Retailers Rush to Citrus County after Discovering People Actually Live Here

SOURCE: Retail explosion continues in Lecanto with more store announcements by Michael D. Bates, Citrus County Chronicle; 4/29/22

Earlier this week, Target and Aldi announced they were coming to the intersection of County Roads 491 and 486 in Lecanto.

On Friday, the Chronicle learned the following retailers are planning to locate there as well: Ulta Beauty, Five Below, Ross Dress for Less, Petsmart, Old Navy and Skechers.

I'll be honest, this May marks my six-year anniversary of moving to Citrus County, but as a native Floridian who had never lived more than two and a half hours away from the area, I had no idea it existed until I first moved here May 10, 2016.

I'm thinking these retailers were the same way. From an outsider's perspective, Florida is a handful of cities, a couple of theme parks and the Everglades. They probably just didn't know we were even here.

They know now.