Babcock Ranch debuts largest commercial center yet

Shopping, dining, business and health care options at Babcock Ranch just expanded with the opening of the town’s largest commercial development to date — The Shoppes at Yellow Pine. 

Developed by Kitson & Partners, The Shoppes at Yellow Pine spans 120,000 square feet and marks another milestone for the solar-powered community that straddles Charlotte and Lee counties. 

Syd Kitson, founder and CEO of Kitson & Partners, and Tom Hoban, the firm’s president and chief investment officer, were joined by state Rep. Vanessa Oliver; John Couris, president and CEO of Florida Health Sciences Center and Tampa General Hospital; Adam Smith, Tampa General’s executive vice president and chief ambulatory officer; and Michael Wynn, president of Sunshine Ace Hardware, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 21. 

Guests toured the new shopping and health care complex, which welcomed its first tenants in April. The latest openings include Carvel, HomeGoods and Yummy Express, joining Sunshine Ace Hardware, The Aesthetics Lounge & Spa, Five Below, Five Guys, Hope Chiropractic, Jersey Mike’s, Marshalls, Panera Bread, TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track, Ulta Beauty and Verizon. 

“This grand opening represents the next exciting chapter for Babcock Ranch,” Kitson said. “Yellow Pine captures what makes this town so unique — a vibrant, sustainable place where people can live, work and enjoy life with everything they need close to home.” 

Additional businesses expected to open later this year include Boujee Nail Bar, Fountain Pools, Oar & Iron Raw Bar & Grill, Papa Johns, Seymour Smiles Orthodontics and Tampa General Medical Group.  

The new Tampa General Hospital locations provide both urgent and long-term health care for residents. The TGH Urgent Care clinic offers treatment for common illnesses and injuries, school and sports physicals, X-rays and lab tests. Another facility set to open next year will expand services based on community feedback gathered through resident focus groups. 

“We’re proud to celebrate this milestone alongside the Babcock Ranch community,” Couris said. “We’re excited to be part of the incredible growth happening here, and the opening of our TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track location at Yellow Pine makes it easier than ever for residents and visitors to access convenient, high-quality health care close to home.” 

To celebrate the opening, Babcock Ranch will host a communitywide grand opening event Oct. 25–26. The weekend celebration will feature live entertainment, giveaways, dining specials and family-friendly activities throughout the new lakefront plaza. The public is invited to attend. 

The Shoppes at Yellow Pine are located at 42030–42080 Cypress Parkway in Babcock Ranch. 

Since its groundbreaking in 2016, Kitson’s vision for the nation’s first solar-powered, sustainable town has continued to attract national attention. In 2025, Babcock Ranch was ranked the seventh fastest-selling master-planned community in the U.S. by real estate consulting firm RCLCO. 

The first residents moved into Babcock Ranch in 2018, and commercial growth has accelerated as the population has climbed. In August, the town surpassed 5,000 homes sold and a population of 12,500. The 18,000-acre community is ultimately planned for 20,000 homes, 60,000 residents and 6 million square feet of commercial space. 

By the end of 2025, developers expect Babcock Ranch to reach 6,000 homes sold and 15,000 residents. 

The town’s first shopping center, Crescent B Commons, opened in 2021 at the intersection of State Road 31 and Cypress Parkway, anchored by Publix. That plaza includes restaurants, an animal hospital, bank, hair salons, real estate office, Starbucks, shipping store and vision center.