PORT ST LUCIE, Fla. (CBS12) — Port St. Lucie keeps growing and now the city is adding something people have been asking about for years. A new riverfront dining spot called The Grove is coming to the Port District and it’s expected to bring food, fun, and a lot more life to the center of town.

Port District opened in 2024 bringing in families for the park, playgrounds, and events, but now the city is taking the next step, adding a brand-new dining area that will add bars, restaurants, and a spot for people to hang out together.

“It’s something that has been a part of a long-term vision for the city and a lot of residents have asked for this for the years and so it’s great to see that it’s starting to come to fruition,” Port St. Lucie spokesperson, Scott Samples said.

Port St. Lucie is the 6th largest city in Florida, but unlike most cities that size, it’s never had a real downtown. City leaders hope The Grove will fill that void, with seven different restaurants and bars built in two phases. The first phase starts construction in the fall of 2025 and will bring rooftop dining, sushi, a pizzeria, a craft beer bar, and a tequila tiki bar.

“Some little more nightlife or something for the adults to hang out, do after the kids go to bed,” Port St. Lucie resident Joanna Valenti said. Joanna and her husband moved here for the housing, but they’re hoping The Grove will give them even more reasons to stay.

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“It’s going to be a good mix, and all the restaurants look amazing from what I’ve seen on the internet, so I’m really excited for it,” Valenti said.

The Grove will connect to what’s already here, including a boardwalk, kayak launch, event lawn and playground, giving families even more to do in one central area. “It’s been a great spot, and I think this is really going to add to that,” Samples said.

Construction will begin in 2025, and The Grove will open in February of 2027. Then construction for phase 2 will start, which will add two more dining venues.

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