Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. intends to close its Regency Park store at 9400 Atlantic Blvd. when the arts and crafts chain opens its new location in the Parkway Shops in North Jacksonville.
Spokesman Vincent Parker said Tuesday the Regency store’s 24 jobs will be transferred to the Parkway Shops location, near River City Marketplace. The Regency store opened in February 2006.
Construction has been approved for the new store. Parker said he did not know the opening date.
Edward Eickhoff is vice president of development and redevelopment for Ramco-Gershenson Inc., the owner and developer of Parkway Shops as well as the adjacent River City Marketplace. He said the store should open in October.
The new store, at 15324 Max Leggett Parkway, will be developed across from the UF Health Jacksonville North campus. KTM Builders LLC is the contractor for Hobby Lobby at a job cost of $1.98 million.
Hobby Lobby has four area stores — one each in Regency, Mandarin, Jacksonville Beach and St. Augustine.
The Regency closing is another loss in the Arlington area. Recent closings there include Bed Bath & Beyond, World Market and TigerDirect.
However, the Hard Knocks indoor entertainment center will open in Regency Park, and a Pollo Tropical restaurant is under construction on a nearby outparcel.
Hobby Lobby is part of the second phase of Parkway Shops. Eickhoff said there are no other major store additions to report for that phase.
The first phase features Dick’s Sporting Goods, Marshalls, Ulta and Newk’s Eatery, along with outparcels that include BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Mellow Mushroom, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Wendy’s and Express Oil & Lube.
Bealls’ new Bunulu opening at Town Center
Bunulu, a new concept by Bealls Department Stores, intends to open in St. Johns Town Center.
According to a story at Bradenton.com, Bunulu (pronounced boo-new-lou) targets affluent customers who live a coastal lifestyle.
A report in March said the Bradenton-based chain wanted to open its first three to five stores this fall.
A building-permit application shows renovations are planned for a 3,749-square-foot Bunulu at the Town Center at 4663 River City Drive. McIntyre, Elwell & Strammer General Contractors Inc. is the contractor for the $425,000 project.
Bealls Department Stores President Lorna Nagler, who is heading up the launch, told the news site that Bunulu is an Aboriginie name that means a place of water. Bunulu’s tagline is Land, Water and Style.
Bradenton.com said the stores will carry active and casual clothes made to be worn beachside, in the water or out on the town. Bealls wanted a new concept store for the last decade and hopes Bunulu will become a successful standalone division.
It also represents a higher-end market than those covered by Bealls Department Stores and Bealls Outlets. Bunulu stores will carry brand-name clothing for men and women, footwear and accessories like a Yeti cooler, GoPro camera and trendy watches, the news site reported.
The company has launched its bunulu.com website and a Facebook page.
Shoppers will pay by finding employees with mobile devices rather than checking out at registers.
If successful, it could expand the concept outside Florida.
Site demolition OK’d for Hallmark’s hotel
The city approved demolition of a warehouse in Brooklyn at the site where NAI Hallmark Partners wants to build a wellness-oriented hotel.
Hallmark Partners, developer of the 220 Riverside apartments and Unity Plaza, bought the warehouse and almost one-third acre at 803 Price St. in September.
Realco Recycling Co. Inc. is the contractor to demolish the 10,600-square-foot storage building.
Hallmark said in September it was talking with InterContinental Hotels Group, an international hotel group that operates Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn and others. InterContinental is considering opening an EVEN hotel in Brooklyn, a brand focused on wellness-minded travelers.
The hotel would meld with 220 Riverside and Unity Plaza’s cultures of fitness, wellness and community togetherness.
Walmart to fill 95 jobs for San Pablo store
Walmart is accepting applications to fill up to 95 jobs for its San Pablo Neighborhood Market, which will open this summer. A temporary hiring center has opened near the store at 1650 San Pablo Road S., Suite 7.
Applications are accepted from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
Applicants also may apply online at http://careers.walmart.com.
The majority of new associates will start work in July to prepare for the grand opening.
The company said through Walmart’s Veterans Welcome Home Commitment, the company will offer a job to any eligible U.S. veteran honorably discharged from active duty since the original launch of the Veterans Welcome Home Commitment on Memorial Day 2013. For information, visit http://walmartcareerswithamission.com.
Store manager Josh Fowler said the store will be hiring full- and part-time associates. Walmart offers benefits.
Fairlead buys Chestnut Hill Investments
Atlanta-based Fairlead Commercial Real Estate announced Wednesday it has acquired Chestnut Hill Investments, a Jacksonville-based real estate development company. The companies have partnered on a series of acquisitions and developments of office and industrial properties throughout Florida since 2013.
A news release said under the Fairlead name, Chestnut Hill Investments, founded by J.J. Conners in 2006, will continue to provide development and consulting services to institutional real estate investment companies, family office real estate investors, local corporations and the city of Jacksonville. Conners has become a principal of Fairlead and will serve as the company’s chief development officer.
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