South Florida-based investor Ramon Llorens continues to add to his area holdings, buying more land in North Jacksonville.
Llorens, through Amkin Dames Point LLC, paid $1.2 million to buy almost 7.9 acres at 9348 and 9353 New Berlin Road. The property is next to 47 acres of vacant land he bought in February.
Llorens declined to comment.
Amkin Dames Point made the latest purchase from New Berlin Road Jacksonville LLC. The deed was executed Tuesday and recorded with the Duval County Clerk of Court on Wednesday.
Tyler Newman and Jacob Horsley of Cushman & Wakefield represented the seller, Comcar Industries Inc. Newman said the land was surplus property that Comcar had not occupied for years.
He said he did not know what Amkin intended to do with the land.
Llorens, based in Miami, continues to accumulate property in Jacksonville. So far, he has invested almost $58 million and is expected to buy several acres next to the Lexington Hotel & Conference Center Jacksonville Riverwalk.
He began his series of acquisitions a year ago.
In September 2014, he bought EverBank Center Downtown for $47.4 million.
In February, he bought more than 30 acres in Talleyrand, including the former Ford Motor Co. factory, for $4.4 million. That was the same month he made the first New Berlin Road land purchase.
His next purchase could be the property near the Southbank hotel.
Llorens, as manager of the family-owned Brickell South Miami Developments LLC, has a contract on property that Riverfront Jacksonville Development LLC of Miami is selling as part of its bankruptcy reorganization.
Riverfront Jacksonville’s disclosure statement filed in July states that on June 18, it entered into a purchase, sale and settlement agreement with Brickell South.
That agreement includes what are called the Riverplace Parcel and the west parking lot, with the closing expected on or before Aug. 15. No sale has been recorded with the Duval County Clerk of Court.
Llorens has been making the Jacksonville purchases under LLCs with the Amkin name. He filed Amkin OPJ LLC with the state Aug. 26, but it’s not clear what deal might be connected with the name.
The disclosure statement said the Llorens group would pay $1.75 million and satisfy a $3.61 million note and mortgage on the Southbank property.
The Riverplace parcel includes the buildings leased by the Chart House restaurant and International House of Prayer, along with five vacant offices. The west parking lot provides parking for tenants on the Riverplace parcel.
If Llorens completes the deal, he would be part of a Southbank renaissance at the site.
The new owners of the 34-year-old hotel rebranded it Lexington Hotel and plan up to a $20 million renovation by the end of next year.
On the opposite side of the hotel from the Llorens piece, Phoenix-based Alliance Residential Co. wants to build apartments for completion by early 2018. That site also is being sold by Riverfront Jacksonville Development.
Work to start on Save-A-Lot in Beauclerc
Work should be starting soon to renovate space for a Save-A-Lot grocery store in Beauclerc Village.
The city is reviewing a permit application for Bayorcor to renovate almost 13,500 square feet for Save-A-Lot at 9742 Old St. Augustine Road.
Equity One Inc. owns Beauclerc Village, which is between Old St. Augustine Road and San Jose Boulevard, and is putting the new Thompson Ace Hardware next to the Save-A-Lot.
The retailers are taking over the space vacated by the moves of the Goodwill Thrift Store and Bealls Outlet.
A Save-A-Lot spokeswoman said the store would open in the spring.
Bearded Pig building-out in San Marco
The Bearded Pig will take over 1224 Kings Ave., the site of the former Endo Exo lounge in the San Marco area.
Restaurateur Chad Munsey, whose experience includes Bistro Aix, Ovinte and The Grotto, and Michael Schmidt are the managers of The Bearded Pig LLC. Schmidt operated a restaurant under the same name in Somerville near Boston.
The city is reviewing a permit application for a $125,000 build-out of the restaurant and kitchen.
Which Wich opening in Mandarin
Which Wich Superior Sandwiches is renovating space in Mandarin for its second area restaurant.
The first Which Wich is in Southside near Tinseltown.
Its next location is at 10131 San Jose Blvd., No. 8. The city is reviewing an application for a $110,000 build-out for the 2,012-square-foot unit. It already approved a wall sign there.
Zaxby’s to open in Yulee, build in Regency
A Zaxby’s is planned in Yulee at the Shoppes at Amelia Concourse, and construction plans were filed for a new Zaxby’s in Regency.
Jasz Group Inc., a Zaxby’s franchisee, intends to build at 463769 Florida 200 in Nassau County. Plans filed with the St. Johns River Water Management District show a 3,654-square-foot, 70-seat restaurant on 1.22 acres in Yulee.
Jasz Group also is making plans to build a new 90-seat, 3,847-square-foot Regency area restaurant on a site next to its existing location.
A permit application filed with the city shows that Auld & White Constructors LLC will build the $1.1 million restaurant on 1.83 acres at 9569 Regency Square Blvd. N. Site work is shown as a $200,000 project.
Jasz Group has not said what it plans to do with the existing Zaxby’s next door.
Papa John’s making space at Gateway
Papa John’s Pizza is preparing for build-out at Gateway Town Center. Terranova Corp. announced in July that Papa John’s signed a five-year lease for a 1,852-square-foot space at 5290-5 Norwood Ave.
It should open in November or December. A permit application shows a renovation cost of $80,000.
Topgolf announces Town Center location
Topgolf International publicly confirmed Tuesday it will build a 65,000-square-foot center on 15 acres east of St. Johns Town Center, west of Interstate 295.
Construction should start in October and the venue should open next summer.
The facilities feature climate-controlled hitting bays. Players hit golf balls containing computer microchips that track each shot’s accuracy and distance while also awarding points for hitting targets on the outfield.
It also offers a food and beverage menu, along with music, games and HDTVs.
The site has been rezoned and was sold this month to a Kansas City-based developer for the project.
The company said the three-level location will include up to 3,000 square feet of private event space and 102 climate-controlled hitting bays that can host up to six players at one time.
It expects about 450,000 visitors in its first year of operation, attracting tourists from the region including Savannah and Daytona.
It will create 450 full- and part-time jobs.
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