CAVA will open its new location in the Waterford Lakes Town Center at 703 N Alafaya Trail. The opening date has not been announced yet.
Sophie Natasha Jackson
UCF students will soon be able to shop at Trader Joe’s for groceries and grab CAVA for lunch, but that’s only the beginning of the expansion of a shopping center minutes from campus.
The Waterford Lakes Town Center is adding five new stores to its catalog, including CAVA, Fat Rosie’s Taco & Tequila Bar and Raising Cane’s. New retailers will include Miniso and a new “plan-and-order point” Ikea.
Expanding to the surrounding area, but not a part of the town center, are the under-construction Trader Joe’s and Vicky Bakery. With the bakery opening by March and the grocery store projected to open late 2026 or early 2027, there will also be a mix of retail and grocery options beyond the core shopping district.
Emily Wirley is a senior manager of lifestyle marketing at KIMCO Realty, the real estate investment trust that owns Waterford Lakes Town Center. She said the town center is designed to be a convenient and welcoming place for students to grab a meal, shop for essentials or meet with friends.
She confirmed that management is working to enhance the property with a refreshed look and new brands that will benefit the UCF community.
“UCF students are a big part of our community,” Wirley said. “We’re committed to continuing to evolve with your needs by bringing in relevant brands, upgraded amenities, and a mix of dining and retail options that fit student life.”
Wirley described students as a key component of the town center’s customer base, though some students said they are unaware of the newest additions.
Franco Patino, freshman aerospace engineering major, said he had heard very little about the developments.
“I haven’t heard anything about Waterford Lakes,” Patino said. “The only developments I know are the Ikea and Trader Joe’s.”
In early November 2025, Ikea opened a “plan-and-order point” inside the Best Buy at Waterford Lakes. Customers can meet with planners and design their living space to fit their needs. Desired products are ordered and shipped at a later date.
The Ikea location does not include the chain’s signature Swedish meatballs and café. The nearest full-service store and café is 16 miles from UCF.
Trader Joe’s and Vicky Bakery are just two of the newest businesses opening near campus, outside of the Waterford Lakes Town Center. Freshman mechanical engineering major Danny Yassine said he was only aware of one of the new stores.
“Can they even build a Trader Joe’s near UCF?” Yassine asked when told about the plans.
The closest Trader Joe’s is currently a 30-minute drive from campus, but the chain’s plans on changing that.
Although Trader Joe’s has not released an official announcement, the company filed permits to open a new store in the former Party City location on Alafaya Trail. The documents were initially filed in December 2025, and an opening date has not been confirmed.
Vicky Bakery, a family-owned Cuban bakery, also plans to open its newest shop in the area. It was initially set to welcome customers in December 2025, but was delayed due to permitting issues.
Amy Alvarez, digital marketing coordinator for the bakery, said the business is almost ready to invite customers into its newest location.
“We’re in the final stages and are very excited to welcome the community soon,” Alvarez said.
There are also several other retail stores and restaurants opening in the town center in the coming year.
Fat Rosie’s Taco & Tequila Bar, a Chicago-based Mexican restaurant, is scheduled to open on March 5. Known for their tacos, fajitas, margaritas and family-friendly atmosphere, Fat Rosie’s will be housed at 749 N. Alafaya Trail. The opening will mark the chain’s first Florida location.
Miniso will open its new location at 557 N Alafaya Trail in the Waterford Lakes Town Center. Neighboring Dave’s Hot Chicken, the retail store’s opening date has not been announced.
Sophie Natasha Jackson
Miniso, a lifestyle retailer with 7,000 stores globally, is set to open a location in Waterford Lakes. The store has yet to announce its official opening date and will be found next to Dave’s Hot Chicken.
One of the town center’s newest additions is CAVA, a Mediterranean restaurant chain with more than 350 locations nationwide, according to its website. The restaurant specializes in custom bowls, pita wraps and salads. It is set to be located at 703 N. Alafaya Trail, near Sephora. An opening date has not yet been announced.
Raising Cane’s opened one of its three new Central Florida locations in Waterford Lakes in mid-January, next to Chick-fil-A. Increased traffic is expected as both restaurants operate neighboring drive-thru lanes.
“Waterford Lakes was designed to accommodate a high volume of guests,” Wirley said. “As visitation continues to grow, we remain focused on ensuring a smooth and enjoyable guest experience from arrival to departure.”
While the town center has not officially announced all its newest locations, Wirley disclosed future additions, including PopUp Bagels, Total Wine and Mister O1.
“We also have several highly anticipated concepts in the pipeline that we look forward to announcing later this year,” Wirley said.
The shopping center first opened in 1999 and is now the home to 102 stores and restaurants. Spread across 79 acres, the 701,950 square-foot property attracts over 14.7 million visitors annually.
Waterford Lakes Town Center also includes stores such as Target, TJ Maxx, Old Navy and several other popular retailers. The new openings will expand its market and let customers shop a new range of products.
“The response to our recent openings has been fantastic, and we’re excited to keep building on that momentum with more to come,” Wirley said.
Wirley added that if students want to explore more details about Waterford Lakes Town Center, they can check out its official website. Updates and announcements are also posted on its Instagram account.