Giovanni Manco, owner of the popular Giovanni’s Ristorante & Pizzaria in Southern Trace Plaza along County Road 466, plans to open a deli and build six small commercial buildings north of the Oxford Post Office along U.S. 301.
After approvals are granted, construction is expected to begin next June, said David Springstead of Springstead Engineering of Leesburg.
He said customers often ask Manco where they can buy sausages and other ingredients that he uses. They now have to go to Ocala, but Springstead said the deli will offer some of those items and also will feature a small seating area.
He said the deli and two other commercial buildings will be constructed first and the other three structures will be built depending on demand.
Special Magistrate Archie O. Lowry Jr. recommended approval of a site plan for the project Tuesday at a meeting of the Wildwood Planning and Zoning Board.
His recommendation was pending resolution of potential traffic issues by Sumter County and the Metropolitan Planning Organization. Approval by the Wildwood City Commission is required.
The six buildings will total 24,874 square feet and each will house one or two retail or office tenants.
At the meeting, Lowry also recommended approval of a one-story, 6,912 square foot retail building called Oxford Commons on County Road 466 at the CSX railroad tracks.
