February 2022 – Lakewood Ranch
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    Month: February 2022

    RANCH RECEIVES NATIONAL GOLD AWARD FOR LIFESTYLE

    Posted on by SparkDev

    RANCH RECEIVES NATIONAL GOLD AWARD FOR LIFESTYLE

    Lakewood Ranch was recognized with a gold award for best lifestyle program by the National Association of Home Builders’ National Sales and Marketing Council at its recent annual 2022 awards ceremony.

    Lakewood Ranch’s Waterside Place was awarded the top honor for community lifestyle program of the year. Waterside Place is home to the popular Lakewood Ranch Farmers’ Market, which draws more than 5,000 visitors each week, and Ranch Nite Wednesdays, which hosts a food truck rally and the largest amateur cornhole league in the state, as well as a night market on the second Wednesday of each month. The lakeside town center has quickly become a beloved destination for the community since opening at the end of 2021.

    The Waterside Place program is part of Lakewood Ranch’s overall emphasis on lifestyle, which includes two other town centers, a sports campus, nine community parks,  150 miles of sidewalks and trails, more than 60 clubs, and a parks and recreation program. Activities include both virtual and in-person options, and range in age from toddlers to Boomers. There are also annual festivals and celebrations like the Irish Celtic Fest, Tribute to Heroes Parade, Boo Fest, and Holidays Around the Ranch.

    “Lifestyle is one of the primary drivers when prospective buyers are choosing where to live,” said Laura Cole, senior vice president of LWR Communities. “People select the community first, then the home. There has been a growing emphasis on creating and nurturing a multi-faceted lifestyle experience within Lakewood Ranch, including markets, sports leagues, holiday celebrations, clubs, and classes. This focus is a prime contributor to the fact that Lakewood Ranch was named the best-selling master-planned community for all ages in the country for 2021.”

    The awards, known as “The Nationals,” honor the best in the building industry for “their determination, integrity, creativity and resilience.” Started in 1982 as the Institute of Residential Marketing Awards, The Nationals recognizes honorees across various disciplines of the new home industry by individuals and sales teams. During a four-day judging process, a panel of 13 industry professionals from across the country determined the award winners from a field of over 1200 entries.

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    About Lakewood Ranch

    Lakewood Ranch is the 33,000+-acre award-winning master-planned community in Sarasota and Manatee counties on the West Coast of Florida. Just minutes from the Gulf Coast beaches and cultural assets in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch is already home to more than 55,000 residents and features A-rated schools, the Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, the Sarasota Polo Club, the 75-acre Premier Sports Campus, three town centers that include theaters, shopping and dining, and more than 5.5 million square feet of commercial property. For more information, visit lakewoodranch.com.

    About Waterside Place

    Located in the village of Waterside, Waterside Place is Lakewood Ranch’s newest town center, and the only waterfront retail and lifestyle destination in Sarasota. Waterside Place features a curated mix of food and drink, beauty and wellness, and arts and entertainment on the water’s edge of Kingfisher Lake. For more information on businesses and events visit watersideplace.com.

    Agave Bandido to Bring Fresh Mexican-Inspired Cuisine and Cocktails

    Posted on by SparkDev

    Agave Bandido to Bring Fresh Mexican-Inspired Cuisine and Cocktails to Waterside Place at Lakewood Ranch

    LAKEWOOD RANCH, FLA. (FEB. 17, 2022) – Mexican-inspired restaurant and tequileria Agave Bandido is the latest restaurant to join the offerings at Waterside Place, with a planned opening in late 2022.

    The 4,000 square-foot restaurant will feature a beautiful indoor bar as its focal point, offering more than 250 tequilas and mezcals. The 2,000 square feet of patio space boasts a separate outdoor bar with a picturesque backdrop of the lake.

    Conceptualized by Wolverine Management President Mathew Baum and Chief Operating Officer Matt Faul, Agave Bandido will bring a vibrant, city-inspired dining atmosphere to Lakewood Ranch. The duo says most of their personal decision-making inspired the aesthetics of Agave Bandido. Everything from the way food is served to the bar layout is determined based upon what they would prefer as consumers.

    “Our focus has always been to grow in highly sought-after suburban areas, which may have minimal hip locations for dining and nightlife,” says Baum. “People want to have an exciting dining experience without driving half an hour into the city. Agave Bandido’s cuisine and atmosphere will offer those lively downtown elements conveniently close to home.”

    Recently named the “Best Lifestyle Program in the U.S” by the National Association of Homebuilders, Waterside Place’s vibrant lifestyle and suburban Lakewood Ranch location was the logical location for its second restaurant.

    Adds Faul, “What excited us most about Lakewood Ranch is its strong sense of community and emphasis on events and lifestyle, which is what we’re all about. Waterside Place is the perfect location for our fun, energetic brand.”

    Agave Bandido at Waterside Place will offer patrons handmade cocktails and a full menu of dishes made in-house daily with fresh ingredients. The restaurant will feature many of the same design aesthetics as its flagship location in Pembroke Pines, Fla., including eye-catching murals and décor.

    “Our mantra, when it comes to leasing restauranteurs at Waterside Place, is to look for only best-in-class,” said Kirk Boylston, president of Lakewood Ranch Commercial. “The goal is to transform Waterside Place into a regional foodie destination where residents and visitors can enjoy a diverse array of culinary experiences. We’re thrilled to welcome Agave Bandido’s Mexican-inspired cuisine and know the restaurant will be an exciting addition to the Lakewood Ranch lifestyle.”

    Waterside Place serves as the heart of Waterside – Lakewood Ranch’s first Sarasota village – and offers an elevated community experience that extends beyond that of a traditional town center. Situated on a 36-acre peninsula overlooking the mile-long Kingfisher Lake, the development blends arts and entertainment destinations with 115,000 square feet of unique in-line and freestanding commercial, retail and office space; diverse dining options; an eight-acre island park; miles of nature trails; communal “pop-up” spaces, a water splash park, and more.

    Waterside Village will feature more than 5,000 for-sale and rental homes in a variety of neighborhoods ranging from $280k to over $2M. All neighborhoods are connected to Waterside Place via trails and many homes will benefit from water taxis to the town center.

    For more information about Waterside and Waterside Place, visit www.WatersidePlace.com. For more information on Lakewood Ranch, please contact Lisa Barnott at 941-757-1542.