Costco Anchors Seminole Towne Center Redevelopment
Elev8 Fun, whose first location sits at the Orlando mall, is revamping its attractions to match the redeveloped center.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Costco will become the anchor of Seminole Towne Center's multi-phase redevelopment in Orlando, with demolition of the former Macy's site set to begin in December. The plan also calls for offices, reenvisioned outdoor retail, and apartments.
Why it matters
The mall has been earmarked for redevelopment for several years, and the project is expected to bring substantial cross traffic to the center. Elev8 Fun, a significant landowner there, gave advisory input on Costco's footprint and other site factors.
Elev8 Fun has operated at Seminole Towne Center since 2022, and demolition of the former Macy's for the Costco site is set for December 2026. The source does not provide Costco's store size, investment value, or a completion date for the broader redevelopment.
The players
Costco
Costco is a large membership warehouse retailer that is anchoring the Seminole Towne Center redevelopment.
Elev8 Fun
Elev8 Fun is an entertainment chain offering go-karting and related attractions, with its first location at Seminole Towne Center.
Shaquille O'Neal
Shaquille O'Neal is a retired NBA star and entertainment figure associated with the Big Chicken brand.
The details
Elev8 Fun is revamping its attractions to match the new image of the redeveloped mall, including scrapping a planned single-level go-kart track at its Miami location in favor of a multi-level track requiring structural reinforcements. The company also debuts Big Chicken at its Tampa venue on Friday, November 13.
Timeline
2018: Big Chicken is founded in Las Vegas.
2022: Elev8 Fun begins operating at Seminole Towne Center.
December 2026: Demolition of the former Macy's for the Costco site begins.
Friday, November 13, 2026: Big Chicken debuts at Elev8 Fun Tampa.
Early Q1 2027: Elev8 Miami is scheduled to open.
Market Landscape
The Seminole Towne Center project follows the pattern of older regional malls being rebuilt around a big-box anchor alongside offices and apartments. Costco's arrival positions the site against the retail mix it is replacing, while Elev8 Fun's reinvestment reflects operators adapting their attractions to the redeveloped property.
Orlando shoppers will see a new Costco at Seminole Towne Center once the redevelopment is complete, though the source gives no opening date. Visitors to Elev8 Fun can expect revamped attractions as the mall changes around them.
The takeaway
Older malls are being rebuilt around big-box anchors, and existing tenants like Elev8 Fun are adjusting their offerings to fit the new property. Readers tracking Orlando retail can watch the December demolition as the first visible sign of the change.
What happens next
Demolition of the former Macy's site is set to begin in December 2026, and Big Chicken debuts at Elev8 Fun Tampa on Friday, November 13, 2026.
Further reading
For more on new and closing storefronts, see Openings & Closings in Orlando.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Amusement Today.
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