ARCO Beverage Group recently completed a new, 397,000 SF beverage distributorship for Suncoast Beverage Sales, a leading beer and beverage distributor serving restaurants, bars, and retailers across Southwest Florida. Strategically located at 4480 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, Fort Myers, Florida, the facility was designed to support long-term growth and meet increasing demand across the region.

The new facility includes a 239,000 SF warehouse, a 27,000 SF draught cooler, a 21,000 SF maintenance building, and more. Despite the challenges presented by Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene, ARCO avoided losses through proactive planning, clear communication, and thorough on-site preparation.

The project also includes Suncoast’s new corporate office, housed in a two-story, 53,000 SF office space featuring a 11,000 SF banquet hall.

This facility represents a major investment in the local community, creating new employment opportunities across various sectors and reinforcing Suncoast’s commitment to growth and excellent service in the region.

ARCO provided wholistic site solutions that addressed existing conditions and planned for future expansion. This included:

• Relocating public water lines and fiber optic infrastructure.
• Upgrading the adjacent highway and installing a new traffic signal and turn lane.
• Demolition of existing facilities and infrastructure.

These enhancements not only supported the project’s success but also created momentum for the revitalization of the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor.

ARCO performed a detailed site analysis by engaging a geotechnical contractor. When rock was discovered in deep-cut areas, ARCO conducted additional testing and developed a cost-effective strategy. By over-excavating and burying unsuitable material, the team achieved substantial cost savings and preserved flexibility for future development.

Despite facing significant weather challenges, including Hurricane Milton and Hurricane Helene during critical construction phases, ARCO’s proactive planning, onsite preparation, and strong communication mitigated losses.

ARCO also executed a phased construction strategy, enabling early turnover of portions of the main building for testing Suncoast’s new operations systems. The team worked closely with local municipalities and Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABC) to overcome supply chain and permitting challenges and ensure Suncoast could begin operations prior to the completion of long lead time items such as final FDOT signal upgrades and permanent generator installation.

ARCO Beverage Group is the nation’s largest builder of beverage distributorships, having constructed or made modifications to more than 220 beverage distribution facilities nationwide. As the beer industry experts, ARCO understands the space utilization, product storage, rotation, temperature control requirements and many other factors that beverage facilities may require. From expertly designed draught coolers and conditioned warehouses to attractive and efficient office spaces, ARCO’s design-build process provides clients with the highest quality construction and the best value.