Walmart & Lowe’s Are Coming to Westlake — What It Means for Western Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County’s newest city is rapidly shedding its “retail desert” label. Lowe’s has been approved and is under construction. Walmart is in the pipeline. Here’s what’s happening and why it matters for residents and property owners in the western suburbs.
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Lowe’s was approved by Westlake City Council in August 2025 and is under construction. Walmart’s site plan was submitted in November 2025; council review was expected in early-to-mid 2026 but had not been voted on as of the time this post was updated. Verify current status with the City of Westlake before making any decisions based on this information.
Westlake — Palm Beach County’s newest municipality, located west of The Acreage on Seminole Pratt Whitney Road — is undergoing a retail transformation that reflects the scale of population growth in the western suburbs. What was described as a “retail desert” as recently as 2024 now has Publix, Starbucks, Taco Bell, Chick-fil-A, and several fitness brands, with Lowe’s under construction and Walmart in the approval pipeline.
Lowe’s: Approved and Under Construction
In August 2025, the Westlake City Council voted 4-0 to approve the Lowe’s site plan — a 147,000 square foot store with garden center and outdoor display space on approximately 12 acres west of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, near the north end of the community. The location will serve as Lowe’s regional headquarters for South Central Florida.
Mayor JohnPaul O’Connor called it “akin to winning the retail lottery” for Westlake’s commercial trajectory. Construction is underway.
Walmart: Site Plan Submitted, Approval Pending
Walmart submitted its site plan to Westlake in November 2025. The proposal is for a supercenter with gas pumps on the west side of Seminole Pratt Whitney Road, adjacent to the proposed Lowe’s site. Council review was anticipated in early-to-mid 2026. As of June 2026, a vote has not been confirmed.
The Walmart would be approximately 10 miles northwest of the existing State Road 7 location in Royal Palm Beach, extending major retail access deeper into the western suburbs and toward communities including Loxahatchee and Belle Glade.
Why Major Retailers Are Following Western Palm Beach County
- Population density reaching thresholds — since 2017, Westlake has issued 3,315+ residential building permits; the 3,800-acre community is planned for 6,500 homes
- High-income single-family housing boom — the corridor from Wellington and Royal Palm Beach to Westlake and Arden has been dominated by single-family homes targeting higher-income buyers
- Retail follows roofs — as FIU professor Suzanne Hollander put it: “In Palm Beach County, retailers are following the roofs.” Once density reaches a threshold, national retailers compete to get in
- Anchor effect — Walmart draws consistent foot traffic; Lowe’s benefits from and complements that traffic without competing directly; smaller tenants cluster around both
What This Means for Property Owners in Western Palm Beach County
Retail infrastructure is one of the factors that has historically constrained demand for homes in Westlake and the surrounding area. Buyers who might otherwise choose Wellington or Royal Palm Beach cited the drive to grocery stores and home improvement retailers as a drawback. Publix opened the first anchor store in Westlake and is now constructing a second shopping plaza nearby. Lowe’s under construction and Walmart in the pipeline changes the equation for buyers evaluating western suburbs options.
For existing homeowners in Westlake, Loxahatchee, and The Acreage, the arrival of major retail is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement and a long-term demand driver for the area.
Questions about Westlake, The Acreage, or western Palm Beach County real estate? Call for a conversation about what’s happening in the local market. Bilingual coordination with Lucy Lopez.
Call or text Brian: 561-201-4717
Brian Wilder
The Wilder Real Estate Group · Keller Williams Wellington
In business since 1996 · 1,500+ Palm Beach County transactions
Bilingual coordination with Lucy Lopez: 561-285-8809
561-201-4717 · palmbeachcountyhomeforsale.com