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(53) stories found containing 'Eagle Ridge Mall'


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  • Three New Restaurants Planned For Growing US 27 Corridor

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Sep 22, 2022

    While two independently owned and operated new restaurants are planned for opening on Highway 60, including Locorrito and Brake Burger Garage, and two more are planned to open on First Street downtown and on Lincoln Avenue, three more are aiming for construction on US 27 near the Eagle Ridge Mall. All three new restaurants will be located on the east side of US 27, and will occupy among the last of the rapidly-filling mall outparcels. A Starbucks coffee outlet is planned for...

  • Today Only, Regal Eagle Ridge 12 Offers $3 Movies

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Sep 4, 2022

    A one-day only chance to catch some great entertainment for a $3 ticket price happens today, Saturday, September 3 as the Eagle Ridge Mall Regal Cinemas 12 participate in National Cinema Day. The promotion includes all showings all day, including the matinees and evening shows. Spiderman, Top Gun, and other block-buster films are included in the promotion. It's all part of a nation-wide cooperative effort between cinema chains and major production studios to invite back the...

  • Lake Wales Proposed Development Total Passes 12,000 Unit Mark

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Jun 16, 2022
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    The parade of development proposals that have stirred citizen concerns of runaway changes to Lake Wales continued to be evident at the most recent city commission meeting as details emerged for several more projects. A calculation by LakeWalesNews.Net staff has indicated that more than 12,000 new single-family homes, townhomes, apartments, and mobile homes are included in developments already on the drawing table. At least three other projects have been proposed but remain to...

  • New Apartments Contemplated for Chalet Suzanne Road

    Tom Paulson, City Editor|Updated Jun 3, 2022

    EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to include clarifying comments from City Manager James Slaton. Lake Wales City Commissioners will consider the possible development of new apartments on a sprawling tract of land north of Chalet Suzanne Road Tuesday at Tuesday's meeting, beginning at 6:00 PM.. Hillpointe LLC, acting as the agent for owner Star Lake Inc. is requesting a zoning change on approximately 195.23 acres of land to allow HDR-High Density Residential...

  • New Dealership Sign of Growth in Local Business Community

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated May 14, 2022

    The gradual expansion of the Lake Wales Business Community is receiving another boost as the Dyer Auto Group prepares to open their new Chevrolet dealership on US 27 North across from Eagle Ridge Mall. Dyer's new $5 million dealership is a significant expansion from their current location two miles south, according to General Manager David Dlugokecki. The new location will also allow the family-owned business to co-locate their two local new-car dealerships. Dyer Kia moved int...

  • Local Actor Sees His Feature Film Premier In Lake Wales

    Tom Paulson, City Editor|Updated May 7, 2022

    After five years of rising success in the film and television industry, Lake Wales actor and screenwriter Jeff Herman will undoubtedly be there in person Monday night for the release of his new feature-length film when it premiers at the Regal Eagle Ridge Cineplex at 7:00 pm. The film, entitled "No Vacancy," stars Dean Cain, who played Clark Kent in the TV series Lois & Clark, along with roles as the host of Ripley's Believe It or Not! and the sports drama series "Hit the...

  • Commission Workshop Hears Multiple Housing Development Project Proposals

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Mar 19, 2022

    Several new large-scale residential developments took shape in presentations heard by the Lake Wales City Commission during their Wednesday workshop, at which only three commissioners were present. The poor attendance at two meetings this week prompted complaints from Mayor Eugene Fultz. The rapid growth of Lake Wales in the face of multiple large-scale development projects has concerned many citizens as judged by questions submitted at recent elections forums. The latest...

  • Looking Back: The Top Ten News Stories of 2021 in Lake Wales

    News Staff|Updated Jan 12, 2022

    The year just completed saw a number of big stories that impacted the Lake Wales community, and we've taken a look back at them through the perspective of the new year. Here's how our staff ranked the biggest stories of 2021. 1) A development surge saw multiple projects brought forward for consideration by the Lake Wales Development Services and the City Commission, including the long-dormant Winter Haven Corporation project which is expected to include more than 6,000 new...

