Clermont developer sells land for future hotel, plans restaurant on S.R. 50

Developer Mark Graff has been busy during the past few weeks, selling off a piece of land he owns on S.R. 50 in Clermont to a hotel developer and buying another S.R. 50 parcel where he plans to build a McAlister's Deli, a fast-casual restaurant chain that is expanding in Greater Orlando.

On Nov. 10, Graff sold about 2 acres of vacant commercial land at 1450 Champion's Way for $1.1 million under the name of SLV13 LLC, according to Lake County records.

The property buyer was HNTC LLC of Daytona Beach, a business entity of Premier Resorts & Management Inc., which already owns the Fairfield In & Suites in Clermont as well as the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites in Daytona Beach.

Samir Naran, vice president of PRM hotels, told GrowthSpotter his firm hopes to open a hotel on the property in early 2017. The group has not selected a flag for the hotel yet.

The parcel bought by PRM is part of a larger 5.6-acre parcel owned by Graff's various companies.

Graff said Tuesday he is negotiating to sell two outparcels on S.R. 50 for restaurant or retail use and a third piece on Legends Way perhaps for a medical office. The parcels were carved out by Graff, who cut a road in front of Clermont's Southlake Hospital.

Graff's next project is a McAlister's Deli on S.R. 50, across from Chili's and Chik-fil-A. He recently broke ground and expects to open in March 2016. Graff already has contractors on board for the build.

"We plan on opening one [McAlister's] a year for the next four years at least," Graff said. "We are in search of two locations now."

Graff shares the franchise rights to build McAlister's in the Orlando area with Bryce Kelly. Kelly has already opened one of the restaurants in The Villages and another near UCF.

Teresa Burney can be reached at teresaburney4@gmail.com or at 352-455-1955. Follow GrowthSpotter on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.