Pensacola is in a golden age of growth and development with new businesses, amenities and projects popping up just about every week.
There were a few new openings this week, including a new treatment facility for military veterans and Allentown’s first public park, as well as some exciting announcements regarding a forthcoming luxury tea house and a new Zaxby’s.
Here’s a roundup of some the major projects that were announced, updated, opened or completed in the week of Sept. 22-28, as well as ongoing projects that may affect your neighborhood or your commute.
Upscale tea house headed to Pensacola
Prince Tea House is coming to 6403 N. Ninth Ave. this fall, bringing Pensacola an immersive tea house experience.
The café and restaurant will replace the original Siam Thai location, which has been vacant since the Thai restaurant relocated down the road to 7164 N. Ninth Ave. in early 2025. Prince Tea House took over the old space in December 2025, and the owners look forward to finally opening their doors for tea time this fall.
Beyond the teas, which the franchise sources and imports from France and serves by the pot, Prince Tea House also offers handmade desserts, such as its signature mille crepes cakes, which helped the Pensacola owners fall in love with the franchise.
Learn more: Prince Tea House bringing imported teas, handmade desserts to Pensacola
Zaxby’s planning new Navarre restaurant
Zaxby’s is bringing its tasty chicken menu to Navarre.
The restaurant chain, which is expanding quickly across Northwest Florida, has introduced a site plan notifying Santa Rosa County planners of its intent to construct a 2,870-square-foot facility on vacant commercial land at 8997 Navarre Parkway (U.S. Highway 98) in Navarre.
The Navarre Zaxby’s, as proposed, would feature a restaurant and drive-through, parking, a sidewalk and stormwater pond. It will be built on a long, thin, vacant seven-acre parcel that runs from U.S. 98 to the Santa Rosa Sound.
Learn more: Zaxby’s chicken spreading its wings, flying into Navarre
SRIA greenlights new 18-story condo tower on Pensacola Beach
The Santa Rosa Island Authority gave conceptual approval for a new 18-story luxury condominium project on Pensacola Beach at its Sept. 23 meeting.
The Gulf-front land where the project is proposed is between Hampton Inn and Crabs restaurant. It’s owned by H&S Development, which also owns Hampton Inn and is an affiliate company of Innisfree Hotels.
Innisfree Hotels President and CEO Ted Ent said the 18-story tower includes two parking decks and 16 floors. Three floors will have two condominium units per floor and 10 floors will have just one unit per floor.
Learn more: SRIA greenlights new 18-story condo tower on Pensacola Beach
Allentown gets first public park
A ribbon cutting was held in the rural Santa Rosa County community of Allentown on Sept. 23 as officials celebrated the opening of the first public park in the area.
The Allentown Community Park will feature a fitness court, as well as basketball and pickleball courts, and the county saved enough money by using in-house personnel and resources to complete the project. A children’s playground will be added to the site in the next couple of months.
The Allentown Park Fitness Court features seven workout stations that use body weight as resistance to provide a full-body workout. Designed for people ages 14 and older and all fitness levels, the workouts can be adapted to accommodate different abilities and allow users to exercise at their own pace. The free Fitness Court App is also available to help users follow guided workouts and make the most of the outdoor Fitness Court experience.
Learn more: Rural Allentown gets its first public park, and pickleball
UWF launches Home Base Florida program on campus
The Home Base Florida wellness program is now open on the University of West Florida campus,
Veterans, active duty and their family members across the Panhandle now have access to Home Base Florida’s Warrior Health and Fitness Program. The free, 90-day wellness program is designed to help participants improve their physical health and well-being through exercise, nutrition education, stress management, coaching and community-based support.
The Warrior Health and Fitness Program also serves as a gateway to other Home Base services for those who need support for post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, traumatic brain injury and other “invisible” injuries.
Learn more: New UWF Home Base program offers veterans health and healing
Escambia and Santa Rosa counties traffic advisories
Drivers will encounter traffic disruptions on the following state roads in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties as crews perform construction and maintenance activities.
Escambia County
Interstate 10 (I-10) Resurfacing from east of U.S. 29 to east of Davis Highway (State Road (S.R.) 291) – Drivers on I-10 may encounter intermittent lane closures, traffic shifts and periodic ramp closures, between mile markers 11 and 14, Sunday, Sept. 27 through Thursday, Oct. 1, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for striping operations.
S.R. 295 Resurfacing from S.R. 292 (Barrancas Avenue) to S.R. 727 (West Fairfield Drive) – Drivers may encounter intermittent outside lane closures on S.R. 295 (Navy Boulevard), from Barrancas Avenue to West Fairfield Drive, Sunday, Sept. 27 through Thursday, Oct. 1, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for concrete work.
