American Tire Distributors plans a major expansion to its West Jacksonville warehouse at Stuart and Highway avenues.
The company also has renewed its lease on the site for 10 years.
Based in Huntersville, N.C., near Charlotte, the company says it is the largest distributor of replacement tires in North America, based on sales and the number of warehouses.
American Tire Distributors operates through more than 140 distribution centers in the United States and Canada.
Last year, it distributed more than 40 million replacement tires to tire retailers, mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs, tire manufacturer-owned stores, auto dealerships and web-based markets.
It intends to expand its Jacksonville warehouse at 7051 Stuart Ave. by 50,000 square feet. Because no building permit application was made yet, no estimated cost was made public.
Ron Sinclair, senior vice president of marketing for American Tire Distributors, said Tuesday the expansion should be completed by July. The project will allow the company "to enhance the breadth and depth" of the products it offers to its retail customers in the Jacksonville area. The distribution center serves customers in a 75-mile radius.
Sinclair said the company has 25 employees in Jacksonville and expects that to increase, but did not say by how many.
Property owner Sam Easton, through 7051 Stuart Avenue LLC, applied to the St. Johns River Water Management District to expand the warehouse. EnVision Design Engineering LLC is the civil engineer.
The project site area is 4.85 acres. Plans show a total site area of almost 8 acres.
Easton said American Tire Distributors leases an 80,000-square-foot warehouse along Stuart Avenue. When expanded, it will total 130,000 square feet. He estimates the project at $3 million.
Easton also owns an almost 41,000-square-foot warehouse on the adjacent 6982 Highway Ave. site as part of a property purchase in December needed to accommodate the American Tire Distributors expansion.
Easton said that warehouse will be partially demolished on one side and expanded on another to create a 35,000-square-foot property that will be available for lease. He estimates that project at $700,000.
Easton’s 7051 Stuart Avenue LLC bought the Stuart Avenue property in 2006. American Tire Distributors has been leasing there since then. Sinclair said the company has been in Jacksonville for 20 years.
The larger Stuart Avenue warehouse was built in 1969 and the smaller Highway Avenue warehouse was built in 2008.
Easton and business partner Wayne Sanderson started the Easton, Sanderson & Co. full-service commercial real estate firm more than 35 years ago.
He said Monday the market in Jacksonville for warehouse sales and leasing has been very good.
“There’s a lot of money out there chasing deals,” Easton said. “People are pulling money out of the stock market and feel commercial real estate is a good place to put it.”
ULI to honor Pappas, award winners
Urban Land Institute North Florida will honor land-use lawyer Lynn Pappas as its “visionary leader” at its fourth annual Awards for Excellence on Oct. 21.
Pappas, a shareholder with the Gunster firm, is experienced in land use and real estate law, transactions, environmental permitting and policy matters.
The event is 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Jessie Ball duPont Center Downtown. Downtown Vision Inc. Executive Director Jake Gordon will be master of ceremonies.
ULI also will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the North Florida District Council.
ULI will announce winners in four areas from among finalists:
New development: Atlantic Beach Country Club in Atlantic Beach; College Town in Tallahassee; Infinity Hall and Savion Park, both in Gainesville.
Public sector/nonprofit: Southbank Riverwalk, UF Health North and Unity Plaza, all in Jacksonville.
Reuse/repurpose: Jessie Ball duPont Center in Jacksonville; Sawgrass Village in Ponte Vedra Beach; and Southern Charm Kitchen, Gainesville.
Downtown: Brooklyn Station, 220 Riverside and Jacksonville Transportation Authority.
The Awards for Excellence Program is ULI’s effort to identify and promote best practices in real estate development.
The awards recognize the full project-development process, including design, planning, construction, economic viability and management.
Submissions are reviewed by a panel of independent judges from the local and national development community.
For information, visit northflorida.uli.org.
Zaxby’s franchise buys site, takes out mortgage
The Jasz Group Inc. is moving quickly on its plans to build a new Zaxby’s restaurant in Regency and expects it to be completed in February.
A spokeswoman said the existing Zaxby's next door was the first in Jacksonville.
It paid $1.275 million for 1.83 acres, and a closed buffet restaurant building, at 9569 Regency Square Blvd. N. and took out a $2.5 million mortgage from Branch Banking and Trust Co.
The deed and mortgage were executed Sept. 18 and recorded Wednesday with the Duval County Clerk of Court. Heritage Trust Co., trustee of the Jan K. Voda Roth IRA and the Melinda S. Voda Roth IRA, sold the property.
Jasz Group, a franchise owner, already owns the Zaxby’s at 9575 Regency Square Blvd. N., next to the acquired site. It has not said what it intends to do with the existing restaurant, a 3,048-square-foot built in 2001 on almost an acre.
The new location will be a 90-seat, 3,847-square-foot Zaxby’s, according to a building-permit application. Auld & White Constructors LLC is the contractor for the new $1.1 million restaurant. Site work is shown as a $200,000 project.
The spokeswoman said the new location will include a large catering room, a double drive-thru and will be Zaxby's "Southern rustic" prototype.
The closed 11,300-square-foot buffet restaurant also was built in 2001 and will be demolished. It has served under several names, including Ryan’s Grill, Buffet & Bakery and Whistle Junction.
Bank sells office for Dunkin’ Donuts
The Jacksonville Bank sold its former office in the West Beaches area Friday for conversion into a Dunkin’ Donuts.
The property is at 12740 Atlantic Blvd., No. 200, in the Landmark Station center near Girvin Road.
Beach Chair Holdings LLC, whose mailing address is the Dunkin’ Donuts at 1325 Beach Blvd. in Jacksonville Beach, bought the 1.27-acre site for $775,000.
The Jacksonville Bank issued an $800,000 mortgage and a $640,000 second mortgage to Beach Chair Holdings LLC and Atlantic Boulevard Donuts Inc.
The deed and mortgages were recorded Monday with the Duval County Clerk of Court.
Amanda Amaral is president and Manual Amaral is secretary of Atlantic Boulevard Donuts Inc. Both are based in Ponte Vedra Beach. Valter Amaral of Jacksonville is treasurer. All are directors.
The three are members of Beach Chair Holdings LLC.
Property records show the site carries a market value of $779,300. The bank office was built in 2000.
The city is reviewing a proposed $298,000 remodeling to turn the former bank into a 32-seat Dunkin’ Donuts and drive-thru.
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