First Coast Energy LLP, the parent company of Daily’s gas station and convenience store, paid $4.57 million for 15 acres in the Rivertown area of St. Johns County.
The property is southeast of Longleaf Pine Parkway and Greenbriar Road. The seller was Helow Properties Ltd., according to a deed recorded Sept. 3 with the St. Johns County Clerk of Circuit Court.
A marketing flyer for the property shows a conceptual site plan with a gas and convenience store on the corner and other commercial development along Longleaf Pine Parkway, across from the Publix- anchored shopping center under construction.
Murphy Land and Retail Services Inc., President Clint Murphy brokered the sale.
Clearwater-based Boos Development Group Inc., a real estate development services company, has been marketing the property for development.
CEO Rob Boos said his company intends to buy 12 acres from First Coast Energy in early 2021.
First Coast is keeping 3 acres at the corner for a Daily’s store.
“We have had a ton of interest on the site, based on the housing growth and supported by Publix across the street. It is going to be the largest Publix in their network, which shows the growth in the area. We feel there is still the need for retail and services as that area grows,” Boos said.
He said there is interest from medical services, quick-service restaurants and “a variety of other essential service-type retail brick-and-mortar users.”
There also have been discussions with a coffee shop and potential tenants have submitted letters of intent that are moving toward lease agreements, but Boos said he cannot reveal names until they are signed.
The site will not be a shopping center. It will comprise six single-tenant outparcels, five about 1 acre and one about 2½ acres.
Many of the tenants will have drive-thru service, “especially in the current COVID time,” Boos said.
“We think it’s the right location to put this kind of use. It’s like ground zero for daily trips, daily needs and daily services with the grocer, homes and schools,” he said.
The property is within the 124-acre Shoppes at Mill Creek Forest planned unit development, approved for up to 399,000 square feet of commercial retail and 135,000 square feet of professional office uses.
