Quaker Steak & Lube, the Pennsylvania-based restaurant chain, is looking for a restaurant operator to develop three locations over the next three years in the Jacksonville market.
Zeb Hastings, vice president of franchise development, said the restaurants would create more than 250 jobs, "while offering Jacksonville the best wings in America in a fun family casual dining environment."
Quaker Steak & Lube is based in Sharon, Pa., north of Pittsburgh.
Its concept is a motor theme and it's known for its "Best Wings USA" and more than 25 sauces.
"Lube Nation," as it refers to itself, features décor that includes race cars suspended from the ceilings, motorcycles, Corvettes and gas station memorabilia.
The menu features wings and includes burgers and sandwiches, soups and salads, ribs, chicken, steaks, seafood, wraps, rolls, appetizers, desserts, beverages and cocktails, including "Lube-A-Ritas."
Created in 1974 in an abandoned Sharon gas station, the company has more than 60 locations across 20 states and Canada.
The website shows four restaurant types, including the 7,700-square-foot free-standing "classic" that carries an investment range of $2.3 million to $4.1 million.
The "Power Lube" is 5,200-6,700 square feet at $1.2 million to $2.7 million, either free-standing or at the end of a shopping center.
Both of those types feature a patio.
There also are opportunities for conversions of existing buildings and nontraditional developments, such as stadium, college, kiosk or airport locations.
The only Florida location is in Clearwater.
For information, visit QuakerSteakAndLube.com.
City Year expanding presence Downtown
The city approved a permit Friday for Dav-Lin Interior Contractors to renovate the second floor of the Dyal-Upchurch building Downtown for City Year Jacksonville.
City Year provides assistance to the area's lowest-performing schools by training corps members who commit 10 months to the effort.
The $299,430 construction project will encompass the second floor of the building at 6 E. Bay St., at the foot of the Main Street Bridge.
Jeff Smith, executive director and vice president of City Year Jacksonville, said the organization will relocate from the fifth floor of the building and double in space to more than 6,600 square feet.
"There is a need for additional space as we continue to grow," he said.
Smith said 58 corps members serve in six schools and the organization has 16 staff members.
Smith said plans call for expansion to 70 corps members in seven schools next year, with a goal of 100 members by the 2015-16 year.
Smith said City Year has been using about 3,000 square feet on the fifth floor of Dyal-Upchurch since Aug. 16, 2012. The move is expected in January.
The corps members provide targeted support to help students stay in school and on track to graduate.
City Year works with Duval County Public Schools, Communities In Schools and the United Way of Northeast Florida, among other organizations and efforts.
Its team sponsors include CSX Corp.; Comcast and NBCUniversal; EverBank; Florida Blue; Sea Best; and Wells Fargo.
Smith said the corps members each provide more than 1,700 hours of service over the 10 months.
"They not only work in the schools around the clock — arriving before school and staying until extended day is finished — but volunteer for numerous service events and projects in the community," Smith said by email.
City Year was founded in 1988 in Boston and operates in 25 communities in the United States and through two international affiliates.
It describes itself on cityyear.com as an education-focused, nonprofit organization that partners with public schools and teachers to help keep students in school and on track to succeed.
This year, its 2,700 corps members, who are 17 to 24 years old, are serving in 250 schools.
Corps members receive a stipend and benefits package, including leadership and professional development opportunities.
BC Industrial Supply cleared for construction
BC Industrial Supply is cleared to renovate the West Jacksonville warehouse the company's founder bought in October.
The city approved a permit for ShayCore Enterprises Inc. to renovate the almost 72,000-square-foot warehouse at 3333 Lenox Ave. for BC Industrial Supply, now operating in leased space in North Jacksonville.
Brian Crossley, president and founder of BC Industrial Supply, bought the Lenox Avenue building for $630,000 through Confederated Specialty LLC.
Crossley is manager of Confederated Specialty, which took out two mortgages from BB&T totaling $1.3 million.
The Daily Record reported Oct. 9 that Crossley started BC Industrial Supply in 1993.
He had worked at Barnett Brass & Copper before starting his own company — and now he's buying the Lenox Avenue building that housed Barnett Brass.
Crossley has been leasing space for most of the time he's been in business, now renting 31,000 square feet at 10592 Balmoral Circle E. in the Busch Drive Business Park, near the Anheuser-Busch brewery.
