Tucker Rocky/Biker's Choice, which distributes motorcycle and ATV aftermarket parts, accessories and apparel, is almost doubling its size in Jacksonville and adding a dozen jobs.
The Fort Worth-based company is adding 90,000 square feet of space to its 100,000-square-foot distribution center in Westside Industrial Park. The expansion is expected to be completed by Oct. 31.
"Improved business conditions and accelerated customer orders have strained warehouse capacity," Chief Financial Officer Jay Goldstein said by email.
In addition, the company added two product lines Metzeler and Pirelli, requiring more space. Tucker Rocky's Jacksonville center distributes to motorcycle dealerships from South Florida to North Carolina.
He said the two brands were recently added to the portfolio of Powersports products currently distributed by the company.
He said the expansion will include a multimillion-dollar investment in mechanized conveyors to improve accuracy and efficiency in filling orders.
According to Tuckerrocky.com, the company offers products for street, custom, touring and off-road motorcycles as well as ATVs.
Its brands include Answer, MSR, ProTaper, Speed and Strength, BikeMaster, Firstgear, River Road, QuadBoss and Twin Power.
It stocks and sells more than 75,000 items.
Goldstein said the Jacksonville distribution center opened in 1998 and its new lease will keep it there for at least another 10 years.
He said the company has about 35 employees at the center, which means the addition of a dozen more will expand the workforce by a third.
Tucker Rocky/Biker's Choice also will invest in material storage and material handling equipment to increase shipping accuracy and minimize delivery times to its customers.
The Tucker Rocky facility, at 8700 Jesse B. Smith Court, will be refitted with energy-efficient lighting fixtures and other features as well as landscape irrigation to reduce environmental impacts and minimize energy costs.
Peter Anderson, vice president of Pattillo Industrial Real Estate, said the park is near the UPS regional distribution center, the CSX Corp. and Norfolk Southern Corp. intermodal rail yards and Interstate 295, making it a convenient distribution link throughout the Southeast.
Westside Industrial Park, owned by Pattillo Industrial Real Estate, totals 1,000 acres and has about 70 companies operating there. The development sits north of Pritchard Road west of I-295.
Jesse B. Smith
Jesse B. Smith, by the way, led Jacksonville's economic-development efforts during the terms of four mayors. He also was deputy director of the city Planning and Development Department from 1990-95.
Smith was unassuming, highly effective and well respected and he preferred to stand quietly at the back of the room during the formal announcements of projects he assisted rather than stand in front, much less speak at the podium.
Smith died in 1996 at the age of 59.
The Jesse B. Smith Memorial Plaza pocket-park at 133 E. Forsyth St. was dedicated to him.
His name also lives on with the Jesse B. Smith Community Service award given by the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate trade association and the Jesse B. Smith Memorial Scholarship directed through the city Planning and Development Department.
TriBridge preparing for Beaches apartments
TriBridge Residential LLC filed more plans with the St. Johns River Water Management District for its proposed Beach Boulevard apartments at the former George Moore dealership site at 711 Beach Blvd.
Connelly & Wicker Inc. is the project engineer.
Plans show 170 units among five buildings on 4.41 acres in Jacksonville Beach, along Beach Boulevard between Ninth Street North and Sixth Street North. There will be a parking garage and swimming pool and associated work.
TriBridge is based in Atlanta.
The George Moore Chevrolet auto dealership moved to 10979 Atlantic Blvd.
Dollar General building in St. Augustine
Dollar General, which has been expanding around Northeast Florida, intends to build a store at Florida 207 and North Street in St. Augustine.
St. Johns River Water Management District plans show a 9,100-square-foot store on 1.35 acres.
The developer of many of the other Dollar Generals, Concept Development LLC of Gainesville, is listed for this one, too.
Concept Development has developed at least 18 Dollar General stores in Northeast Florida and is seeking approvals for three more in addition to the St. Augustine location.
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