WMG Development opens new Publix-anchored center

Real estate investment and development firm WMG Development has opened its newest shopping center.

Shoppes at Verdana Village is a 78,000-sq.-ft. outdoor center anchored by Publix and includes additional tenants such as Publix Liquor, Heartland Dental, Dunkin’ Donuts, The Nail Spa Estero, New York Pizza & Pasta, and The UPS Store. The new development is located in Estero, Fla., just south of Fort Myers.

“We are thrilled to deliver the Shoppes at Verdana Village as a critical community amenity for Estero residents to enjoy for years to come,” said Craig Kopko, executive VP of development at WMG. “I can’t stress enough the importance of team members who are wholly focused on bettering the communities in which they serve to bring projects like this to fruition.”

The full-service Publix supermarket features a hot bar with to-go subs and salads, and a unique mezzanine feature where visitors can dine and relax. Roughly 200 jobs were created with the opening of the grocery-anchored center, growing the local Estero economy. 

The land for the project was originally owned by Cameratta Companies, which led the East Lee County housing expansion in recent years. The family-run company looked to WMG to deliver retail options to complement its Verdana Village residential community.

“Cameratta Companies supported our development efforts throughout the entire duration of the project,” said Aryel Perring, regional development director at WMG. “We hope to work with their team of like-minded individuals more in the future after this successful project delivery.”

WMG Development was founded in 1995 by Dr. Rick Workman to assist in the growth of Heartland Dental, the nation’s largest dental chain with more than 1,700 locations. WMG owns and operates close to 400 properties in 35 states, with 58 currently in development, according to its website.