The developers are retrofitting a former Wal-Mart and Publix supermarket at the near-vacant, 314,000-sf Westside Crossing Plaza and the adjoining 36,000-sf vacant Rhodes Furniture Showroom between Kirkman and Pine Hills Roads on West Colonial Drive to be called Mandarin Plaza. The estimated conversion cost is $1 million. Seventy-one tenants already have signed leases--60 at Westside; 11 at Mandarin.

Average asking rents at Mandarin Plaza are $10 to $15 per sf, William D. "Billy" Bishop, president/owner, Bishop Realty & Development, Orlando, tells GlobeSt.com. Peter Lee, managing broker of the West Side Crossing Plaza project, couldn't be reached at GlobeSt.com's publication deadline.

But area retail brokers familiar with the West Orlando submarket tell GlobeSt.com average asking rents will be in the $15-per-sf range. Bishop says Mandarin Plaza is 50% leased and anticipates a summer opening. West Side Crossing is about 75% pre-leased, area brokers estimate.