Marketing Director Jackie Maceda said Friday that Miami Grill, which will open at the former Zaxby’s in Regency, is a “fresher and more hip version” than the original Miami Subs that closed in Jacksonville.
She said that Miami Grill is expected to open in the fall and hire 50 people.
Asked about plans for more locations, she said, “Absolutely. We have two signed commitments with a couple more in negotiations which we are not at liberty to discuss yet.”
Maceda said the company kept the signature items, such as chicken wings, gyros, Philly cheesesteaks and burgers, while adding grilled fish and shrimp options, wraps and new salads to the menu.
Maceda said the format was changed to a fast-casual model where the food is served to the table and the tables are cleared by staff.
All the Miami Grills will serve beer and wine and have a bar seating area. The dining area has gained multiple TVs.
It is giving both the interior and exterior areas a new look, maintaining the logo colors “and South Beach cool,” she said.
The restaurants will be decked out in magenta and teal.
“Our plans are not only to re-enter the Jacksonville market, where we were previously very successful and have great loyal fans, but to continue to expand into the rest of Northeast Florida,” she said.
Owners of the New Miami Subs Grill bought the former Zaxby’s restaurant, which was built in 2001 at 9575 Regency Square Blvd. N. A new Zaxby’s was developed next door.
Miami Grill will remodel the former Zaxby’s, which isn’t far from the former site of Miami Subs.
Colliers International Executive Vice President Jason Ryals and Retail Associate Katherine Goodwin represented the buyer, Gainesville East LLC, based in Fort Lauderdale.
Ryals said previously the company was working on more deals and he expected it would open three to four restaurants over the next two years.
Miami Subs had operated six stores in the area, but closed them. The Regency location closed in 2003.
ABC Fine Wine & Spirits to rebuild San Jose store
The ABC Fine Wine & Spirits store at 9436 San Jose Blvd. is slated for demolition and redevelopment.
Site plans filed with the city say the 11,289-square-foot store on 1.6 acres at northwest San Jose Boulevard and Sunbeam Road will be taken down.
That location, developed in 1984, will be replaced with a proposed 13,005-square-foot store, plans show.
ABC Liquors Inc. of Orlando is the owner and developer. Design Construction International LLC of Altamonte Springs is the architect.
ABC Liquors operates more than 15 locations in Northeast Florida. It is building a new store in The Crossing at Town Center and recently opened one at 6313 Roosevelt Blvd.
The new Roosevelt store was one of the first to feature ABC’s new design.
According to Tampabay.com, a new ABC Fine Wine & Spirits in Tampa was designed to feature 5,000 wines and a 16-door beer cooler stocked with more than 500 beers, including hundreds of craft beers.
The store also has 2,000 rare and popular spirits, 300 premium cigar selections, gourmet food, custom gift baskets and glassware.
The company was founded in 1936 in Orlando and incorporated in 1950 as ABC Liquors. It began using ABC Fine Wine & Spirits in 1993.
It operates about 150 retail locations in Florida with about 1,500 employees.
La Nopalera planning Philips build-out
La Nopalera is preparing to build-out in the Avenues South center at 11035 Philips Highway.
The site formerly was a furniture store.
Coastal Contracting of North Florida is the contractor for the $100,000 project, according to a building permit application.
It will be a 4,400-square-foot project.
Jose Valencia, an owner, said previously that the property owners wanted a restaurant there and gave him a good deal on the lease.
La Nopalera Avenues Inc. also sought a zoning exception in conjunction with opening a full-service restaurant. Those plans showed a 164-seat restaurant and a bar, although seating wasn’t finalized. Valencia said it could open 90 days after permitting and approvals.
La Nopalera Mexican Restaurants’ website said it has nine locations: six in Northeast Florida, two in Georgia and one in South Carolina.
Valencia also intends to open one in Bartram Park.
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