20-02-2025
Two hotels could rise on the site of a popular Florida mall. See what's in the works
A Florida outlet mall flanking Interstate 75 could soon be getting a makeover that includes two hotels on the sprawling site.
Ellenton premium Outlets is one of large large discount shopping center that travelers from South Florida to Tampa Bay or Orlando frequently stop at during their trips.
So, what's next for Ellenton?
Here's what to know:
Mall plans for expansion
Gulf Coast Factory Shops Limited Partnership filed paperwork with Manatee County to add two extended-stay hotels on the 68-acre site at 5593 Factory Shops Blvd. in Ellenton. If approved, hundreds of parking spaces would be removed from the outlet mall, records say.
According to building records, the company requested approval to build a 124-room Hilton LivSmart Studios hotel and a 122-room WoodSpring Suites hotel on the existing parking lot at Ellenton Premium Outlets.
Hilton LivSmart Studios is planned to go in the parking lot area south of the Ellenton Ice and Sports Complex, building records show. WoodSpring Suites hotel is slated for the parking lot to the ice rink's east just south of 29th Street E.
The planned development shows the planned hotels could greatly reduce the number of available parking spaces at the popular outlet mall. There are just over 2,400 spaces at the shops now, but the hotels would remove over 400 available spaces, records show.
Both hotels won't be taller than four stories, according to building records.
What are Hilton's LivSmart Studios and WoodSpring Suites?
Hilton unveiled LivSmart Studios in January 2024. It's a hybrid between a studio apartment style and extended stay style, and it was created for people staying 20 nights or longer, according to a news release.
The hotel has a kitchen with a full-sized refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave and two-burner stovetop, the news release said.
WoodSpring Suites is also an extended-stay hotel but at an affordable price. Originally Value Brands, the hotel changed its name to WoodSpring Suites in 2015. Choice Hotels bought the hotel chain in 2018.
There are more than 200 WoodSpring Suite locations in the country. Each suite has an in-room kitchen with free WiFi, and around-the-clock access to the guest laundry room and vending machines. The rooms are also pet-friendly.
What happens next?
According to the application, the hotel proposal needs a public hearing in Manatee County. A public hearing date has not been announced yet.
