Lakeville's Marketplace at Cedar Just Got Real — Here's Every Business That's Coming

TLDR

Marketplace at Cedar is a nine-lot commercial development at Cedar Ave and 179th Street in Lakeville
Confirmed tenants include Aldi, Starbucks, Taco Bell (new "Kitchen X" design), Mister Car Wash, Valvoline, Veridian Credit Union, Everbrook Academy, and Pacific Dental Services
Construction is expected to start spring 2026, with openings likely fall 2026 into early 2027
The Planning Commission and City Council both approved the project unanimously
Two outlots are still available — the developer wants a drive-thru restaurant and a medical building

If you've driven down Cedar Ave near 179th Street lately, you've probably noticed things look... different. That's because one of the biggest commercial developments Lakeville has seen in years is officially moving forward — and we now have a pretty clear picture of who's setting up shop.

What Exactly Is Marketplace at Cedar?

Think of it as a mini commercial district. Not a strip mall. Not a big box store. It's nine separate commercial lots spread across about 32 acres at the northeast and southeast corners of Cedar Avenue and 179th Street West.

The developer is Oppidan Investment Company (with CBRE handling the leasing), and the whole thing is designed as a mix of standalone restaurants, retail shops, and service businesses — each on their own lot with shared parking and internal roads connecting everything.

The city's been planning for something like this for a while. Lakeville's 2040 comprehensive plan envisions the Cedar Avenue corridor as a higher-intensity commercial zone that could eventually support transit. So this development fits right into that long-term vision.

So Who's Actually Moving In?

This is the part everyone wants to know. Based on city approvals and leasing documents, here's the confirmed tenant lineup:

Aldi — The popular discount grocery chain is coming to Lakeville. If you've been driving to Apple Valley or Burnsville for your Aldi runs, this one's going to save you some gas money.

Starbucks — Because of course. But seriously, this stretch of Cedar Ave has been underserved for coffee, so this fills a gap.

Taco Bell — And not just any Taco Bell. This one's getting the brand-new "Kitchen X" design, which is Taco Bell's next-gen restaurant concept focused on speed, digital ordering, and a modernized look. The Lakeville location will be a 2,860-square-foot building with indoor dining, a drive-thru, and dedicated mobile pickup stalls. The City Council approved the conditional use permit for the drive-thru in October 2025.

Mister Car Wash — Got its conditional use permit approved at the November 2025 City Council meeting. If you're tired of the lines at existing car washes around here, another option is always welcome.

Valvoline — Quick oil change spot. Pretty straightforward and fills a need for this part of town.

Veridian Credit Union — A full-service credit union branch, giving residents another banking option along Cedar.

Everbrook Academy — This is a childcare and early education center. Huge for working families in this area, especially with all the new housing going up nearby.

Pacific Dental Services — A dental practice that'll share a multi-tenant building (likely alongside Starbucks based on the site plans).

Still Available: Two outlots are still up for grabs. The developer is specifically looking for a quick-service restaurant with a drive-thru for one, and a medical building for the other. So expect at least two more announcements down the road.

What About Traffic?

Yeah, this came up. At the March 2025 Planning Commission meeting, neighbors raised concerns about what all this new commercial activity would mean for traffic — especially on Glacier Way and the surrounding residential streets.

Here's how the city and developer are handling it:

The main access from 179th Street is right-in, right-out only. That means no left turns directly onto 179th from the development, which should cut down on backup at that intersection.

Most of the traffic flow is designed to route through an internal road (called Glanshaw Way) that connects to Glacier Way. The idea is to push turning movements away from Cedar Ave itself and onto streets that were built to handle mixed residential and commercial traffic.

Dakota County also requires a formal traffic study before everything's finalized, so there's another layer of review coming.

Is it going to bring more cars to the area? Absolutely. But the Lakeville Planning Commission noted that this land has been designated for commercial development in the city's comprehensive plan for years — this isn't a surprise rezoning situation.

Timeline — When Does All This Open?

Here's what we know about the timeline:

Early 2025: Planning Commission and City Council both unanimously approved the preliminary plat and conditional use permit
October 2025: Taco Bell CUP approved; amended resolution updated project details
November 2025: Mister Car Wash CUP approved
Spring 2026: Construction expected to begin
Fall 2026 – Early 2027: First businesses expected to open

The development is being marketed for lease, ground lease, sale, and build-to-suit, which means different tenants may open on slightly different timelines depending on how fast they build out their individual lots.

Why This Matters for Lakeville

Lakeville hit a population estimate of 76,746 in 2024 — making it the largest city in Dakota County and the ninth largest in Minnesota. The city issued $381 million in building permits in 2025 alone. That's a lot of growth.

This part of Cedar Ave has also seen a surge of residential construction. Pulte Homes is building 171 townhomes just east of the Marketplace at Cedar site, and there are plans for senior housing and multifamily units to the south. All those new rooftops need places to eat, shop, bank, and get their oil changed.

For existing residents, this means more convenience without having to drive up to the Apple Valley or Burnsville shopping areas. For the city, it means a bigger commercial tax base to help fund services.

And if you're keeping track of Lakeville's overall momentum — it was named one of Redfin's hottest neighborhoods in America for 2025. Developments like Marketplace at Cedar are part of why.

The Bottom Line

Marketplace at Cedar is one of the most significant commercial developments Lakeville has seen in recent years. With Aldi, Starbucks, Taco Bell, and a half-dozen other businesses confirmed, plus two more lots still available, this is going to reshape what the Cedar Ave and 179th Street intersection looks like — and how convenient everyday errands are for thousands of Lakeville residents.

Construction kicks off spring 2026. We'll keep you updated as more tenants are announced and buildings start going up.

Want to stay in the loop on Lakeville development news? Subscribe to South Metro Scoop — we cover this stuff so you don't have to dig through city council meeting minutes.

FAQ

Wait, Aldi is really coming to Lakeville?

Yep. Aldi is one of the confirmed tenants for Marketplace at Cedar. No exact opening date yet, but construction on the overall development starts spring 2026.

What's a "Kitchen X" Taco Bell?

It's Taco Bell's newest restaurant prototype — think modernized look, faster kitchen layout, and a bigger emphasis on digital ordering and mobile pickup. The Lakeville location will be one of only two Kitchen X restaurants in Minnesota (the other is in Rochester).

Is all this going to make traffic on Cedar Ave way worse?

The development is designed to push most traffic onto internal roads and Glacier Way rather than directly onto Cedar Ave. The city is also requiring a Dakota County traffic study. Will there be more cars? Yes. But the layout is specifically designed to manage it.

When will these businesses actually open?

Construction starts spring 2026. The first businesses are expected to open by fall 2026 or early 2027, depending on individual buildout timelines.

Are there still spots available for more businesses?

Yes — two outlots are still being marketed. The developer is looking for a drive-thru restaurant and a medical building, so expect more announcements in the coming months.