Redevelopment that built slowly over decades in the heart of downtown Gainesville and in recent years in the nearby University Heights district is starting to spread south on Main Street. More new businesses plan to join others to open in recent months, creating a corridor of activity that stretches to Depot Park ahead of its opening next year, to be followed by the Cade Museum opening in the park in late 2016 or early 2017.
A shared incubator space for startup manufacturing companies is in the works with one tenant already in the old Discount Hi-Fi building at the corner of Main and Depot Avenue, a pretzel bakery plans to join The Freewheel Project and other new tenants in Gainesville Neon and Signs’ previous location, a tamale shop is moving in next to the Citizens Co-op and a music studio is in the works on the Akira Wood property.