Add two more tenants – one for sure, one in negotiation – to the St. Johns Town Center, the Southside shopping complex that continues to expand.
Construction was approved for PINK, a Victoria's Secret brand targeted to college-age women, and a permit application was filed for Athleta, a Gap Inc. brand that sells women's yoga clothing, swimwear, running clothing and athletic wear, along with offering fitness classes and group runs.
PINK will operate at 4790 River City Drive, No. 133. The contractor is RCC Associates Inc., which will renovate 4,392 square feet of existing space for PINK at a project cost of $364,787.
PINK sells loungewear, hoodies. sweats, collegiate clothing, lingerie and more.
PINK is expected to open in August in the former Original Piece site between Aerie and the relocated Bath & Body Works.
For Athleta, the City is reviewing a building-permit application for interior demolition at 4791 River City Drive to clear the former Arden B. space. The building plan indicates the store will open this year in a 4,000-square-foot space.
Gap Inc., based in San Francisco, is a global retailer that sells clothing, accessories and personal care products for men, women, children and babies.
Its brands include Gap, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime, Athleta and Intermix.
In April, Gap was "determined to build upon its product and revenue momentum in 2012, which was achieved as we focused on becoming the world's favorite for American style," said Chairman and CEO Glenn Murphy in a news release.
"There is meaningful opportunity for our diverse portfolio of brands to gain share in the $1.4 trillion global apparel market," he said.
The Athleta.gap.com site shows there are about 40 stores in 22 states and Washington, D.C. The site shows one Florida store in Coral Gables.
The site says two stores are coming soon to St. Louis and Nashville. The Jacksonville store is not listed.
Lyndsay Rossman, director of marketing and business development at St. Johns Town Center, said Athleta was considering the Arden B. space but that no lease was signed.
Meanwhile, Victoria's Secret is expanding its store into the former space used by its sister company, Bath & Body Works.
Two more stores are expected to open in June: LUSH Cosmetics at 4813 River City Drive, No. 149A, and Cosmo Nail Bar in the former Lotus Massage space on Buckhead Branch Drive between Steve Madden and Ballard Design.
Another prospective but unconfirmed retailer is Microsoft Corp., which was identified on site plans and a building-permit application as the tenant for a 4,975-square-foot location at 4791 River City Drive, No. 107.
"While we're exploring several locations for future Microsoft Stores, we have no specific new store locations to announce at this time," said a statement from Jonathan Adashek, Microsoft general manager of communications strategy.
Plans filed with the City show that Microsoft, which has about 65 full-line and specialty stores in 29 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, is considering a Microsoft Retail Store in St. Johns Town Center.
A St. Johns Town Center representative said there are discussions with Microsoft but no lease has been signed.
The Microsoft address is not far from the Apple store, which is at 4712 River City Drive and is one of the initial tenants at St. Johns Town Center, which opened in March 2005.
The core and shell modifications for Microsoft represent a $400,000 project.
A separate permit application calls for landlord work, valued at $350,000, for utilities and exterior work, at the address.
The St. Johns Town Center is in South Jacksonville at Butler Boulevard and Gate Parkway. The center, which features many one-in-the-market stores, also will feature a Nordstrom Construction starts soon for an October 2014 opening.
A wing of new stores will connect the town center to the new Nordstrom.
DTLR build-out approved
The City OK'd build-out for DTLR at 1010 Dunn Ave. Titan Contractors Inc. will handle the $40,000 project.
Plans indicate DTLR, which also is shown on separate plans as a new tenant in River City Marketplace, will operate in a 4,056-square-foot store in the Highland Square Shopping Center.
DTLR, which stands for Down Town Locker Room, is a clothing retailer aimed at the 30-and-under demographic. It focuses on apparel and shoes for a core demographic of customers from ages 15-30.
Lab work planned at Mayo Clinic
The City is reviewing a building-permit application for an expansion of the Mayo Clinic clinical laboratory on the third floor of the Mayo Hospital at 4500 San Pablo Road.
Plans show Auld & White Constructors would renovate the space, shown as 18,472 square feet, at a project cost of $1 million.
Mayo Clinic issued a statement: "It is premature to comment on plans that have not yet been funded or finalized."
Mayo Clinic Florida opened its Southside campus in 1986 and has expanded since. In December, the Daily Record reported that Mayo Clinic's recently announced investments and plans topped $100 million.
North Jacksonville hotel in review
A 124-unit Value Place extended-stay hotel is planned in North Jacksonville and would be the third in the area.
The City and St. Johns River Water Management District are reviewing plans for a Value Place to be built at 10520 Balmoral Circle W.
Plans are prepared for Value Place Jacksonville Busch LLC. The agent and engineer is Connelly & Wicker Inc.
The four-story, 45,628-square-foot hotel is planned on 2.07 acres south of Busch Drive and east of Interstate 95.
The ValuePlace.com site shows Value Place hotels operate at 8341 Dames Point Crossing Blvd. in Arlington and at 3425 Saland Way at Beach Boulevard in Southside.
The company was founded in 2002 by Jack DeBoer, who had experience creating Residence Inn, Summerfield Suites and Candlewood Suites, according to the site.
He created it to serve owners of small and midsize businesses and others "on the move in their own community" who pay their own travel expenses or travel on a strict per-diem budget.
The chain also targets families who are relocating and need lodging before committing to permanent housing.
It also targets other travelers, including medical patients, construction workers, military professionals, vacationers and others.
The chain is based in Wichita, Kan. There are 181 Value Place properties in 32 states, the site says.
Amenities in the weekly studio rate, about $169 weekly but that varies, include a refrigerator, two-burner stove and microwave, cable network and biweekly housekeeping. Other optional amenities are available.
HotelNewsNow.com reported April 24 that economy brand Value Place created a brand called ValuePlace 2.0. Chain officials said the cost to develop a prototype 124-room Value Place is between $3.8 million and $5 million, plus land costs.
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