by Tammy Taylor
Staff Writer
The dream of a retail shop at the Kings Avenue Parking Garage on the Southbank may soon become a reality.
Peterbrooke Chocolatier has outgrown its San Marco location and is looking for a larger space. One possible location: the Kings Avenue Garage, which is owned and operated by the Jacksonville Transportation Authority.
“We have presented options to the City in regards to our growth,” said Phyllis Geiger, founder of Peterbrooke Chocolatier, Inc. “We have outgrown our space and we are looking at our options.”
According to Mike Miller, director of external affairs for the JTA, “we are currently in the early stages of the retail phase of this project, and Peterbrooke is exactly the kind of retailer that we would like to see in the Kings Avenue Garage.”
The garage is just one of several downtown spaces where Geiger is considering moving her business. She declined to name the other sites.
“We like the location a lot, because it is a good place to park since we are an attraction,” said Geiger. “It will give buses and individuals an easy place to park.”
Geiger said finding a new location has been an ongoing project with the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission. She is expecting a report from them next week, listing possible sites.
“We’re proud of our growth and we really want to be a part of downtown,” said Geiger. “We’re from (Jacksonville), so we’re excited about our growth.”
Peterbrooke Chocolatier was founded in 1983 with its first location in San Marco. Geiger named her business after her children Peter and Brooke. Today, there are seven retail locations in Northeast Florida and they are able to cater outside of the Jacksonville area via their website.
The Kings Avenue Garage opened Jan. 2, 2001, with 1,650 spaces located on the Skyway Station route. The garage was originally designed to offer day care facilities, retail shops, dry cleaners and coffee and snack services on the ground floor. After three years, the first shop may enter into the facility.
According to Miller, JTA is in negotiations with a developer at this time, but it is not certain when retailers could begin moving into the facility.
What's your favorite Southbank restaraunt? Visit Downtown This Week and cast your vote.