S.R. 292 (Gulf Beach Highway) from east of Bauer Road (County Road (C.R.) 293) to Manchester Street – The week of Sunday, Sept. 27, drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures on S.R. 292, from east of Bauer Road (C.R. 293) to Manchester Street, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m., for paving operations. Drivers are reminded that median devices are in place near Patton Drive and Mills Avenue and the speed limit has been reduced to 35 mph.
U.S. 90 (Scenic Highway) Resurfacing, from south of I-10 to south of Hyde Park Road – Drivers on Scenic Highway may encounter intermittent lane closures, from south of I-10 to south of Hyde Park Road, Sunday, Sept. 27 through Thursday, Oct. 1, between 8 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., for striping operations. Law enforcement will be on site, and traffic flaggers will direct drivers safely through the work zone.
U.S. 90A (West Nine Mile Road) Resurfacing, from Perdido River Bridge to S.R. 99 (Beulah Road) – The week of Sunday, Sept. 27, U.S. 90A drivers may encounter intermittent lane closures between the Perdido River bridge and Beulah Road, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., for paving operations.
Interstate 110 (I-110) Resurfacing from I-10 to U.S. 98 – Drivers on I-110 may encounter intermittent lane closures, traffic shifts and periodic ramp closures, between I-10 and U.S. 98, Sunday, Sept. 27 through Thursday, Oct. 1, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m., for paving and striping operations.
Business U.S. 98 (Garden Street) Construction from Pace Boulevard to the I-110 ramp – Drivers are reminded of the following ongoing traffic impacts:
Garden Street, between Pace Boulevard and North Donelson Street, is reduced to two travel lanes (one in each direction) as crews perform construction activities on the north side of the street. This temporary traffic configuration will be in place through late 2026.
Temporary side street closures north of Garden Street for stormwater drainage system reconstruction. This week, drivers may encounter a closure with detour at B Street and C Street. Signage will be in place to direct drivers through the work zone.
On-street parking is closed on Garden Street, between A Street and L Street.
I-10 Resurfacing from the Perdido River Bridge to west of U.S. 29 – I-10 drivers may encounter the following traffic impacts Sunday, Sept. 27 through Thursday, Oct. 1, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.:
Intermittent inside lane closures, between mile markers 5 and 10, for paving operations.
Westbound outside lane closures, near the Pine Forest Road interchange (Exit 7), for guardrail and crash cushion installation.
I-10 at Nine Mile Road Interchange (Exit 5) Construction – Drivers will encounter the following construction-related traffic disruptions:
Intermittent lane closures on I-10 westbound near the Nine Mile Road interchange, Sunday, Sept. 27 through Thursday, Oct. 1, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
Nine Mile Road will be reduced to one travel lane in each direction between the I-10 ramps, Sunday, Sept. 27 through Saturday, Oct. 3, between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. Law enforcement will be on site, and directional signage will be in place to guide drivers through the work zone.
Temporary reconfiguration of the I-10 westbound on-ramp, which will remain in place through late 2026.
I-10 at U.S. 29 Interchange (Exit 10) Construction – Drivers are reminded of the following ongoing traffic impacts:
I-10 eastbound travel lanes have been shifted to the north near the U.S. 29 interchange. This temporary traffic configuration is anticipated to remain in place through late 2026.
I-10 is reduced to two travel lanes in each direction between U.S. 29 and I-110.
The U.S. 29 southbound access to the I-10 eastbound on-ramp has been reduced.
The U.S. 29 northbound ramp to I-10 eastbound is closed. U.S. 29 northbound drivers are being detoured to make a U-turn at Broad Street onto U.S. 29 southbound to access I-10 eastbound.
S.R. 97 (Atmore Highway) Resurfacing from U.S. 29 to the Alabama State Line – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
Intermittent lane and shoulder closures are to be expected throughout the project limits on Monday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Oct. 2, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for resurfacing operations.
Lane closures are to be expected at S.R. 95 and S.R. 97 on Monday, Sept. 28, through Friday, Oct. 2, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for resurfacing operations.
I-10 Routine Utility Maintenance from Exit 5 (U.S. 90) to just pass Exit 17 (U.S. 90) – Motorists will encounter intermittent east and westbound lane closures Sunday, Sept. 27 through Wednesday, Sept. 30 from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. to repair overhead lights.
Santa Rosa County
U.S. 98 Widening from Bayshore Road to Portside Drive – Motorists will encounter the following traffic impacts:
Median and turn lane closures from Bayshore Road to Tiger Lake Drive.
Intermittent lane closures and additional median closures between Bayshore Road and Tiger Lake Drive, Sunday, Sept. 27, through Saturday, Oct. 3, from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for paving operations.
All activities are weather dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. Drivers are reminded to use caution, especially at night, when traveling through a work zone and to watch for construction workers and equipment entering and exiting the roadway.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Luxury tea house, new Zaxby’s and more. What’s new in Pensacola
