Plus, your neighborhood as a dog.
 
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90º | 40% chance of precipitation
Sunrise 7:03 a.m. | Sunset 7:54 p.m.
 

It’s time to get Sears-ious

What do you want to see in the former Sears building?
The exterior of the former Sears store entrance. The Sears logo is faded into the building, and a "For Lease" sign is up.
The Sears sign may be gone, but a “For Lease” sign has taken its place. | Photo by LALtoday
It was just over a year ago that plans were announced for an apartment complex at the site of the former Sears in the Lakeland Square Mall. Now, residential plans are on the back burner as the owners seek to lease the building instead — and they want your ideas for what you want to see take over the spot.

Flacks Group, the Miami-based development company that purchased the property last year, is working with Lakeland’s own SVN | Saunders Ralston Dantzler commercial real estate firm to find the perfect tenant. Advisors Tyler Davis + David Hungerford invited us along to peek inside the empty building and share a few ideas for what could fit.

An empty Sears store interior

A new tenant could breathe life back into the space that’s been closed since 2018.

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Photo by LALtoday

It’s hard to imagine just how huge the Sears property is without seeing it for yourself. It’s upwards of 155,000 sqft — that’s about the size of three Publix supermarkets. It also sits on an 11.5-acre lot with plenty of parking space. The location near I-4 lends itself to national brands, and it’s listed at a cool $10.9 million.

While apartments could still be on the table for the future, SVN is hoping to fill the building soon with something Lakelanders are excited for. That’s where you come in.

Side by side images of someone putting a golf ball and playing pickleball in the former Sears building

The large space could be a perfect entertainment or sports spot — SVN’s advisors even played golf + pickleball inside.

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Photo by LALtoday

What types of businesses do you think would make a good fit for the space? Get your gears turning with some of the ideas Davis and Hungerford shared, plus a few of our own:
  • A large retailer (think: Bass Pro Shops or IKEA)
  • Indoor sports, like pickleball courts
  • An entertainment venue with activities like mini golf
  • A food + drink destination
  • A hub for the arts
Do you have an idea that could impact one of Lakeland’s largest developments? Just share your thoughts below to make your voice heard.
Asked

What should go in the former Sears space?
A. I’m ready to shop.
B. Let’s get sporty.
C. We need entertainment.
D. Food + drink, please.
E. I’m all about the arts.
F. I was hoping for apartments.
G. Something else
We're all (S)ears
 
Events
Monday, Aug. 26
  • Low-Impact Exercise Class | Monday, Aug. 26 | 5:30-6:30 p.m. | Coleman-Bush Building | Free | Increase circulation + improve heart health in this low-intensity workout class.
Tuesday, Aug. 27
  • Lunch and Lawn: Let’s Talk Turf! | Tuesday, Aug. 27 | 12-1 p.m. | Lake Crago Recreational Center | Free | Lunch is on UF/IFAS Extension Polk County at this workshop about Florida-friendly landscaping.
Wednesday, Aug. 28
  • Line Dancing & Karaoke | Wednesday, Aug. 28 | 5-11:45 p.m. | Union Hall | Free entry | Cut loose on the dance floor or take the mic onstage.
Thursday, Aug. 29
  • Trivia Night | Thursday, Aug. 29 | 6-8 p.m. | Bonnet Springs Park | Free entry | Head to the Rooftop Bar to answer “Friends"-themed questions and enjoy happy hour deals.
Friday, Aug. 30
  • Experience Keel Farms: Winery Tour | Friday, Aug. 30 | Times vary | Keel Farms | $25 | See where your favorite wines, beers, and ciders are made — you’ll even get to taste a few.
Events calendar here
Click here to have your event featured.
 
News Notes
Number
  • 142,845. That’s about how many Polk residents commute to work elsewhere — more than the 141,488 who live and work here. Polk’s median income is lower than the I-4 Corridor’s median, meaning that many of Polk’s top earners live outside of the county. (The Ledger)
Civic
  • Amid massive growth, Polk County Commissioners approved a study to see how much they should raise the impact fees builders must pay to offset infrastructure costs. Workshops are set to begin this week, and a public hearing is set for Tuesday, Sept. 17.
Edu
  • School is in session at IDEA Lakeland, with around 500 students enrolled for its first year. The charter school is considered a “School of Hope,” an alternative education option near a low-performing school. (The Ledger)
Biz
  • Community members raised concerns over The Well’s future after its owners received notice that the city would not renew its lease. City officials clarified that the notice gives its owners the option to negotiate another lease or get first rights to purchasing the building. (The Ledger)
Open
  • Guests were seeing stars at Hope House’s grand opening in Bartow last week: Erin + Ben Napier of HGTV’s “Home Town.” Erin’s Instagram post about the organization sparked a surge of support for the new home for expectant mothers. (The Lakelander)
Arts
  • Unnamed donors — or should we say, phantoms of the opera? — are stepping in to help arts organizations reeling from state budget vetoes. Theatre Winter Haven lost out on $145,000 in expected funding, but it recently received $35,000 in anonymous donations. (Bay News 9)
Cause
  • If today’s news has you feeling philanthropic, make a donation of your own to Little Bus Books. The team is seeking magazines, adult coloring books, sketch pads, reading glasses, and book lights for its No Covers free bookshop program.
Watch
  • Twenty years after one of the most destructive hurricane seasons our area has ever seen, Polk County has released the documentary “2004 Trifecta.” The short film shows how the community banded together after hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Jeanne ripped through Polk.
Family
Pets
Finance
  • Did you know some credit cards can actually help you get out of debt faster? (It sounds wild, but it’s true.) The secret: Find a credit card with a “0% intro APR” period for balance transfers. These are hands down some of the best.*
Visit Central Florida
 
Pets

Home is where the dog is

Which dog breed are you based on your Lakeland neighborhood?
A large and small dog walk around the Frances Langford Promenade on Lake Mirror in Lakeland
It’s not such a ruff life if you live in Lakeland. | Photo by @izzieandjedi
It’s National Dog Day, so we’ve matched a few Lakeland neighborhoods with dog breeds based on their temperaments, according to the American Kennel Club.

Cleveland Heights: Boxer
With easy access to Lake Hollingsworth, the Lakeland Family YMCA, and several public parks, Cleveland Heights has to be the active and fun-loving boxer.

Downtown: Australian shepherd
These pups were bred to work, lining up with the downtown neighborhood, where you’ll find Lakelanders mixing work and play.

Lake Morton: Standard poodle
Historic homeowners and students alike are proud to call East + South Lake Morton home, a perfect fit with the proud and intelligent poodle.

Dixieland: French bulldog
This adaptable breed reminds us of Dixieland, a popular area that’s constantly seeing new businesses and rolling with the changes.

Camphor Heights: Golden retriever
This community is small, tight-knit, and friendly — what better dog could represent it than a devoted golden retriever?

Which breed matches your neighborhood best?
Paw-lease share your thoughts
The Buy

The Buy 8.26.24 (Affiliate)
An Amazon Essentials men’s long-sleeve poplin shirt, currently 55% off for Labor Day. Stock up on this wardrobe basic in classic patterns and colors (think: French blue, washed black, and blue-white checked).
Shop Amazon's Labor Day sale
 
The Wrap
 
Connor Jacobson

Today’s edition by:
Connor
From the editor
I’m assuming we’ll get more than a few responses calling for a Trader Joe’s in the Sears building. While I’d love to have closer access to its apple cider doughnuts this fall, I think the building’s 500 parking spots might be too much — you know they love to go into places with tight parking.
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