 2015, announced or planned occupants included Kohl's, Chick-fil-A, Culver's, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, BJ's Brewhouse, and Panda Express. Kohl's was ultimately not reported as an opening tenant. Construction advanced through 2015, with the outlets described as nearly complete by August and a job fair planned for prospective employees. The outlet center opened in October 2015. Restaurants and other businesses continued to be added around the outlet component. Culver's opened in February 2016, while Cheddar's and Chick-fil-A followed later that year. Starbucks and On the Border were also identified among the planned restaurant occupants during this period. By 2018, Cypress Creek Town Center had expanded beyond the original outlet concept into a broader suburban commercial district. A 130-room Hyatt hotel was announced for the edge of the development. A strip-center area was associated with businesses including Mellow Mushroom, Great Clips, Mattress One, Men's Wearhouse, Aspen Dental, and Noire Nail Bar. Chuy's and Bahama Breeze were among the restaurant projects discussed, while Taco Bell, Wendy's, Pollo Tropical, and Ford's Garage had opened. Additional future tenants presented at a local chamber of commerce luncheon included Chipotle, Hobby Lobby, HomeGoods, Earth Fare, Blaze Pizza, and Walk-On's Bistreaux & Bar. The next construction and opening wave included At Home and Five Below, followed by MOD Pizza. Earth Fare opened in February 2019. Hobby Lobby, Burlington, and Five Below opened in March, and HomeGoods followed in April. Other proposed tenants included Aldi, Aussie Grill, Carrabba's Italian Grill, Bonefish Grill, Party City, and Dick's Sporting Goods. The available reference material does not confirm that all of these proposals were completed. Tenant turnover also affected the center: Earth Fare later entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy and closed its stores, including the Cypress Creek location. The development's identity is therefore tied to a long planning history, a delayed and redesigned project, the Tampa Premium Outlets opening, and continuing expansion through a mix of national anchors, restaurants, services, and hospitality uses. Because the center is a multi-tenant property rather than a conventional consumer-goods company, its commercial profile is defined primarily by location, tenant mix, accessibility, and ongoing leasing and development activity.

• 2019

  Major retail openings

  [1]Cypress Creek Town Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Earth Fare, Hobby Lobby, Burlington, Five Below, and HomeGoods opened in successive phases.

• 2018

  Hotel and commercial expansion announced

  [1]Cypress Creek Town Centeren.wikipedia.org

  A planned 130-room Hyatt and numerous retail, restaurant, and service tenants broadened the development's scope.

• 2015

  Tampa Premium Outlets opens

  [1]Cypress Creek Town Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The outlet component opened in October after repeated schedule changes and extensive tenant announcements.

• 2014

  Costco announced

  [1]Cypress Creek Town Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Costco was announced as a major anchor during the project's construction phase.

• 2012

  Saks Off Fifth announced

  [1]Cypress Creek Town Centeren.wikipedia.org

  Saks Off Fifth was announced as the first tenant of the reworked outlet-centered development.

• 2007

  Army Corps permitting

  [1]Cypress Creek Town Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The project received permits from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before later delays halted the original concept.

• 2004

  Initial Development of Regional Impact approval

  [1]Cypress Creek Town Centeren.wikipedia.org

  The original large-scale retail proposal received its first Development of Regional Impact approval.

A large suburban retail and dining destination combining an outlet center with big-box stores, specialty retail, restaurants, services, and planned hospitality uses.

• Outlet shopping center · 2015

  Tampa Premium Outlets

  The outlet component is the development's central destination-oriented retail element. It was announced in the modern revival of the project, with Saks Off Fifth as an early announced tenant, and opened in October 2015. It forms part of a larger commercial district rather than representing the entire Cypress Creek Town Center property.

• Wholesale club

  Costco

  Costco was announced in December 2014 as a major anchor for the expanding development. Its large-format membership retail model contributes recurring destination traffic and complements the outlet, discount, restaurant, and specialty-retail components.

• Arts and crafts retail · 2019

  Hobby Lobby

  Hobby Lobby was among the national retailers announced during the center's later expansion. The store opened in March 2019 and added a large-format arts, crafts, home décor, and seasonal merchandise offer to the tenant mix.

• Off-price department store · 2019

  Burlington

  Burlington was initially discussed as a future tenant and later opened in March 2019. Its off-price apparel, accessories, home goods, and seasonal merchandise positioning reinforces the value-oriented character of the broader retail destination.

• Discount specialty retail · 2019

  Five Below

  Five Below joined the development's later construction wave and opened in March 2019. The chain contributes a youth-oriented discount assortment spanning toys, games, technology accessories, room décor, and related products.

• Home furnishings retail · 2019

  HomeGoods

  HomeGoods opened in April 2019 following the arrival of several other major tenants. Its closeout and specialty home-furnishings model broadened the center's appeal beyond apparel, outlet shopping, and warehouse retail.

• Natural and organic grocery · 2019

  Earth Fare

  Earth Fare opened at the center in February 2019 as a natural and organic grocery tenant. The location later closed after the company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy and shut its stores, making it an example of tenant turnover within the development.

• 2020

  Absorb Earth Fare tenant closureOther

  Background

  Earth Fare entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy after opening at the center in 2019.

  Action taken

  Earth Fare closed all of its stores, including the Cypress Creek location.

  Aftermath

  The closure reduced the tenant roster and illustrated the possibility of ongoing turnover in the center's grocery and specialty-retail mix.

  Source

• 2018

  Broaden the development beyond outlet retailStrategy

  Background

  By 2018, the development had accumulated a substantial outlet and restaurant base and was positioned for additional commercial uses.

  Action taken

  Plans were advanced for a Hyatt hotel, a strip-center cluster, additional national retailers, and more restaurants.

  Aftermath

  The center's planned and operating mix expanded toward a broader lifestyle, dining, service, and hospitality destination, although not every announced tenant is confirmed as having opened.

  Source

• 2015

  Open the outlet componentProduct launch

  Background

  The expected opening moved from 2014 into 2015 as construction and leasing developed.

  Action taken

  Tampa Premium Outlets opened in October 2015 after the project reached substantial completion.

  Aftermath

  The opening established the development as a regional shopping destination and was followed by continued restaurant, retail, and service expansion.

  Source

• 2012

  Recast the project around Tampa Premium OutletsStrategy

  Background

  The original megamall proposal had been delayed by legal issues and the economic downturn, leaving the initial concept effectively cancelled.

  Action taken

  The development was reworked as a modern outlet-oriented project, with Saks Off Fifth announced as its first tenant.

  Aftermath

  The revised concept progressed toward construction and eventually became part of a broader multi-tenant retail district.

  Source

1. 1Cypress Creek Town Centeren.wikipedia.org