SUSPICIOUS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD TO SAY SOMETHING. TONIGHT, WINTER GARDEN CITY LEADERS GAVE THE OKAY TO HIRE A FIRM TO HELP WITH DOWNTOWN BUSINESS STRATEGIES. THIS COMES AFTER MULTIPLE BUSINESSES ALONG PLANT STREET ARE EITHER CLOSING OR MOVING ELSEWHERE. AND THAT’S BECAUSE NEW PROPERTY OWNERS BOUGHT UP THEIR BUILDINGS AND THEY’RE NOT RENEWING THEIR LEASES. WESH TWO GAIL PASCHALL-BROWN IS LIVE IN DOWNTOWN WINTER GARDEN TONIGHT, TALKING TO BUSINESS OWNERS WHO SAY THEY NEED THE HELP. GAIL. ABSOLUTELY. AND AT LEAST ONE OF THOSE BUSINESS OWNERS, THE AFFECTED BUSINESS OWNER, DID SPEAK UP TONIGHT. DURING THIS MEETING, THE OWNER OF POLKA DOTS WANTED TO KNOW HOW THIS NEW FIRM IS GOING TO HELP BUSINESSES WHICH HAVE BEEN DISPLACED FROM PLANT STREET. ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE, AYE AYE. OPPOSED LIKE SIGN. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. WITH THAT VOTE, WINTER GARDEN CITY COMMISSIONERS APPROVED HIRING. RETAIL STRATEGIES, INC., A CONSULTING FIRM WITH EXPERTISE IN ATTRACTING RETAIL, STRENGTHENING DOWNTOWN DISTRICTS AND ONGOING SUPPORT FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES. RETAIL STRATEGY HAS A 15 YEAR TRACK RECORD OF HELPING COMMUNITIES ACROSS 25 STATES, INCLUDING SMALL TOWNS LIKE WINTER GARDEN. CITY LEADERS SAY THE FIRM WILL PRODUCE ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS IN RETAIL STRATEGIES. HOW IS IT REALLY GOING TO HELP WITH OUR SMALL BUSINESSES NOW THAT HAVE BEEN MISPLACED OR PUT IN A, YOU KNOW, LESS DESIRABLE AREA? HEIDI HARTMAN OWNS POLKA DOTS, WHICH HAS BEEN IN WINTER GARDEN FOR 19 YEARS, INCLUDING FIVE YEARS ALONG PLANT STREET. POLKA DOTS IS CLOSING AND MOVING AROUND THE CORNER, WHILE OTHER BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT BECAUSE NEW PROPERTY OWNERS ANTON PROPERTIES OR ANTON BOUGHT THEIR BUILDINGS AND ARE NOT RENEWING THEIR LEASES. HARTMAN SAYS SHE PLANS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT RETAIL STRATEGIES OFFERS AND CAN. WE REALLY HAVE POLICIES THAT ARE ENFORCEABLE, THAT ARE GOING TO KEEP SMALL BUSINESSES IN, OR THE RENT’S GOING TO BE TWO JUST WAY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR A SMALL BUSINESS TO SURVIVE? WHAT SHE FEARS ARE CORPORATE STORES AND BIG BUSINESSES IN WINTER GARDENS, HISTORIC DOWNTOWN DISTRICT. TINA BUTLER’S DRIFTWOOD MARKET IS ALSO CLOSING AND MOVING. OUR LEASE WAS NOT RENEWED. OUR BUILDING WAS SOLD TO A REALLY NICE GENTLEMAN, SO IT’S ALL GOOD, YOU KNOW. AND WE WERE LUCKY ENOUGH TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE IN DOWNTOWN. SO WE ARE MOVING JUST AROUND THE CORNER FROM WHERE WE ARE NOW DOWN ON MAIN STREET. NINE COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS, EIGHT ALONG PLANT STREET, WERE SOLD IN THE LAST YEAR, FORCING OUT LONG-TERM BUSINESSES. BUTLER SAYS GROWTH AND IMPROVEMENT ARE BOTH GOOD, BUT DON’T LOSE THE CITY’S IMAGE. I THINK WE NEED TO KEEP IT SMALL AS MUCH AS WE CAN. THAT IS OUR CHARM. THAT’S WHO WE ARE. THAT’S WHO WE’VE ALWAYS BEEN. AND WE DON’T NEED TO CHANGE THAT. RETAIL STRATEGIES, INC. WILL BE PAID $50,000 ANNUALLY FOR THREE YEARS. NOW. THOSE FUNDS WILL COME OUT OF THE CITY’S CRA OR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIE
Winter Garden hires firm to assist displaced downtown businesses
Updated: 11:28 PM EDT Apr 23, 2026
