Eataly is the most recent addition to CityPlace, bringing 23,000 square feet of fresh Italian fare to the neighborhood starting in December of 2025.
Related Ross
West Palm Beach has evolved quite significantly throughout the 21st century. Once viewed as a winter retreat/retirement community at the outer edges of the Miami metro area, the city of some 110,000 year-round residents has firmly established itself as a vibrant urban hub in its own right. CityPlace has served as a primary engine of this transformation.
The mixed-use lifestyle center in the heart of downtown originally opened in 2000. It was inspired by Mediterranean mainstays: walkable streets, public art, and a penchant for what has become known as “intentional living.” Today that equates to over 72 acres of apartments, park, and shopping space – populated by retailers that are synonymous with health, wellness and conscientious consumerism. Places like Eataly, Pura Vida, Alo, Equinox and the Cleveland Clinic are anchors of this thriving city within a city.
To highlight its emergence as a dynamic wellness destination, CityPlace hosts an annual spring gathering called District Fit. Its ninth iteration kicked off this April, with a platform for thought leadership entitled, “The Future of Vitality.” There, a panel of experts discussed longevity, performance, and the future of wellness. It was followed by a weekend of free yoga and workout classes held in the public square along with a showcasing of cutting-edge recovery technologies and an array of nutritional supplements.
Guests were gifted wellness shots from Pura Vida and True Food Kitchen. They could take a spin on a smoothie-blending bike, hosted by the Cleveland Clinic. There was a power-up bar from Gorgie featuring its recently debuted Candy Twist energy drink. Even beloved clothing and fashion brands such as Johnnie-O’s and OluKai involved themselves in the movement, with the latter offering complimentary coconuts to the public. By the time it had concluded, the event assembled more than 1400 attendees across four days.
Free coconut water from Olukai on serve at District Fit 2026
District Fit/City Place
“District Fit truly came into its own this year, with record-breaking attendance and our most dynamic lineup to date,” according to Eileen Sturgis, a spokesperson for Related Ross, the development group behind CityPlace. “What started as a strong one-day wellness concept has evolved into a full-scale, cultural moment, bringing together best-in-class partners, high-energy programming, and a community that continues to show up in a major way.”
More highlights from the food and beverage space included the District Matcha Run mocktail – a zero-proof Mai Tai variant, crafted with Seedlip Spice, mango, coconut matcha water and pineapple leaf – from Adrienne’s Pizzabar. And a retro-themed gelato cart from the folks at Eataly.
The thematic integration of all these components is all part of the job for Webber Hudson. He’s in charge of retail leasing at CitySpace and for him there are specific criteria he considers to ensure that a new shop will thrive within – and contribute meaningly to – that intentional living framework.
“I look at who their core audience is and who they’re targeting,” he tells Forbes of the process. “Are they relevant to the culturally connected consumer who’s health-conscious, wellness-driven, and intentional from the moment they wake up about how they’re going to live their best day? Brands like Equinox, Alo, Lululemon, Johnnie-O, and Rothy’s are all strong examples of this.”
District Fit effectively showcases the successful implementation of that model. Which is why it was so important for someone like Michelle Cordeiro Grant, CEO and Founder of Gorgie to activate there. Her zero-sugar energy drink recently attracted rock legend Jon Bon Jovi as an investor and strategic partner.
“South Florida has always had this incredible energy around wellness and movement, but what’s happening in West Palm Beach right now feels different,” says Cordeiro Grant. “People here are intentional about how they live, how they move, and what they put in their bodies. It’s a community that is genuinely building a lifestyle around feeling good.”
And it’s a community that now stands on its own as a worthwhile food and beverage destination, independent of any surrounding metropolitan areas. Whether you’re visiting during District Fit or any other time throughout the year, you’ll be greeted by a vibrant, modernized landscape that’s increasingly shifting the center of gravity northward from Miami. A whole new generation of South Floridians are taking note–and a whole new city is taking shape.
Gorgie featured its recently debuted Candy Twist energy drink at District Fit 2026.
Gorgie