In keeping with Lake Nona’s zest for innovation, Tavistock Restaurant Collection has a new first-of-its-kind project in the works. Set to open in December, Boxi Park is quickly coming together, just south of SR 417 on Lake Nona Boulevard. Location, purpose and sustainability make this new concept one to watch.
So, how did Tavistock come up with the idea for the first recycled shipping container park on the East Coast, right here in Lake Nona? “We went and traveled all over the U.S. visiting trendy venues in D.C., Austin, California, Las Vegas – then we set out to customize for Lake Nona and its diverse population,” says Jessi Blakley, senior director of strategic communications at Tavistock Development Company.
The 30,000-square-foot, family- and dog-friendly outdoor district will include a mix of restaurants and bars, beach volleyball courts, and a live entertainment venue. It is the latest addition to the Lake Nona Town Center, which currently includes two award-winning hotels, Chroma Modern Bar + Kitchen, Bosphorous Turkish Cuisine, Park Pizza & Brewing Co., Jacq & Jack full-service salon and barbershop, a Class-A office building, LandonHouse apartment community, and the flagship location of Drive Shack.
Constructed completely out of repurposed shipping containers, Boxi Park hopes to reimagine community engagement in Central Florida for both locals and those visiting. When complete, the vision for Boxi Park is that it will be a location for all ages to have fun. The outdoor entertainment district will create unlimited possibilities to relax and unwind. Boxi Park will include curated food and beverage options showcasing different cuisines, two full-service bars serving a selection of cocktails, and a wine and beer garden featuring its own craft beer line.
What makes Boxi Park unique is how it will act as an incubator for multiple dining options and a varying roster of restaurants. Restaurateurs will be able to try new concepts without the commitment of having to build out a complete restaurant. Blakley shares, “For us, what’s exciting is the attraction to bring people from all over the U.S. Opening a restaurant can be costly and tough; Boxi Park will have full kitchens built out so they can move right in.” And as the Town Center expands, the park’s unique temporary structure also allows the containers to be moved. Blakley calls this “experiential” for Lake Nona.
“Lake Nona is about connecting people,” said Jim Zboril, president of Tavistock Development Company, developer of the innovative community. “We have worked tirelessly to create engaging opportunities for our residents, businesses and visitors – places to connect. Boxi Park will provide a unique entertainment venue to relax, grab a beer, let the kids run around, and enjoy the sunshine. We’re very excited to bring this new concept to Central Florida.”
A fun fact: The trees planted for shade in the park are large, 60-foot live oak trees that are part of a larger relocation initiative from Tavistock Development Company to preserve and move more than 100 trees from wetlands located on the southern border of Lake Nona.
For more information about Boxi Park, please visit BoxiParkLakeNona.com or @BoxiParkLakeNona on Facebook and Instagram. Interested in becoming a vendor? Email contact@tavistock.com.
Sophia Rogers is a Lake Nona-area real estate professional and founder of NonaHomeGuide.com. A wife and mom of four, family, relationships and real estate are her passions.
