As an extension of the existing Butler Plaza, the new 350,000 square foot Butler Town Center will occupy a portion of the current 1-million-square-feet and have its own identity and personality, showcasing an open-air architecture and amenities aimed at fostering a greater pedestrian experience.
Earlier this year Butler Enterprises announced that Sam’s Club and Super Walmart would come in as anchor stores for Butler North, both slated to open in 2016.
Sam’s Club is a popular membership retailer that serves both individuals and businesses.
Walmart will relocate to Butler North from Butler Plaza East, enlarging their offering to a Walmart Superstore. The existing Walmart, opened in 1986, will remain open until the new superstore is open to the public.
The new project, directly North of Butler Plaza, is bounded by SW 24th Avenue to the North, 34th Street to the East, I-75 to the West and Butler Plaza, Archer Road to the South.
Butler North will be easily accessed from all directions including the new four-lane, multimodal SW 62nd Boulevard connecter, beginning at Archer Road running north through Butler Plaza and Butler North.
The project is expected to cost $186 million and will create over 1,500 construction jobs. When complete, Butler Town Center will create over 3,500 permanent jobs in the community and have a direct economic impact of $300 million annually.
Construction progress can be viewed via webcam at http://www.butlerexpansion.com/
Butler Plaza, founded over 40 years ago by Clark Butler, grew into a 1-million-square-foot shopping center. This new expansion will bring a total of nearly 2-million-square-feet of retail space to the area.
Butler Enterprises has deep roots in Gainesville beginning with a fruit and produce stand opened in 1939, through the founding of other successful businesses, and the development and several expansions of Butler Plaza, Butler Enterprises has grown.
Deborah Butler, President of Butler Enterprises stated, “My Father always said to never give up on something you believe in. We have worked very hard for nearly 15 years on this project and we are very excited to finally break ground”.
