VENICE, Fla. (Oct. 28, 2025) – The newest phase of Downtown Wellen, the area’s hotspot for dining, shopping and entertainment, is introducing a new lineup of merchants catering to foodies, fashionistas and families. The fresh mix of restaurants, fashion and lifestyle boutiques, beauty and wellness services, and professional offices elevate social engagement and community experience.
“This next phase of Downtown Wellen reflects our commitment to creating vibrant, engaging spaces where people can connect and have conversations – whether they’re meeting for breakfast, enjoying a fitness class, browsing local shops or simply gathering with neighbors,” said Rick Severance, president of Wellen Park, the nation’s sixth best-selling master-planned community. “These new additions were curated with resident feedback in mind and are designed to enrich everyday life and strengthen the sense of community that makes Wellen Park so special.”
With planned merchant openings expected in spring and summer 2026, downtown’s second phase also includes plans for a boutique hotel, new luxury apartments and a dog park. The newest retail phase is 100% leased.
Restaurants and Cafes
Easy Does It Comfort Kitchen: Get ready for comfort food with a creative twist — juicy burgers, hearty sandwiches and “monstah” tater tots from Massachusetts transplant Chef Spiros Stogiannis.
Le Maison: Start the day right with freshly baked breads, pastries and croissants at this authentic French patisserie. Whether the craving is for something sweet or savory, Le Maison is sure to satisfy.
Agave Bandido: With vibrant decor, artistic murals and inventive culinary flair, this Mexican-inspired restaurant and tequila bar will deliver contemporary cuisine, a lively atmosphere and a bold, immersive dining experience.
Grain & Berry: A favorite for health-conscious customers, the popular superfood cafe specializes in handcrafted items made with the freshest available ingredients. Dive into acai bowls, signature toasts, vegan flatbreads and quesadillas, or sip an array of fresh-pressed juices and smoothies.
Retail and Lifestyle
Seaside & Co.: A unique destination, the retailer seamlessly blends leisure, lifestyle and retail with coastal-inspired clothing, home decor, a wine bar and lounge.
Hudson Square Boutique: Featuring stylish women’s resort wear clothing and accessories, this New York-based retailer was established in 2019 by Wellen Park resident Danielle MacConel. The boutique offers high quality, on-trend fashion at affordable prices.
Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming: Tails wag at this one-stop shop for gourmet treats, accessories and grooming services catering to your four-legged family members.
Health, Beauty and Wellness
James Griffith Salon: Stylists at the award-winning full-service salon are trained in the fine art of French haircutting, balayage, extensions and color, and know the latest fashion and beauty trends.
Club Pilates: Part of the nationally acclaimed fitness franchise, the studio offers low-impact, full-body workouts for all skill levels and classes that challenge the mind and body.
Mattamy Homes Design Center: Providing homebuyers with a personalized experience to design their dream home — from flooring and cabinetry to fixtures and finishes — with expert guidance at every step.
Professional Offices
AvSKY: A private aviation brokerage, as well as a service and parts dealer.
Allstate Fisher Family Insurance: Family-owned insurance provider serving the local community with exceptional service, offering auto, home, business, life and retirement solutions.
J&B Insurance Partners: Built on a foundation of trust, expertise and the commitment of helping individuals secure their financial future, J&B offers health, life and annuity financial products.
Mattamy Homes: North America’s largest privately owned home builder, Mattamy Homes, is set to open its Southwest Florida Division headquarters in Downtown Wellen.
Wellen Park’s downtown experience is crafted through thoughtful partnerships and a passion for creating community engagement. Featuring two mixed-used two-story buildings spanning 44,000 square feet, Phase II was designed by New Orleans-based Trapolin-Peer Architects, who also designed Downtown Wellen’s existing two-story office building located along Wellen Park Boulevard. With a signature tower and canopied patios for outdoor dining, the buildings will offer restaurants and retail shops on the ground floor while the upper floor offers professional offices.
The downtown area will also be home to The Wellmar Hotel, a Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel featuring 120+ rooms and a full-service rooftop bar. Additional details will be announced at a later date. Also coming soon are additional luxury apartments and a 2-acre fenced dog park with agility equipment and open green space, as well as shaded seating area for pet parents.
About Downtown Wellen
Thoughtfully designed spaces in Downtown Wellen create unique outdoor experiences – from intimate parks, a natural playground and a living room shaded by a decades-old relocated live oak tree to larger gathering spaces like the Great Lawn for community festivals, markets, celebrations and events, and the lakefront fountain and splashpad. Solis Hall, an elegant rental venue, features an outdoor stage, a lakefront patio and an easy flow from inside spaces to neighboring alfresco areas.
The pedestrian-friendly downtown emphasizes heartfelt connections to community and nature and celebrates a waterfront vibe with the 80-acre Grand Lake providing a scenic backdrop and opportunities for fishing and paddle sports. Visitors can enjoy time on the water and along downtown’s 3-mile lakefront trail with on-site bicycle, e-bike, kayak and paddleboard rentals at Kind Vibes Outfitters.
The Yard food park offers a playful outdoor environment with a dining area, games and activities. Casual food and beverage choices are served counter style from retrofitted shipping containers.
Downtown Wellen is located at 19745 Wellen Park Blvd., Venice. Learn more at wellenpark.com/shop-dine.
About Wellen Park
With a focus on wellness, community connections and a vibrant lifestyle, Wellen Park offers an array of homes and neighborhoods built by leading national and regional builders. Ranked the No. 6 best-selling community in the nation for 2024 by prominent national real estate consultants RCLCO and John Burns, Wellen Park is planned for more than 50,000 residents and 22,500 homes at full buildout. The community is currently home to 10,000 residents who enjoy on-site recreational and fitness opportunities, amenities, events, Downtown Wellen and proximity to the area’s top-rated Gulf of Mexico beaches.
Wellen Park continues to expand residential and lifestyle choices with new gated neighborhoods featuring private amenities, low-maintenance villas, coach homes and condominiums, plus custom, semi-custom and single-family homes, including the community’s first enclave for active adults 55 and over.
Traditional apartment and single-family home rentals are also available as is world-class independent, assisted living and memory care.