He said the Lenox Avenue structure was available at a good price.
The 2.4-acre Lenox Avenue location carries a 2013 taxable and 2014 market value of $691,900. The building comprises a warehouse and a two-story office area.
Crossley said his total investment also will include renovations, equipment and furnishings.
Crossley said he employs about 20 people and eventually expects to add more after the move.
The Lenox Avenue site keeps the business close to his manufacturing and contracting customers, who primarily are north and west of the St. Johns River.
The bcindustrialsupply.com website describes the company with a showroom, in-house tool repair shop and a large warehouse for industrial tools, equipment, accessories and supplies.
BC Industrial's inventory includes abrasives, air tools, saws, hydraulic lifting tools, ladders, electric power tools, pipefitting supplies and welding supplies, to name a few categories.
The tool repair division handles hydraulics, pneumatics, small engine repair, minibikes and go-carts, among others.
'It is not Trader Joe's'
Hillwood has submitted revised plans for its first speculative building at Alliance Florida at Cecil Commerce Center, specifying a 510,433-square-foot building for its first phase on 41.45 acres.
Civil engineer Prosser Hallock stated in the Dec. 2 submission to city reviewers that the "client has a need to revise the property boundary and building." No tenant has been named.
In a St. Johns River Water Management District filling, Prosser Hallock stated: "The project boundary, building size and loading area has been increased to meet the needs of the owner."
The building initially had been designed as 400,000 square feet.
A specific building size hints at a tenant, but the city, which owns Cecil Commerce Center and has contracted with Hillwood to be master developer, did not identify the company.
It also discounted that the warehouse would serve the Trader Joe's grocery chain, which is widely reported to be considering Jacksonville for a distribution center. The Trader Joe's rumor involves a larger center, however.
"We can't speculate on Hillwood's plans, but as far as we know it is not Trader Joe's," said Aleizha Batson, deputy director of communications for Mayor Alvin Brown.
The plans are for JCCC Parcel A – Phase I at 12970 Normandy Blvd. Drawings continue to refer to it as "Project Z."
Initial plans filed in April showed a 1 million-square-foot center comprising a first phase of 400,000 square feet and a second of 600,000 square feet. Brown's office said the filing was a site obligation by Hillwood Investment Properties to meet its contract to develop the building.
Brown's office said Hillwood has a long-term contract with the City to develop up to 30 million square feet of industrial and retail space in Cecil Commerce Center.
Verizon Wireless headed to St. Johns Town Center
What likely was the last undeveloped parcel for sale at The Markets at Town Center has changed hands and will be developed with a Verizon Wireless store.
Geneva Henderson, executive vice president with Lat Purser & Associates Inc., represented PDG JAX I LLC of Tennessee in buying the quarter-acre lot at 4948 Big Island Drive from Pinehill Markets Operating LLC, the developer of The Markets at Town Center.
PDG JAX paid $1.2 million for the property and took out a $2.04 million mortgage from Avenue Bank.
The deed and mortgage were issued Oct. 28.
The city is reviewing site plans for a 4,000-square-foot retail building. Civil engineer England, Thims & Miller Inc. prepared the plans for The Parkes Co.
PDG JAX's managing members are Joel, Gary and David Parkes and Park Owen, all of Franklin, Tenn.
Henderson said it was her understanding the lot was the last parcel remaining for sale at The Markets at Town Center, which is adjacent to the St. Johns Town Center, and that The Parkes Co. will develop it with a Verizon Wireless store.
Baptist Medical Center to renovate 6th floor
The city is reviewing a permit for Baptist Medical Center to renovate the sixth floor of its Southbank tower at a construction cost of $3.7 million.
Batson-Cook Co. is the contractor.
"The project will completely renovate the sixth floor of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville – from the fire sprinkler system to patient rooms and common areas," said Baptist Health Public Relations Director Cindy Hamilton.
She said renovations will include new restrooms in patient rooms, which will be similar to other recently constructed or remodeled rooms in the Baptist Health system, with electronically controlled solar shades and day beds.
"The entire floor is being redesigned to develop more efficient work spaces and enhance communication among caregivers," Hamilton said.
The permit shows the floor is about 24,000 square feet. The center is at 800 Prudential Drive.
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