A Philips Highway site cleared of a call center and prepared for development could soon host its first new construction — a Wendy’s restaurant.
Wendy’s is the first fast-food restaurant confirmed as one of the initial projects at the Shops of Philips, at the busy traffic corner of Emerson Street and Philips Highway.
A 3,500-square-foot Wendy’s, with a drive thru, is planned on just under an acre at the 3100 Emerson St. site.
Project manager Larry Matthews, a vice president with landowner Demetree Brothers Inc., said the Wendy’s site is under contract and scheduled to close in June.
Matthews said letters of intent have been submitted for a retail store and another fast-food restaurant, but he would not identify them.
“We’re off to a good start,” he said.
Agent EnVision Design + Engineering asked for a mobility-fee calculation, which the city determined at $64,737, for the proposed Wendy’s.
Matthews said Wendy’s would face Emerson Street and be built near the Gate gas station and convenience store.
In March 2013, Demetree sold about 2 acres to Gate Petroleum Co., which developed the store to replace a smaller one nearby.
He said about 6 acres remain for development. Should a buyer need a large site, 3 acres can be assembled for a user, such as a grocery store.
The corner parcel at Philips and Emerson remains available and can be assembled up to three acres.
A road and retention work have been completed within the site. Colliers International Northeast Florida is representing the property.
The property is owned by DBSB Inc., whose president is J.C. Demetree Jr.
Matthews said in early 2015 it expected to start the 7.5-acre project with one or two fast-food restaurants.
He said then Demetree was interested in drug stores, auto parts stores, banks and small grocery stores. He expected to attract national retailers to the site, which would be divided into several parcels for sale or for a ground lease.
Captain’s Catch in review for Regency
The city is reviewing a building-permit application for the Captain’s Catch Seafood Restaurant and Sports Bar in the former Houlihan’s space at Regency Square Mall.
Plans show the 5,823-square-foot restaurant would include areas for dining, private dining, a bar and more.
River City Contractors Inc. is the contractor for the $350,000 project, according to the application. Hota Design Studio LLC designed the space.
It would return a restaurant into the space where Houlihan’s operated from 1981-2001. A Loop restaurant later operated there.
International Décor Outlet, which is leasing 200,000 square feet of space at the regional mall, is the contact for Captain’s Catch, but the identified representative has not responded to several calls for information.
Hota referred questions to River City Contractors, which said to contact IDO.
IDO said in December it signed a lease for much of the mall’s west wing. It will hold the master lease of the space and sublease it to international manufacturers and retailers to set up showrooms to sell directly to consumers.
The mall, at 9501 Arlington Expressway, consolidated most of its retail stores into the East Mall, leaving much of the West Mall vacant.
Separately in the West Mall, an auto museum is leasing space in the former Montgomery Ward store. The former Belk store is expected to be used as a church.
Also, Dillard’s and Sears own their stores. Dillard’s operates a clearance center, while Sears is closing.
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