BELLEVIEW, FL (352today.com) – Two nationally known chains will be opening their doors in the “City with Small Town Charm” in the spring of 2025.
Chipotle and Starbucks will be the latest businesses to call Belleview home.
The Mexican grill restaurant and upscale coffee shop will offer residents a better variety when passing through the city taking on a transitional flavor, creating a bridge between mom-and-pop businesses and larger and more well-known establishments.
“Hopefully, the next step will be a steakhouse chain or something similar that so many people are asking for,” said Belleview mayor Christine Dobkowski. “I think it’s a step in the right direction.”
The incoming businesses purchased the front parcel of the Belleview Hills manufactured home and RV Park, which is in close to proximity to the city’s Wendy’s location.
“I think it opens a lot of opportunities for our city,” said Dobkowski. “It’s going to draw more people in.”
Belleview appears to be poised for additional growth, as it continues to draw interest from a number of entities.
“It just goes to show the fact that the south part of Marion County is really the gold zone of economic development right now,” said Dobkowski. “With our location so close to The Villages not only do we have the people from The Villages coming into Belleview visiting and driving through, but we’re also becoming a bedroom community for the people who work in The Villages.”
Dobkowski says that the city has a lot of construction going on because of the high demand for housing with much of that having to do with the people who are commuting to their jobs in The Villages.
“They want to live a little bit closer so they can get to work more conveniently than if they lived further out in Ocala or other parts of Marion County,” said Dobkowski.