  • Actions by City, FDOT Open New Potential Apartment Site on Twin Lakes

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Jan 7, 2022

    A large tract of vacant land fronting upon Twin Lakes is now primed for development, thanks to a street redesign as part of the SR 60 bridge project. Lake Wales City Commissioners are expected to take final action this Tuesday to close the right-of-way of a portion of Gibson Avenue that has long divided two small parcels belonging to Hunt Brothers' citrus operations. The former course of the avenue slashed through the two parcels as a 45-degree angle. That street has already b...

  • Future Transportation Maps Show Course of New Parkway Through Lake Wales

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Dec 22, 2021

    Population growth on the US 27 corridor has led transportation planners to plot the future course of an "alternate" route that will parallel the busy inter-regional highway. The proposed limited-access toll expressway will thread its way around the west side of Lake Wales before crossing US 27 near the north city limits to run along the Ridge east of Dundee and Haines City. Planning maps released by the Polk Transportation Planning Organization, a multi-agency body which...

  • Dramatic Video of Crash as Police Cruiser, Two Other Vehicles Destroyed in Crash

    Robert Connors, Managing Editor|Updated Dec 7, 2021

    A Lake Wales police Department vehicle was totaled in a night-time crash Tuesday evening after the officer stopped to aid a the driver of a disabled vehicle. Miraculously, no one was seriously injured in the incident, which was captured by an officer-worn body camera. Lake Wales Officer Jacob Raines has stopped to assist a driver who had gotten a car in a ditch along US 27 just south of Chalet Suzanne Road near Eagle Ridge Mall. Police Chief Chris Velasquez noted that Officer...

  • Serenity Luxury Apartments Fill in Months

    Tom Paulson, City Editor|Updated Nov 10, 2021

    Only months after a May 4 grand opening, the 335-unit Serenity Apartments near Eagle Ridge Mall have hit more than 96% occupancy, and expect to be filled "in a week or two" according to leasing staff on site. "People are coming from all over," said Leslie Adams, leasing consultant for the owners, NM Residential. "We have several new residents who work at the hospital in Sebring. We have people from New York, South Florida, the islands..." People are cominig to Lake Wales for...

  • City Commission Districts to be Re-Drawn

    Brian Ackley, City of Lake Wales|Updated Oct 9, 2021

    Lake Wales will likely have to tweak the borders of its four voting districts since the 2020 U.S. Census showed the city had grown by about 15 percent in the last decade. The official census count in 2020 was 16,351 residents, up from 14.225 in 2010. In order to redraw voting district lines, a special five-person Census Redistricting Committee will be formed to suggest the new boundaries, which will then have to be formally adopted by the city commission. The city has four...

  • Ora "Oz" Caldwell Taken by Covid-19

    News Staff|Updated Oct 4, 2021

    Ora "Oz" Caldwell of Lake Wales passed away September 9th due to complications of Covid-19. Known to many by his nickname of "the Great One," Caldwell was a graduate of West Point and served for many years in the office of the Public Defender in Polk County. He was known to many in the Lake Wales area as a man of generous spirit and manner. "He was an officer and a gentleman," said former Public Defender Marion Moorman. "He was a fantastic lawyer, a true trial lawyer who had...

  • Luxury Serenity Apartments Open Near Eagle Ridge Mall

    Updated Jun 4, 2021

    Nvision Development and Winter Park Construction (WPC) recently completed the $55 million Serenity at Lake Wales, a 335-unit community just north of Eagle Ridge Mall. The project is the first new luxury Class A multifamily community to be built in the municipality since 2005. The development team at Nvision were early to relate the changing demographics in Polk County to the need for luxury multifamily options. Residents began moving in last fall, when WPC delivered initial...

  • Goldstein Seeking Another 3 Years on City Commission

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Sep 23, 2020

    Al Goldstein didn't realize being a Lake Wales city commissioner would be so time-consuming, but he's eager to sign up for another three years. He was elected without opposition in April 2019 after incumbent Commissioner Tonya Stewart failed to qualify to run for re-election. He has already started campaigning for the District 27, Seat 4 that will be filled in the April 2021 municipal election. "I'm finally understanding the job of a city commissioner," Goldstein said....

  • J.C. Penney at Eagle Ridge Mall on Store Closure Lists

    Updated Jun 10, 2020

    The J.C. Penney at Eagle Ridge Mall is among 154 stores to be closed nationwide in the next few months. Nine Florida stores are on the closing list, including the J.C. Penney store at Lakeshore Mall in Sebring. "While closing stores is always an extremely difficult decision, our store optimization strategy is vital to ensuring we emerge from both Chapter 11 and the COVID-19 pandemic as a stronger retailer with greater financial flexibility to allow us to continue serving our...

