Books-A-Million’s buy-sell-trade division, 2nd & Charles, is building out at The Strand at Town Center, which is under development by an associated company.
Books-A-Million’s real estate subsidiary, Preferred Growth Properties LLC, is developing The Strand and The Crossing at Town Center along Town Center Parkway.
The city is reviewing a permit application for 2nd & Charles at 4972 Town Center Parkway, across from St. Johns Town Center.
No contractor is specified for the estimated $225,000 project to renovate 18,815 square feet of interior space, along with 1,264 square feet of unenclosed space.
The store buys and resells items such as used books, CDs in original cases, video games, iPads, iPods and vinyl records.
Building plans show departments for fiction and nonfiction books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl, comics, action figures, and kids and teens products. There also are seating areas and a kids’ table.
The only 2nd & Charles in Florida is in Gainesville.
Birmingham, Ala.-based Books-A-Million operates 32 of the stores in 16 states, according to
2ndandcharles.com.
Site under contract for Gate carwash
Gate Petroleum Co. seeks a zoning exception to build a Gate Express Carwash at southwest Blanding Boulevard and Hyde Park Drive in the Cedar Hills area of West Jacksonville.
Spokeswoman Misty Skipper said the site is under contract.
The 4,375-square-foot carwash would be built on almost 2 acres of the 4.3-acre site. Operating hours will be 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Jacksonville-based Gate Petroleum said in January that six sites have been acquired for its market entry. At least 12 more properties are in stages of review.
The Gate wholly owned subsidiary to develop the carwashes is BFC Property Holdings Inc., which stands for “Better, Faster, Cheaper.” BFC Property Holdings LLC is listed as the property owner at the Blanding site.
Gate Express Carwash will debut in late spring or summer with two locations.
The carwashes will feature a 125- to 145-foot tunnel system that can accommodate five to seven vehicles at a time and provide a wash in less than 4 minutes. Customers don’t have to leave their cars.
When through the wash, a customer can pull into a bay and use a free vacuum.
Pricing starts at $5 and all washes include the free vacuum. Monthly membership packages also will be available, Gate said.
Development note
The Haskell Co. received city permitting approval to build the foundation for a seven-story, 812,000-square-foot, 2,200-space parking garage for Baptist Health at 1051 Palm Ave. on the Southbank. The foundation is a $200,000 project.
Food & drink notes
• Bottlenose Brewing Co. is taking over the former World of Beer space at Tinseltown. The city is reviewing a permit application for the company to take the 3,100-square-foot space at 9700 Deer Lake Court, No. 1. Bottlenose’s Facebook page says it will offer 50 taps with a focus on Florida brews and plans eventually to brew its own. Plans show seating, a brewery, cooler, patio with bar-top seating and kitchen.
• The city approved build-out for Hyperion Brewing Co. in Springfield at 1740 N. Main St. next to Carl’s Main Street Restaurant. The Malle Co. Inc. is the contractor for the $178,220 project to renovate more than 3,000 square feet, the first phase of the 5,500-square-foot project. Plans show a brew house, tasting bar and seating. Owner Alexandra McKeown said there still are steps to go through before predicting an opening date, although she hopes for spring.
• Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is making progress toward opening at 4458 Town Center Parkway in the Promenade at Town Center. EnVision Design + Engineering filed site plans with the city for the 3,590-square-foot, 100-seat building planned on just under an acre. Also, the St. Johns River Water Management District gave notice it intends to grant a permit.
• B3 Mission LLC, owned by the Maple Street Biscuit Co. founders, applied for a certificate of use to open B Street Eats in Murray Hill at 1173 and 1179 Edgewood Ave. S. The 3,157-square-foot restaurant will seat 99. It will be next to the Maple Street at 1171 Edgewood Ave. S. B Street Eats features “casual Latin flavors” and has one location open in St. Augustine.
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