About Us
Our Story
Locally owned by the Butler family, Butler Enterprises has been in business in Gainesville for over 82 years. Through good times and more challenging periods, Butler Enterprises has continually grown as greater Gainesville has progressed, meeting community needs, bringing new concepts to the market, and pursuing a grand vision that is now evident to everyone. That vision utilizes the amazing 267-acre parcel of land assembled through the years to develop a "neighborhood" of Centers that are uniquely suited for Greater Gainesville's diverse culture and lifestyle.
Humble Beginnings
Clark Butler got his start in Gainesville when he established his first open-air produce stand with no electricity or water, in June of 1939, serving a town of roughly 14,000 people. Butler’s Super Market replaced the Butler Produce stand in the 1940’s without closing for a single day during the construction. It continued to serve the community until 1953.
Butler Enterprises is built on Stengel Field, an airfield that is part of Gainesville’s rich history from the 1940’s. Stengel Field is where the tiny Aerobatic plane the Pitt’s Special was built. This tiny plane was a favorite to the U.S. Female Aerobatic Champion and power woman, Betty Skelton, who was known as the “Firsts of the First,” winning Aerobatic Championships in 1948, 1949, and 1950. She pushed the envelope in every altitude.
A Vision
Clark Butler is the inspiration behind the mile long stretch of stores and restaurants along Archer Road, as well as many other developments. Following in her father’s footsteps, Deborah Butler, is continuing to build upon his legacy, reinvesting and expanding on past success to meet current market needs and wants. Evident through the 1 million sq ft Butler North and Butler Town Center Expansion already underway.
Future
Celebrating over 75 years of business in Gainesville, Florida, Butler Enterprises provides the consistency and stability few retail developments enjoy in today’s world. Over time, Butler Enterprises carefully assembled 267 key acres securing the best retail location in greater Gainesville, growing along with the market. Each year, Butler Enterprises has over 20 million visits to over 1.5 million square feet of Butler Plaza and Butler North, paving the way for a new vision, Stengel Field at Butler Town Center. Located just 1.5 miles from the University of Florida, Butler Enterprises is embedded in the fabric of the community, and thoroughly understands the market dynamics as no other developer can.
• Over 20 million visits to Butler Plaza, North, and Town Center
• Gainesville located in Alachua County offers over 60 hotel accommodations
• Butler Enterprises is located within one mile from UF Health Shands Hospital locations
Plaza
The iconic, Butler Plaza, established in 1975, now with a new look with additional development projects adding more than a million square feet of power-packed shopping and dining, enhancing the retail landscape of North Central Florida.
Established in 1975 with the opening of Gainesville’s first Publix grocery, Butler Plaza is an icon of accessible, convenient shopping along this city’s most trafficked interstate exit and main highway—I-75 and Archer Road. Butler Plaza first opened Butler Plaza West and added section by section along Archer Road during the 1990's and early in the new decade. Whether it’s grabbing groceries from Whole Foods or Publix, dinner from P.F. Changs or Chicken Salad Chick, school supplies from Walmart or an evening dress from Narcissus, customers trust they will find it at Butler Plaza.
• 80+ acres
• Nearly 1M square feet of Retail and Dining
• 75+ tenants
North
In 2016, Butler opened the doors to its expansion north of Archer Road along its newly developed Clark Butler Blvd. Butler North boasts over 750,000 square feet of relocated and new-to-market shops and dining, including the region’s first Total Wine, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Longhorn Steakhouse and Bahama Breeze Island Grille.
Located along the new, 4-lane Clark Butler Boulevard, Butler North is comprised of destination retail, specialty shops, convenience destinations and dining options, designed to complement and add additional lifestyle and consumer convenience to millions of shoppers who visit Butler Plaza annually.
• 140 acres
• 750,000 square feet of retail and dining
• 38+ tenants
• Adjacent to major RTS public transit station
• Includes three miles of landscaped, award-winning walking trails
Town Center at Stengel Field
Located on the northeast corner of the Butler Enterprises development, Butler Town Center is comprised of nine buildings showcasing retail shops and restaurants that cater to the citizens of Gainesville. With tenants such as P.F. Chang’s and Whole Foods, along with a luxury Cinema, BTC will introduce the open town center environment to the city of Gainesville and beyond.
An open-air shopping experience, with enhanced amenities and architecture, fostering a greater pedestrian exploration and extended shopping trip, Butler Town Center provides a unique shopping experience with carefully curated shops, restaurants, and entertainment for a market of nearly 1.2 million customers.
Currently under construction, Butler Town Center will bring a whole new air of sophistication and excitement to Gainesville. Designed as an urban, walkable, and livable open-air retail environment, Butler Town Center invites shoppers to experience a dynamic oasis of culture, commerce, and community.
• 40 acres
• 350,000 square feet of retail and dining
• 45,000 square feet Stengel Field Food Hall
• Regions first 41,000 square feet Whole Foods Market
Butler Town Center will honor the history of its location with design elements reminiscent of the 1940s when the property served as Gainesville’s first school of aviation, Stengel Air Field, established 1941. A replica of female aerobatic champion Betty Skelton’s Pitt Special airplane will be suspended from the ceiling of the hangar inspired Stengel Field Food Hall.