July 15: Minneola’s newest developments – including the opening of the city’s much anticipated Crooked Can Brewery – were highlighted at the latest South Lake Chamber of Commerce breakfast event.
Once a year, the city of Minneola hosts the breakfast at the Sterling Event Center, and it is a unique chance for chamber members to catch-up on the area’s exciting future plans and get up to date on existing ones.
Minneola’s Acting Mayor Pam Serviss hosted the sold-out event that included presentations from the area’s major developers including the Hills City Center, a massive project that is ongoing.
The Hills City Center is a 96-acre mixed-use destination in Minneola, close to the Florida Turnpike. Once finished, it will house 500,000 sf of medical facilities, 600,000 sf of retail and restaurants, 1,039 sf multi-family apartments, a hotel and luxury senior living.
It will also house a 300,000sf medical office behind the senior living building, plus a structured parking garage open to the public and residents and a 20-acre self-storage and RV/boat storage facility that will be accessed via a tunnel.
Attorney Tara Tedrow, who is a shareholder in the Hills City Center development on North Hancock Road, said: “We are really excited about these projects. They will bring a lot of economic activity to Minneola.
“The vision behind the Hills City Center is all about where you live, play, discover, stay, thrive and find your fun! We have done a lot in a short period of time but there’s so much more to come. From apartments to lots of green spaces and retail. It’s going to be vibrant.”
One of the most exciting announcements of the morning was from the Crooked Can Brewery, a development that has been much anticipated for the past couple of years.
Spanning over 42,950 square feet, Crooked Can features a 2,000 square foot taproom, which houses food and craft beers and on opening, it became Florida’s largest destination brewery.
There will eventually be 11 restaurants with their openings staggered over the next few weeks. The building has a cathedral ceiling, an outdoor splash pad for the kids, family areas and it is dog friendly too!
Kay Barnett, CEO of AdventHealth Minneola, gave an update on the new hospital that is built in the Hills City Center. It has been open for just seven months but has already served 5,000 plus patients and added 460 jobs to the community.
“We are so happy to bring the best medical care to you,” Barnett said. “I am so proud of our team because every day we get to take care of you. In Minneola, we are ranking above the national median for the level of care that patients have received at our hospital.
“We know that whenever you set foot in a hospital you are placing trust in an individual or team and we appreciate the trust that this community has placed in AdventHealth Minneola.”
Barnett said that a new medical office next to the hospital was opened this month featuring a retail pharmacy, lab services, cardiology, gastroenterology, orthopedics, sports medicine, urology and more.
Also at the breakfast, Serviss honored previous Minneola Mayor Pat Kelley, who resigned from his role earlier this year to pursue a seat on the Lake County School Board. And spend more time with his family. She presented him with a framed gavel award.
Minneola councilman Eric Hernandez gave a presentation on the city’s Trailhead Park that, he said, is going to become a ‘destination’ playground for South Lake families once upgrades have been completed.
“The nature inspired design is going to be something that families will want to come back to experience again and again,” he said. “Residents will get more recreational opportunities and spend more family time together, plus enjoy improved sports facilities. Minneola is invested in supporting projects that enhance our residents’ everyday lives.”
Lakeside Church Pastor Jason Hitte, one of the sponsors of the event, revealed that the church has brought a 40-acre plot of land in Minneola to build a new church and their future Lakeside Christian Academy. You can learn more at