Aiming to fill a gap in the Lake County industrial market, Cronacher Development Corporation recently announced plans to develop a small bay industrial space tailored for small businesses in Groveland.
Located just south of US 27 within the Christopher C. Ford Commerce Center, the proposed industrial property — known as 1st American Way — is set to contain three buildings on 12.89 acres.
According to Cronacher Development, who purchased the site for $2.7 million earlier this month, the industrial project will be constructed in phases and total 132,000 square feet across the three buildings.
Geared toward businesses requiring between 1,500 and 4,500 square feet of operational space, Cronacher Development Founder Roy Cronacher Jr. said the project is meant for “a segment of the Lake County industrial market that’s currently underserved.”
“Our aim is to create an environment where these businesses can not only operate efficiently in a first-class business park, but truly thrive,” he said in a statement. “The area has seen, and continues to experience, tremendous residential growth. These businesses form the backbone of the community, providing essential services to local residents and fellow businesses.”
Designed in partnership with Orlando-based C4 Architecture and Tampa-based Oxbow Engineering, the buildings will feature modern industrial amenities that include concrete tilt-wall construction, 20-foot clear ceiling heights, oversized loading doors, expanded parking and outdoor storage areas, enhanced digital security features, wide drive aisles and more.
A groundbreaking for the project is scheduled for March 12, with the first tenants expected to move in by early 2027.
Despite the lack of industrial space for small businesses, many larger tenants have moved into the commerce center across the years and helped generate a thriving industrial market in Groveland. Several companies, including Samsung, Domino’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, and Amazon, all have distribution facilities within the center.
Other companies have invested in space within the growing commerce center in recent years, including Richland Capital purchasing over 29 acres for $5 million in 2024 and Atlanta-based Stonemont Financial Group investing $23 million for two sites purchased in December 2021 and May 2022.
After purchasing approximately 94 acres within the commerce park for $10.5 million back in 2021, Indianapolis-based Scannell Properties built and sold their planned warehouse to an entity tied to Goldman Sachs for just over $97 million in June 2025.
The property for the industrial project is adjacent to a Kroger eCommerce distribution facility that was recently closed and led to the loss of about 1,400 Florida jobs.
Kroger was forced to reimburse over $460,000 to Lake County for closing the facility, which had been provided a hefty incentive package as part of a 10-year deal terminated by the Ohio-based national grocery chain.
The amount represented incentive and impact fee rebates received by Kroger from 2022 to 2024. Kroger also passed up its 2025 incentive and rebate payments after the closure announcement, which were expected to total about $400,000.
Have a tip about Central Florida development? Contact me at jwilkins@orlandosentinel.com or 407-754-4980. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook and LinkedIn.
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