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Winter Garden city commissioners unanimously approved hiring Retail Strategies Inc., a consulting firm, to support local businesses displaced by recent property sales along Plant Street. “Retail Strategies has a 50-year track record of helping communities across 25 states, including small towns like Winter Garden,” said Mike Hutchinson, the city’s economic development director. The firm will provide actionable recommendations in retail strategies, city leaders said. Heidi Hardman, owner of Polka Dotz, a business that has operated in Winter Garden for 19 years, including five years on Plant Street, questioned how the firm’s services would help displaced businesses. “How is it really going to help with our small businesses now that have been misplaced or put in a less desirable area,” Hardman said. Polka Dotz is relocating around the corner, and Hardman plans to take advantage of Retail Strategies’ offerings. “Can we really have policies that are enforceable to keep small businesses in, or is the rent just going to be way too expensive for a small business to survive,” she said. Hardman also expressed concerns about corporate stores and big businesses entering Winter Garden’s historic downtown district. Tina Butler, owner of Driftwood Market, shared her experience after her lease was not renewed. “Our building was sold to a really nice gentleman, so it’s all good, and we were lucky enough to find somewhere downtown. So we are moving around the corner, down on Main Street,” Butler said. Nine commercial buildings, eight of them along Plant Street, were sold in the past year, forcing out long-term businesses. Butler emphasized the importance of maintaining the city’s charm amid growth. “We need to keep it small as much as we can. That is our charm. That is who we are, that’s who we’ve always been, and we don’t need to change that,” she said. Retail Strategies Inc. will be paid $50,000 annually for three years, with funds coming from the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency budget.
WINTER GARDEN, Fla. —
Winter Garden city commissioners unanimously approved hiring Retail Strategies Inc., a consulting firm, to support local businesses displaced by recent property sales along Plant Street.
“Retail Strategies has a 50-year track record of helping communities across 25 states, including small towns like Winter Garden,” said Mike Hutchinson, the city’s economic development director.
The firm will provide actionable recommendations in retail strategies, city leaders said.
Heidi Hardman, owner of Polka Dotz, a business that has operated in Winter Garden for 19 years, including five years on Plant Street, questioned how the firm’s services would help displaced businesses.
“How is it really going to help with our small businesses now that have been misplaced or put in a less desirable area,” Hardman said.
Polka Dotz is relocating around the corner, and Hardman plans to take advantage of Retail Strategies’ offerings.
“Can we really have policies that are enforceable to keep small businesses in, or is the rent just going to be way too expensive for a small business to survive,” she said.
Hardman also expressed concerns about corporate stores and big businesses entering Winter Garden’s historic downtown district.
Tina Butler, owner of Driftwood Market, shared her experience after her lease was not renewed.
“Our building was sold to a really nice gentleman, so it’s all good, and we were lucky enough to find somewhere downtown. So we are moving around the corner, down on Main Street,” Butler said.
Nine commercial buildings, eight of them along Plant Street, were sold in the past year, forcing out long-term businesses.
Butler emphasized the importance of maintaining the city’s charm amid growth.
“We need to keep it small as much as we can. That is our charm. That is who we are, that’s who we’ve always been, and we don’t need to change that,” she said.
Retail Strategies Inc. will be paid $50,000 annually for three years, with funds coming from the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency budget.
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