A long-vacant flower shop on South Florida Avenue will be redesigned to serve as the home of two new food destinations.
The vintage 1930s gas station at 1212 S. Florida Ave. Alex Delannoy, representing the developer has presented proposed plans to Lakeland Community Redevelopment Agency to secure $75,000 in grants toward property improvements to split the property for two incoming businesses.
Delannoy said he has two executed leases for the property: one for an established ice cream shop, Bright Ice Scoop Shop, and a new wine bar and possible cellar concept run by a Lakeland native.
The homemade ice cream and coffee shop would be Bright Ice’s fifth location since the business launched out of Tampa Bay in 2019. Its menu includes small-batch handcrafted ice creams, espresso-based drinks, pastries, milkshakes and merchandise, according to the Lakeland CRA’s documents.
The second business would be a new venture, according to Delannoy, who is working with a Lakeland native who moved to California to pursue a career in wine. The unnamed individual has about 30 years of experience in the wine industry that she’d like to bring back to her hometown.
“Her dream has been to come back and live here, and open her shop,” Delannoy said.
The $75,000 in CRA grants will be used to help offset costs of the exterior facade and site improvements, estimated to total $347,050 to renovate the property for new tenants.