Even more indications are surfacing that organic and natural foods grocer Earth Fare is closing in on a supermarket at the Mandarin South shopping center.
Property owner Preferred Growth Properties LLC filed site plans with the city for parking lot improvements that clearly outline a 27,550-square-foot “natural grocer” in the largest space at 11700 San Jose Blvd.
One reason it is expected to be an Earth Fare is a former tenant in the building, Wood You Furniture, said so.
When the business moved to another Mandarin location in February, its owners said they were told by a Preferred Growth Properties representative that Earth Fare had signed a lease there.
Another reason is when Earth Fare opened its first Jacksonville store in August 2014 at Kernan and Atlantic boulevards, its CFO said the company wanted to open up to four area stores, including in Mandarin.
And another link is the size — the Atlantic North store is 24,000 square feet, similar to the Mandarin South size.
Store and property representatives have not confirmed the Earth Fare lease.
The site plans filed last week cover parking-lot improvements.
Preferred Growth Properties, through the PGP Jacksonville LLC ownership entity, and Solid Rock Engineering Consultants Inc. submitted the information.
A letter from Solid Rock says PGP Jacksonville LLC proposes to improve the parking lot to meet city design specifications as closely as possible. It says the proposed uses remain the same as existing uses: a retail/grocery/restaurant building.
A Winn-Dixie occupied the grocery space years ago, which appears to be divided now to accommodate other retailers. The Winn-Dixie was at least 45,000 square feet.
The internal landscape islands will be built according to the city’s land development code. Details of the changes are in a requested zoning administrative deviation scheduled for review, the letter says.
The letter and the plans show more detail about Preferred Growth Properties’ intentions for the property, which is at San Jose Boulevard and Loretto Road, south of Interstate 295.
Now at about 65,000 square feet, a proposed addition will boost the shopping center to almost 74,000 square feet.
That addition will help create space for a 17,730-square-foot junior anchor next to the grocery store.
Some tenants, including AutoZone, said previously they intend to remain.
The site and landscape plans show 10 retail and restaurant spaces.
Including AutoZone, the natural grocer and the junior anchor, there are four retail stores from 1,200 to 2,800 square feet and three restaurants of 2,400 and 2,800 square feet.
Preferred Growth Properties, the real estate subsidiary of Books-A-Million Inc. of Birmingham, bought Mandarin South in July 2014.
Preferred Growth Properties also is developing The Strand and The Crossing mixed-use centers near St. Johns Town Center.
Captain’s Catch could open this summer
Captain’s Catch Seafood Restaurant and Sports Bar is being designed at Regency Square Mall as a 200-person capacity dining area and sports bar that will serve fresh seafood that primarily is locally caught, according to its landlord.
Bill Connerly, chief operating officer of International Décor Outlet, said the 5,900-square-foot restaurant should be built-out in a month or two after permitting is approved.
The restaurant is designed in the former Houlihan’s space, near the former Belk store.
Connerly said some deconstruction is taking place as the city reviews the permit application.
The application states a $350,000 build-out.
Connerly declined to identify the restaurant’s owners other than that they are based in New York.
He said local people will run the business, which will employ 20-25 workers.
He said there was no menu yet, but the focus is on seafood.
“We are looking at everything being local,” Connerly said. “If you can’t get local, it will be 100 percent fresh.”
He said the restaurant will lease from IDO, which holds the master lease on 200,000 square feet of the interior hall space in the mall’s west wing.
The space will be sublet to international manufacturers and retailers to set up showrooms to sell goods directly to consumers.
Connerly said there were 86 spaces available, although some can be combined into larger shapes and others might be split. He said IDO is looking at a fill rate of 80 percent by year-end.
IDO also is leasing the Darien Outlet Mall in South Georgia. Connerly said several spaces are under design there and ready for permitting.
He said IDO is opening that center up for domestic stores as well, such as coffee shops, restaurants and a design center for a local contractor.
The company said on its idooutlet.com site it plans to host grand openings for both the Jacksonville and Darien locations in late August.
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