Plans are brewing to turn a high-traffic corner at Main and Forsyth streets into a coffee shop, lunch spot, afternoon happy hour stop and a late-night draw for the entertainment crowd.
11 East Downtown is a step closer to bringing Super Food & Brew Inc. into the space operated years ago as a Starbucks Coffee shop.
The Downtown Investment Authority on Tuesday approved a forgivable loan of $49,837 to the building owner so long as it meets certain conditions, including obtaining permits and completing the work within six months of the final DIA agreement. A six-month extension is possible.
The owner applied to the DIA’s Retail Enhancement Program.
11 East is a 17-story, 126-unit loft apartment building at the corner of Forsyth and Main streets. Starbucks closed its shop there, at 11 E. Forsyth St., in 2008.
VCP-Lynch Building Ltd., the property owner, wants to convert Suite 104 on the first floor of 11 East into a 2,595-square-foot restaurant. VCP is part of The Vestcor Companies Inc.
Super Food & Brew is co-owned by Dale Stoudt and Richard Haugk, who operate Super Food Truck. The restaurant would offer artisan coffee, pastries, locally grown produce, hormone-free meat and fresh fish along with a craft beer and wine list.
The total investment is estimated at $99,675 and the eligible improvement costs are estimated at $84,175.
DIA documents show Super Food & Brew will have 10.5 full- and part-time positions and expects to offer an extended daily opening schedule as well as later weeknight and weekend hours during special Downtown events.
Haugk, a graduate of the Culinary Institute of the South, will be executive chef and back-of-house manager while Stoudt will be in charge of front-of-house operations.
During the morning, they will sell pastries and Bold Bean coffees, followed by a health-conscious lunch menu available as dine-in, carryout and prepackaged. There also will be a “kitschy” happy-hour menu and a late-night menu.
The DIA summary also says Super Food & Brew will offer grocery delivery service to residents in 11 East and in the nearby 100-unit Carling, also owned by Vestcor.
The coffee shop will operate Monday-Saturday; lunch will be served Monday-Friday; and afternoon happy hours will be Monday-Saturday.
The late-night service, till 2 a.m., will be Wednesday-Saturday with a full menu to serve customers from the Florida Theatre, Dos Gatos and The Volstead.
Zoës Kitchen building out in Brooklyn
Zoës Kitchen is preparing to build-out its Brooklyn Station on Riverside restaurant.
The city is reviewing a permit application for a $365,000 renovation for Zoës Kitchen at 400 Riverside Ave. The restaurant wants to renovate 3,000 square feet of interior space and 666 square feet of patio space, the application shows.
No contractor was specified. Regency Centers Corp. is developing Brooklyn Station.
The 400 building feature Zoës Kitchen on its western end and Burrito Gallery on the eastern cap.
The Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops will open next to Zoës Kitchen, and two more spaces are available between it and Burrito Gallery.
Pollo buys Regency site
Pollo Operations Inc. paid $775,000 Friday for the almost 1-acre former Hess site at 9370 Atlantic Blvd., where it wants to build a Pollo Tropical. It’s between Chili’s and Chick-fil-A.
Pollo Operations bought the site from Hess Retail Stores LLC.
North Coast Construction Co. is building the restaurant at a construction cost of $870,000. The chain focuses on Caribbean-inspired, citrus-marinated grilled chicken.
Developer buys Mission BBQ site
Point Five Development Orange Park LLC bought the former Bennigan’s site at 8440 Blanding Blvd., where a two-tenant building is under development for Mission BBQ and Aspen Dental.
Syracuse, N.Y.-based Point Five paid $1.15 million for the 1.44-acre site. It bought it from Duke’s Steak House Inc. of Tampa.
Point Five took out a $2.7 million mortgage from Ameris Bank.
Site plans filed with the city show that the Bennigan’s at Interstate 295 and Blanding Boulevard will be demolished and a 7,800-square-foot building constructed. Mission BBQ will take 4,000 square feet and Aspen Dental will lease the other 3,800 square feet.
Restaurants on the rise
• Jersey Mike’s Subs is planned at 8046 Philips Highway in front of BJ’s Wholesale Club.
• Andalous Restaurant is in review for build-out at 6132 Merrill Road in the Lake Lucina Shopping Center.
Food bites
Food- and drink-related businesses filed names with the state Division of Corporations under the Fictitious Name Law to operate:
• Memphis Bar-B-Que & Blues, to HEN Enterprises LLC, mailing address is 10190 Golf Club Drive. John and Aleviar Henderson are managers of HEN Enterprises.
• Mama Joe’s Wings and Soulfood, to Melissa Yvonne Gross, 5534 Highway Ave.
Licensed to serve
Duval County Tax Collector Michael Corrigan issued business licenses for:
• The Loving Cup Hash House, to Johnny Lennon Corp., 610 S. Third St., Jacksonville Beach.
• Ollie Lollie’s Cupcakery, 7347 N. Prosperity Park Road N.
• Sweet 16 Bakery, to Dware Enterprises LLC, 16313 Dowing Creek Drive.
• Roger’s Peanuts, Drinks and More, to James Roger Davis, 9865 Heckscher Drive, No. 1. Mobile vendor.
• Jimmy Hula’s, to Calli I Enterprises LLC, 13170 Atlantic Blvd., No. 63.
• Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, to JBT holdings Inc., 510 Airport Circle Drive, No. 106.
• Starbucks Coffee, to Starbucks Coffee Co., 9660 Argyle Forest Blvd., No. 1.
• Emir Pizza, to Emir Pizza Inc., 8116 Old Kings Road S., No. 1.
• Promise Land Produce LLC, to John Lamar Lundy, 11041 Beach Blvd.
• Church’s, to The Pantry Inc., 8820 103rd St.
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