2025 Top 10 Retail Center Experiences: No. 9 Butler Shopping Center District
In Gainesville, Fla., the Butler name is synonymous with retail. Butler Enterprises’ CEO Deborah Butler’s grandfather opened the family’s first store in the north Florida town 85 years ago, and she was immersed in the business at a young age.
Deborah took the heralded retail authority Bob Gibbs’s course at Harvard and toured retail centers with Easton developer Yaromir Steiner, whose own career in retail development began in Florida.
“Both Bob and Yaromir always emphasized that you need to go and see what your competitors are doing, that you constantly have to make your center relevant to the community,” Butler said. “You have to take what is old and make it new again.”
Two years ago, Butler Enterprises did a complete façade renovation in its central area of the 1.8 million-sq.-ft. center, replacing, replacing the old Spanish clay tile roof with new metal roofing. When the center’s Whole Foods decided to upgrade its interior, Butler upped the game by installing a fountain outside of the store.
The center’s tenant list is constantly being updated, as well. Recent arrivals include Barnes & Noble, Crumbl Cookies, Warby Parker, Ford’s Garage, DSW, and Kendra Scott. Tenants that report their stores at Butler are ranked No. 1 for visits per square foot in Florida include Sam’s Club, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Cava and Dave’s Hot Chicken.
“We’re on a constant journey here at Butler. We take advantage of the history of the property, but we always go out and see what other developers are doing,” Butler said. “Then your market continues to love it and respects you for it.”
