by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
City Council member Art Shad says a Publix could be coming to San Marco.
“Publix made it clear to me that they are actively looking at properties in the area,” said Shad. “They understand that it would be just as successful or maybe even more successful as the one in Riverside because of the generated interest in the community.”
Last week, the Sembler Company acquired a contract to buy property bordering Hendricks Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard, adding to the speculation of a joint venture with Publix.
Neither Shad nor Publix could comment on the status of that contract.
“I think a Riverside-style Publix in San Marco may be a perfect fit,” said Shad of a relatively small 27,000- square-foot grocery store in Market Square. “But both Publix and [the Sembler Company] say they aren’t on the same page right now and that they are not working together on that particular project. Nothing is on the front burner between the two of them.”
The Sembler Company and Publix previously worked on the Riverside Market Square project.
Philip Greenwald, a real estate representative with Publix Super Markets, Inc., confirmed a strong desire to break into the San Marco market, but added negotiations are not on the table and no formal presentations have been made.
“It’s a difficult location to move into if you want to blend naturally into the community,” said Greenwald. “A developer has yet to present us with a site package. Once that happens, we’ll perform an analysis and come back with our own criteria. It’s going to take a lot of time and work before anything happens, but it’s a great market.”
Greenwald added that while talks with the Sembler aren’t necessarily off, they are far from on.
“We’ve heard nothing from Sembler about that site,” he said of the SouthTrust Bank lot. “I know they’re interested in buying it, but so are a lot of people. We have our eye on a few other properties in the area, but we can’t comment on any specifics right now. It’s company policy not to comment without a signed lease.”
Shad, who said he’s maintained a semi-running dialogue with both groups, said he hopes to be informed of any activity as it unfolds.
“I would definitely love to see it happen and about 90 percent of the constituents I speak with are in support of Publix opening in the area,” he said. “I’ve been told that if they do proceed together, which they aren’t right now, they’ll keep me on the front lines.”
Shad added a San Marco Publix could serve as “the perfect hub for the beautification of Hendricks Avenue.”
As part of the Better Jacksonville Plan, extensive work including new streetscape lighting and sidewalk widening on Hendricks Avenue between Prudential Drive and Mitchell Avenue is set for completion by the end of 2004.
“With all the activity going on right now,” said Shad, “this would be the perfect time for Publix to get involved.”
According to Greenwald, Publix interest in San Marco won’t wane any time soon.
“It will happen sooner or later,” he said. “It might be one year. It might be 10 years. We want to be in that area and when the right developer presents the right opportunity, we’ll move on it very quickly.”