Brittany and Jesse Culbreth searched for a new headquarters for Emerald C’s Development Inc., their general contracting firm that focuses on interior build-outs.
They found one in the Talleyrand area of Downtown.
“We came across this property and saw it had the potential to be something great,” company President and co-owner Brittany Culbreth said April 8.
She said the industrial area near TIAA Bank Field “hasn’t had a lot of love,” so the Culbreths decided to share some of their own.
Through 1750 E. Duval LLC, they paid $750,000 on March 24 for a vacant two-story, 6,250-square-foot office structure and 8,000-square-foot warehouse that is leased to a tenant, who will remain for now.
Both buildings were developed in 1955.
Center State Bank issued a $680,000 mortgage.
Jesse Culbreth, company vice president and co-owner, said the deal is financed by the SBA through Florida First Capital Finance Corp. and Center State Bank.
The property is at 1750 E. Duval St., next to the colorful Toon Town Jax building, a creative and event space covered with cartoon murals.
“We’re going to do some pretty major renovations of the interior and exterior. We are hoping to make a pretty cool spotlight for the area,” he said.
That could include a mural of their own.
The structure also has a 1,250-square-foot deck.
They will need Downtown Development Review Board approval and are researching potential incentives.
The design team includes Thomas Duke Architect, Micamy Design Studio and Fortress Engineering Group.
The stadium and the energy from the Jacksonville Jaguars are a big reason for the site choice.
“With the changes in the Jaguars and with Urban Meyer on board, we wanted to stake our spot,” Brittany Culbreth said.
The Culbreths are graduates of the University of Florida, where Meyer coached.
The Jaguars hired him in January as head coach.
The building’s previous uses include for construction maintenance and accounting firms, but has been vacant since it flooded during Hurricane Irma in 2017.
The Culbreths bought the 0.9-acre property from Talleyrand Properties Inc., led by John Ferlisi.
Emerald C’s leases 3,700 square feet of suburban space at 8400 Baymeadows Way in Baymeadows Business Park.
The couple started the company in 2010 and kicked it into high gear in 2013.
They have 14 employees and hope to add more.
Emerald C’s Development specializes in interior build-out projects, serving corporate/office, health care, industrial, production, education, recreation and retail.
They incorporated Emerald C’s in 2010. Their Emerald-Cs.com site said the company “really grew wings in 2013 when Brittany and Jesse devoted their full attention to becoming a prominent presence in Jacksonville.”
The name stems from their Emerald Coast roots and C’s from the Culbreth family name.
Their families have lived in the Florida Panhandle and South Alabama region for more than a century.
Clients include Brooks Rehabilitation, Turner Pest Control, Velocity Air Sports and other local and national companies, the site says.
Brittany Culbreth, who was born in Panama City and grew up in Orlando, graduated from the University of Florida in 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in construction management.
She started her career with a defense contractor building ground-up projects on military bases throughout the southeastern United States.
She became a state-certified general contractor and began renovating houses in her off time.
Jesse Culbreth, a native of Destin, graduated from Florida in 2005. He started his career in residential construction and transitioned into commercial in 2007 specializing in interior build-out projects.
The couple married in 2009 and have two sons – Mason, 9, and Casey, 1½.
The business is available for them when the time comes.
“That’s a goal for sure,” Jesse Culbreth said.
