If you can’t travel all the way to Europe this summer for a vacation, then turn your eyes toward the city of McKinney, where a village there called Adriatica is the replica of a Croatian city designed after the village of Supetar near the tip of the island of Brac.
George Fuller, a member of the development team and the builder of McKinney’s charming little Croatian Village, says that the idea for the theme came about when Jeff Blackard, the original developer for the project, became “enamored with not just the architecture, but also the way in which people lived” after he traveled to Croatia numerous times and saw the easy style of living there.
“The Island of Brac was the specific place Adriatica was based upon and contains beautiful architecture. As a port to the area, it embodied the working village,” Fuller explained.
Indeed, as in Croatia, Adriatica embraces the beauty and charm of a Mediterranean harbor town with stone streets, carvings, palm trees and authentic Croatian architecture that the McKinney folks have touched on here in Texas.
The development in McKinney, which Fuller has been a part of for a decade along with Kevin Dingman, the architect, now consists of residential, retail and office space, dining, entertainment, medical, churches and chapels, and is “a true village where residents can experience all facets of life,” said Fuller.
And the village offers special events, too, as Gisella “Gigi” Olivo, Sales & Marketing Director for Adriatica Village, explained.
“We always have fun events such as happy hours, live music, comedy nights, concerts and wine tastings at our restaurants and event center,” the Adriatica Village resident said.
As for future plans for development at Adriatica, Fuller said the plan is to continue to build and add to the Village until it is completed.
“We are in the process of building an age restricted, high amenity lease product that will compliment the current all age St. Paul Square Apartment lofts,” he said. “We will build more restaurants, including a flagship venue on the island next to the chapel. More shops are coming and we hope to secure a corporate campus on the western border of our property as well.”
Overall, as for the “village life” and finding that authentic Croatian, old-world European charm, that’s easy. Fuller said that once there, the highlights can be easily seen and experienced.
“It’s the architecture, the variety of activity and, mostly, the people and businesses that bring the heartbeat to our village.”
For more information visit www.adriaticamckinney.com. Or, for a schedule of events at the Sanctuary Event Center at the village visit thesanctuarymckinney.com/calendar. For live music at ZinZen Mediterranean Bar visit www.zinzenwine.com. Visit the Farmers Market on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the corner of Virginia and Adriatic Pkwy.