Escambia County’s Development Review Commission (DRC) meets virtually every Wednesday throughout the year and has issued its seal of approval to dozens of commercial projects in 2025.
Some of these additions are being made possible through plaza construction efforts, such as the ongoing Blue Angel Station development in southwest Pensacola. Other companies, such as Chipotle, Culver’s and First Watch, are simply building their own stores in the plazas being developed.
Here are the Escambia County DRC commercial projects approved in 2025 and which businesses are opening new locations.
Costco, 225 East Nine Mile Road
Pensacola residents have been waiting for years for Costco, one of the nation’s top retailers, to move in, and they’ll finally get their wish sometime next year.
The retailer is building a 172,580-square-foot store at 225 East Nine Mile Road that will include a liquor store, tire center and a gas station, with plans approved by the Democratic Republic of Congo in August.
Costco, a members-only warehouse club with a cult following, has hundreds of stores around the world and offers a wide selection of merchandise, from groceries, furniture and electronics to pet insurance, bottled water delivery and travel packages.
According to their 30-year partner MG2, a Costco store takes 110 days to build, so the retailer could open its first local store in 2026.
Costco submitted its first development proposal in June 2024, officially setting its sights on the Pensacola area. After five submissions, they were finally approved by the Democratic Republic of Congo and took root in the Pensacola area.
Chick-fil-A, 4735 Mobile Highway
Earlier this year, Chick-fil-A will open a new restaurant on Mobile Highway after receiving approval from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The new 5,566-square-foot Chick-fil-A restaurant features two drive-thru lanes, 74 indoor seats, 12 outdoor seats and 69 parking spaces and is located at the corner of Mobile Highway and Tonawanda Drive.
The Chick-fil-A project was initially filed with Escambia County in August 2024 and was approved by the Democratic Republic of Congo at a July 23 meeting.
New Chick-fil-A Program: Chick-fil-A plans to move into the old Dodge Building. What we know.
Hotel Omega, 20 Via Deluna Drive
Pensacola Beach is getting a new hotel following development approval in the first half of this year.
The developer has been approved to build an 11-story, 215-room hotel at 20 Via De Luna Drive. They’re also preparing to build a pool deck, including a spa and lazy river, as well as a dune walking trail for the upcoming hotel.
The hotel will be built on approximately 4.31 acres of land between the Beach Club Resort & Spa and the Emerald Isle Condominium Resort. The Democratic Republic of Congo approved the Omega Hotel project at a meeting on May 28.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, 3200 Michigan Avenue
Bellview’s first Chipotle restaurant will be located at the northwest intersection of Denver Avenue and West Michigan Avenue after the Democratic Republic of Congo approved the restaurant chain’s plans in early April.
The upcoming restaurant will be a 2,350-square-foot building that will have a driveway and 32 parking spaces when completed.
The developers submitted plans for Chipotle to the county last March and submitted updated plans in late December. On April 3rd, they provided another set of updated plans.
DRC officials approved the latest in a series of plans at an April 9 meeting for the location that will be one of two new Chipotle restaurants slated to open in Escambia County.
Chipotle Mexican Grill, 8870 Boesch Lane
Another new Chipotle in Escambia County will open in Lansley Station, a plaza being developed in northwest Pensacola.
The upcoming Chipotle restaurant will be 2,325 square feet on Boesch Lane and feature a drive-thru lane and 36 parking spaces. DRC officials approved the project at a July 9 meeting.
A Chipotle Mexican Grill representative told Newsday they expect to open a location in Ransley Station in early 2026. The store will be the fourth Chipotle in Escambia County.
Whataburger, 9510 N. Highway 98
Whataburger has opened a new store in Pensacola off Highway 98.
The new Whataburger will be built off North Blue Angel Boulevard and U.S. Highway 98 West, in the same plaza as Escambia’s newest Publix store.
Whataburger plans to build the restaurant over three years. Their original proposal was submitted to Escambia County on February 22, 2022, and they have since submitted updated plans twice. The opening of the new restaurant will increase the number of Whataburger’s local stores to 10.
DRC officials approved the project at an April 30 meeting.
First Watch Ransley Station, 8860 Boesch Lane
Florida restaurant chain First Watch is expanding its local presence with a new location in Northwest Pensacola.
The Sarasota-based chain will open a 3,900-square-foot restaurant at 8860 Boesch Lane, adjacent to the future Chipotle restaurant in Ransley Station. This restaurant will be their third in the Pensacola area.
DRC officials approved the project at a meeting on 6 August. First Watch told Newsday the new store at 8860 Boesch Lane is expected to open in mid-2026.
Culver’s Restaurant, 8880 Boesch Lane
Northwest Pensacola will soon have another fast food restaurant opening in Ransley Station.
After DRC approved their plans at an Aug. 20 meeting, Culver’s is building a 4,985-square-foot restaurant with 124 seats (100 inside, 24 outside) and 65 parking spaces on a 1.49-acre site within the development plaza.
Brandon Cherry, owner of Pace and Pensacola Culver restaurants, said the 4,985-square-foot Ransley Station restaurant will break ground in early November and is expected to open in late April or early May. This location will be the third Culver’s restaurant in the area.
Foosackly, 2605 West Nine Mile Road
Northwest Pensacola is opening a new location serving chicken strips, homemade sauces and Southern-style fast food Fosacli’s Earlier this year, the Democratic Republic of Congo approved construction of a third restaurant in Florida.
The new 4,400-square-foot restaurant will open at the corner of North Eight Mile Creek Road and West Nine Mile Road when completed. The Democratic Republic of Congo approved the project at a meeting on 24 September.
The beloved chicken chain is headquartered in Mobile, Alabama, and has 16 restaurants: 14 in Alabama and two in Florida, both in Escambia County.
Waffle House, 6034 West Nine Mile Road
Beulah residents can find new places to get a hot meal any time of day.
Escambia County approved plans in late March to build a new Waffle House restaurant off West Nine Mile Road.
Escambia County real estate records show Waffle House purchased the land from neighbor Anytime Storage in 2024 for $474,000. The Democratic Republic of Congo approved the project at a March 26 meeting.
This article originally appeared in the Pensacola News-Journal: Costco, Chiptole and new hotels among Escambia’s 2025 additions
