The Campione Law firm is moving from Southside into a historic building Downtown.
Federal Building Office Complex LLC, led by law firm founder Christopher Campione, purchased 501 W. Bay St. on May 12 and secured a $1.4 million mortgage from Ameris Bank of Jacksonville on May 13, according to documents filed with the Duval County Clerk of Courts.
“I’ve been wanting to move the office Downtown. There is a lot of energy there and I want to be part of it,” Campione said.
The two-story brick building opened in 1887 and was the El Modelo cigar factory from 1890-98.
One of the few structures that survived the Great Fire of 1901 that virtually razed Jacksonville, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
“I looked at a lot of buildings in Southside, but they were just regular office buildings. I researched the building and its history and fell in love with the place. We’ll be able to preserve it,” Campione said.
He purchased the building from the Moseley Prichard Parrish Knight & Jones law firm, which will remain the sole tenant on the second floor, Campione said.
Campione plans to perform minor office renovations on the first floor before he moves himself, six other attorneys and 14 staff from 3200 Emerson St. into the building at Bay and Clay streets, two blocks south of the Duval County Courthouse.
Elias Hionides of Petra represented Campione Law in the transaction. Cindy McLain with Kahle Commercial represented the seller.