Macy’s Just Sold a Florida Store to the Company Behind a ‘Massive’ Grocer with a Food Court

Photo byThe News-Press

Florida’s grocery scene might just be getting a little more exciting! Lotte Plaza Market, a smaller but mighty Asian grocer known for its massive produce department and international food court, has made a big move by purchasing a Macy’s store in Pembroke Pines for $13 million. Could this mean a new Lotte Market is coming to South Florida? Only time will tell.

For those who haven’t been to a Lotte Plaza Market yet, it’s not just an ordinary grocery store. Sure, it specializes in Asian products, but it also draws in shoppers with its huge variety of fresh produce and other international goods. In fact, The Orlando Real has described Lotte’s produce department as one of the biggest they’ve ever seen, taking up more than a third of the entire store.

Currently, Lotte has two Florida locations—one in Orlando and one in Tampa. The Tampa store has become quite popular, boasting a 4.4-star rating on Google.

So, what about this new purchase? In early September 2024, Macy’s sold its 50,111-square-foot furniture and mattress store at 13640 Pines Boulevard in Pembroke Pines to Lotte Miami LLC, the parent company of Lotte Plaza Market. While it’s easy to speculate that this could be paving the way for a Lotte Market in South Florida, the grocer hasn’t confirmed anything yet. There’s no "coming soon" sign for South Florida or the Jacksonville location, expected in 2025, on their website.

Still, the purchase has people talking. With the popularity of Lotte’s existing stores, especially in Tampa, it wouldn’t be surprising if South Floridians soon had the chance to experience their extensive produce, fresh bakery, and bustling food court for themselves.

For now, it’s a waiting game. Will Lotte expand into Pembroke Pines, bringing its signature blend of international flavors and fresh foods to the area? We’ll have to stay tuned, but it sure sounds like a possibility!