Darren Johnson, Clermont downtown entrepreneur, received approval by Clermont City Council to proceed with plans to build on a 1.04-acre site, located on the northwest corner of West Avenue and Minneola Avenue intersection. The mixed-use project consists of 25 residential units and up to 8,000 square feet of commercial use.
The Victory Village Project
The Lofts at Victory Village: 25-unit Lakeview apartment building with (6) three-bedroom (2) bath units and (19) two-bedroom/ (2) bath units. Included is a parking garage, dog washroom, bike storage, fitness center and clubhouse.
The Fresh Market at the Victory Village will be approximately 8,000 sq. feet of open-air, post and beam barn, offering retail and take out food. 
This is not Darren’s first Downtown Clermont venture. Â Darren and his wife Karen have strong ties to the community. Â Darren has lived in Clermont for over 25 years. Karen (maiden name McGuire) has lived in Clermont her entire life. In 2019, Darren opened the Clermont Brewing Company (CBC)Â and it immediately became a popular hot spot of south Lake County.
Again this year, the Johnsons and the Formatos opened The Southern on 8th, located at 801 W. Montrose St. in Downton Clermont. (see additional information at The Southern on 8th).
Darren has plans to open the Woodhouse Day Spa, later this year. The luxury spa is being built on the site located next to Victory Pointe at the corner of Osceola and West Avenues, across from the Clermont Historic Village. The Victory Village project will be built closeby.
This year, Darren was elected as the Vice President of the Clermont Downtown Partnership (CDP) Board of Directors.
