New Era Begins for Boca Raton's Shadowood Square

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Shadowood Square, a longtime shopping center at Glades Road and U.S. 441 in West Boca Raton, is undergoing a major transformation. 

The plaza, a community fixture for decades, has been home to shopping, dining and entertainment. Its lineup has included Walgreens, Sprouts, Old Navy and the popular Shadowood 16 movie theater. For years, families and Boca Raton residents have flocked there for groceries, movies and weekly outings. But after more than 40 years, the center is getting a makeover. 

Plans call for six new buildings, including outdoor restaurants, a fitness center, a car wash and a tire store. The demolition of the theater will add another 50,000 square feet of space to account for this expansion.

According to Scheman, construction is expected to begin by late 2025 or early 2026 and will take approximately 12 to 18 months. “By next week I expect fencing to be up,” she said, adding that completion is likely in early 2027.

In 2023, real estate investment group EDENS bought the center for $88.4 million, with plans to redevelop it into a modernized hub. In early 2025, the Palm Beach County Commission approved the company’s vision. 

Palm Beach County Commissioner Maria Sachs said the project represents more than just retail. “What we are doing here in West Boca is to create a cultural center rather than just retail strip malls and suburbia, so Shadowood can be the shining star to start that,” Sachs said. “What’s going to happen is that EDENS is going to make it more relevant today.” 

Shadowood Square first opened in the 1980s with tenants such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy and a supermarket. The Shadowood 12 theater debuted in 1987 and later expanded into the Shadowood 16 after Regal Cinemas purchased it. Once a bustling destination, the plaza began losing stores in the late 2010s as newer shopping centers drew customers away. 

The overhaul of Shadowood Square mirrors a larger development surge in West Boca Raton, where the post-pandemic population boom has pushed demand for amenities. The area has seen an influx of grocery stores and restaurants along major corridors like Glades Road and U.S. 441, rising home prices, and stretched school capacity as more residents move in.  These shifts suggest Shadowood’s redevelopment is part of how Boca is adjusting to rapid growth.

“Shadowood is an exciting addition to EDENS’ Florida portfolio,” said Scheman in a press release. “Following on the heels of our redevelopment of Lakeside Centre in central Boca Raton, we look forward to revitalizing and transforming this corner of West Boca in a way that resonates with the local community and reflects Boca’s unique energy and aesthetic.” 

Many locals welcome the changes. Zoe Bartels, a 20-year-old Boca Raton resident and Florida Atlantic University student, said the plaza was “very outdated” and she is excited about new restaurants and the fitness center.

But some are less enthusiastic. For many, the redevelopment signals the end of an era.

Addison Barnett, 19, who grew up in Boca Raton, said she has fond memories of visiting Shadowood 16 on weekends with family and friends. She worries that removing the theater will make the center “less personal.” Barnett also raised concerns about added traffic during construction and rush hours.

"I used to take my kids there all the time," said Tracy Baker, 49, of the theater. "I'm also always in West Boca," explained the Delray Beach resident, "so hopefully it won't affect my way of getting across town.”

Scheman said she understands the community’s attachment to the theater.

“This theater historically meant a lot to a lot of people,” she said. “I think there’s a recognition on the part of ownership that in taking down the theater, it’s important we bring back something that becomes the meeting place and that relevant place to make memories in West Boca.” 

As work begins, Shadowood Square enters a new era designed to blend retail with cultural gathering spaces. With input from community leaders and residents, developers hope to make the center a hub of life in West Boca.