  • Commissioner Requests Additional Lake Wales Bus Stops

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated May 26, 2020

    When Gus hops on the bus he may have some extra stop options in Lake Wales. Erin Killebrew, director of external affairs with the Citrus Connection, gave city commissioners an update on the four local routes at their May 19 meeting. Killebrew said the current routes take riders from Lake Wales to Haines City, Lake Wales to the Eagle Ridge Mall, the mall to Legoland and the mall to Babson Park. The transit system is asking the city to nearly double its annual contribution to...

  • Charter Schools Preparing Offer to Purchase Old High School Complex

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Feb 12, 2020

    The Lake Wales Charter Schools are looking to breathe new life into the old high school complex by locating Bok Academy North on the site off Seminole Avenue. Charter Schools Superintendent Jesse Jackson said his staff is working with Lake Wales City Manager Ken Fields and may have a proposal for the city commission at their next meeting as the Community Redevelopment Agency Feb. 18. The charter schools approached the city two years ago asking for a donation of the school...

  • Wawa Credits Success to Valuing Employees, Servant Leadership

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Jan 1, 2020

    A Wawa convenience retail store manager who completes 25 years can retire a multimillionaire because of the company's lucrative profit-sharing program, according to George Wood, who will become the company's chairman of the board next June. Wood will take over from his brother Dick, who is also his next door neighbor in the exclusive gated community of Mountain Lake, just outside the Lake Wales city limits. The brothers are the third generation to own homes in Mountain Lake,...

  • City Growth Keeps Development Office Busy

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Nov 6, 2019

    Recognizing her increased responsibilities in development services as the City of Lake Wales experiences a growth spurt, Kathy Bangley recently was promoted to assistant city manager for planning and economic development. Bangley's promotion carries with it an annual salary of $98,000, a pay increase of 10 percent over what she was making in July. Bangley's office has been extremely busy working with numerous developers planning new restaurants, retail establishments and...

  • Puppy Thief Nabs $1,500 Shih-Tzu

    Updated Nov 6, 2019

    Lake Wales Police need help in identifying a suspect caught on video carting a $1,500 Shih-Tzu puppy out of a pet store at Eagle Ridge Mall. Furbabies Pet Store reported the theft about 5:35 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30. The black and white puppy, which is microchipped, was in a display crib. Surveillance video shows the suspect picking up the puppy, placing it in a bag from another store and exiting without paying. Anyone who knows the identity of the suspect or the whereabouts...

  • Leadership Lake Wales Graduates 13 from 9-month Program

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Aug 1, 2019

    Thirteen area residents completed their 9-month program June 6 and became graduates of Leadership Lake Wales Class 23. After enjoying a pasta dinner at the American Legion at Eagle Ridge Mall, the classmates talked about learning many new things about Lake Wales and forming bonds that will last well into the future. The Leadership Lake Wales group held an opening retreat in September and a closing retreat in May and met monthly for a daylong session devoted to a particular top...

  • American Legion Post Looking for New Venue After Leaving Mall

    Chevon T. Baccus APR, Executive Editor|Updated Jul 30, 2019

    American Legion Post 71 is once again looking for a new home. The post closed its Area 71 Restaurant and Bar at Eagle Ridge Mall in June after six months of operation. Past Commander Andy Anderson said the mall operation was successful until Area 71 began experiencing problems with its air conditioning and sewer system. The final blow came after a refrigerator breakdown caused the post to lose about $1,500 in food. "When the people don't come, when the mall itself is hot, it's...

  • Superheroes to Take Over Half of Eagle Ridge Movie Screens April 25

    Updated Apr 24, 2019

    Eagle Ridge Mall Regal Cinemas in Lake Wales will devote half of its 12 movie screens Thursday night, April 25 to the nationwide rollout of the superhero fantasy sci-fi thriller Avengers: End Game. But unlike some theaters that plan to run the movie into the wee hours and overnight, Regal will send moviegoers home before midnight. Pre-sales nationwide hit more than $120 million by Tuesday with industry experts predicting $300 million in sales for the first four days....

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