November 20th saw the opening of Artegon Marketplace Orlando . This 1.1 million square foot shopping area and artisan marketplace will be on International Drive, the middle of Orlando’s tourism. Even though this is not directly on Disney property – it is close enough that we thought you’d want to know about it!
Artegon Marketplace Orlando is being developed by former Festival Bay Mall by Paragon Outlet Partners, LLC best known as one of the most influential and forward-thinking development firms in the nation’s retail real estate industry. This will be a new shopping concept for Orlando which was inspired by other marketplaces such as Seattle’s Pike Place, Boston’s Faneuil Hall, New York’s Chelsea Market and the London Flower Market. Paragon redeveloped the former Belz Factory Outlet into the now well-known and highly-successful Prime Outlets Orlando which eventually were sold to Simon Properties. Steven Sless, executive vice president for Paragon Outlet Partners said “It’s fantastic to see our vision coming to life.”
A particular feature of the center will be Florida’s largest daily indoor artisan marketplace. The Village at Artegon Marketplace Orlando will have 165 artisanal shops and stores where local suppliers will sell and showcase their products and services. They will include Florida Soap Company, Poca’s Hottest, Vagabond Traveler, David Ramirez Chocolates and Kathryn McHenry of SOS Art Studio, along with a many others one-of-a-kind artisans who will be offering eco-friendly handbags and accessories, jewelry, sculpture, mixed media artwork, custom clothing and locally-sourced foods.
Sless expects that the artisan marketplace to be fully leased by opening day. “We have experienced a marked increase in inquiries over the past month as interest and excitement builds among Central Florida’s top artisans and craftspeople,” Sless said. “With each passing day, we are seeing new and interesting concepts and handcrafted works arrive to our leasing office as entrepreneurs explore our exceptional business opportunity.”
Along with The Village at Artegon Marketplace Orlando there will be some of the biggest brands in dining and retail. Some of these anchor stores will include Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Cinemark Theaters, Sheplers Western Stores, Radbourne Center, Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill and Berghoff’s Octoberfest. The latter two venues are scheduled to open between fall 2014 and spring 2015.
There will also be more than 20 in-line retailers enhancing the guest experience, including GODS & MONSTERS, the first high-end innovative comics and collectibles store of its kind in the country, and the nation’s first International Hot Glass, a glass gallery showcasing artists from around the world and a studio where guests can work with a professional glass blower to create their own piece of art.
“We’ve designed Artegon Marketplace Orlando to be a highly immersive and interactive experience unlike any other in Central Florida,” Sless explained. Beyond the artisan marketplace, anchor tenants and in-line retailers, other defining features include:
The Great Hall with an expansive “Climb Adventure” ropes course (paid admission) and a variety of food offerings, from coffee and Danish to pizza, sandwiches and salads.
Daily food trucks.
Free Wi-Fi both indoors and in the outdoor plaza areas.
Caricaturists, henna and jawa tattoo painters, canvas airbrush artists and other edgy performers.
Streetmosphere performers, from jugglers to singers to stilt walkers, strolling throughout the shopping attraction on weekends.
An industrial-chic environment punctuated by heavy wooden support beams, exposed brick and weathered steel.
Thearon Scurlock, director of marketing added , “Artegon Marketplace Orlando is poised to become a must-see attraction for residents, visitors and conventioneers alike, providing them with a new place to experience the sights, sounds and flavors unique to Central Florida.” “Guests can discover authentic local culture and take home a hand-made treasure and lasting memento of their trip to Orlando.”
Artegon Marketplace Orlando will be great for group outings as it will be interactive and entertaining. This will be especially great for community events, off-site convention outings, corporate parties and bus tours. Mears Transportation Group is the official transportation partner for convenient taxi service, and trolley service is available along I-RIDE Trolleys’ Red Line at stop #3.
The center provides ample, free surface parking with 5,800 spaces. Operating hours are 10am -9pm Monday-Saturday and 11am-7pm on Sunday. Artisan studios will be open Monday-Saturday 11am-8pm and noon-6pm on Sunday. Artegon Marketplace Orlando is located at 5250 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819. Local residents will especially appreciate easy access to the center via W. Oak Ridge Road, Sand Lake Road, and other alternatives to I-4.
To learn more about Artegon Marketplace Orlando, visit ArtegonOrlando.com. Like on Facebook and Follow on Twitter and Instagram #ArtegonMarketplace
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