Witnessed by more than 100 Eastside neighborhood residents, contributors and supporters, The Corner at Debs Store opened for business with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 4.
The project at 1478 Florida Ave., a few blocks north of the Downtown Sports Complex, includes the revival of a 90-year-old grocery store that closed in 2011 on the ground floor. A VyStar Credit Union Financial Fitness Center and Goodwill Industries of North Florida workforce development center are on the second floor.
“I am overwhelmed,” Joe Debs, president of Debs Store LLC and grandson of the store’s founders, said as he looked at the crowd gathered to celebrate the restoration of the neighborhood’s food store.
Debs said his grandparents left Lebanon and immigrated to America more than a century ago. They settled in the Eastside neighborhood and opened the store in 1921.
“My dad was born upstairs. My family lived here and worked here for 90 years,” Debs said.
The store closed after his father died in 2011. Debs said he remembers people at the funeral asking where they would go to get their groceries.
“That’s when I realized what a food desert is,” Debs said.
About four years ago, Debs began talking with LIFT JAX, a nonprofit formed in 2020 to create mixed-income housing, cradle-to-career education, community wellness and long-term financial viability to end generational poverty in areas like the Eastside.
LIFT JAX, Debs and other supporters formed a community partnership in 2021 to redevelop the historic building and bring a grocery store back to the neighborhood.
City Council approved a $650,000 food desert grant in February 2022 for LIFT JAX’s partnership with Goodwill and VyStar to bring a source of fresh food back to the neighborhood in a $2.3 million project.
Other partners also joined the effort, including Florida Blue, the Jacksonville Jaguars, Baptist Health, the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, RS&H and the state of Florida.
The city issued a building permit in September 2023 for Baker Consulting & Engineering LLC to renovate the site at a construction cost of $500,000.
“This has been a day in the making for several years,” David Garfunkel, president and CEO of LIFT JAX, said.
“This will be a community hub. The neighborhood will live, grow and thrive here.”
There is a GoodCareers Center job skills resource facility on the second floor, operated by Goodwill.
“We put our heads together to make it happen, to restore this historic landmark and create a healthy enterprise,” David Rey, Goodwill president and CEO, said.
VyStar is providing access to financial and counseling resources at the site in a small office upstairs.
VYStar CEO Brian Wolfburg said credit union staff will be available to help residents with credit union services as well as financial counseling and coaching.
“This is the perfect project for us in support of the Eastside community,” Wolfburg said.
The 2,000-square-foot store is stocked with items found in larger stores, including a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables. It is open seven days a week and employs 18 people who live in the neighborhood.
“I learned many life lessons in this building, like treating people with dignity, respect and love. The Eastside deserves a first-class facility with first-in-class service,” Debs said.