The 2990 sq ft Western Auto Store, complete with “air-conditioning for winter and summer,” opened in February 1952. Mayor Curtis Hixon cut the ribbon for the grand opening. Western Auto was the precursor to larger stores like Home Depot, selling auto parts, major appliances, gardening tools, and other household goods. The brand sold out to Sears, who sold the division to Advance Auto Parts in 1998. The building was demolished in 2002.

Casual gourmet restaurant GrillSmith began construction of a 5900 sq ft 200-seat establishment in 2004 and had a 10-year run, closing in 2015. In 2018, a new Brazilian-style steakhouse, Terra Gaucha, opened to the public. The A&P store at the opposite end of the Plaza opened in 1950 and permanently closed in 1970, leaving Kash n’ Karry to open in the spot in 1971. That store closed in mid-1981 making room for the grand opening of national fabric chain Hancock Fabrics in October of that year. Hancock filed for bankruptcy in 2016 and was bought out by Michael’s Stores Incorporated, which closed all its branches. In 2018, MidFlorida Federal Credit Union opened here.

 © Chip Weiner. All rights reserved