It might not be long before Panera Bread rises again in San Marco.
Pending permits outline a building shell that would be renovated to accommodate a 4,061-square-foot Panera Bread Bakery at the San Marco Train Station project at 1440 Hendricks Ave.
Last week, developer Ed Ash invited providers of brick, stucco, roofing and concrete services to contact him for work on the project, which includes renovation of an existing 5,000-square-foot building. That structure is an old city waterworks and electric building.
Ash also plans to develop the new building for Panera Bread.
The site fronts Hendricks Avenue and is bordered by Cedar Street, Naldo Avenue and train tracks.
Ashco Inc. is the developer and its www.ashcoinc.net website defines the location as “Jacksonville’s newest upscale hotspot.” Panera operated nearby but closed about year-end 2009.
Walmart Neighborhood Market plans continue moving
While the property owner continues to insist there is no deal to announce yet, plans are moving through City reviews for a Walmart Neighborhood Market at San Pablo Road and Atlantic Boulevard.
“We have spoken to Wal-Mart about the location, but we don’t have a deal,” Joseph Maguire, president of The Rosen Group Inc. of Boca Raton, said Wednesday. The group owns the shopping center property.
He said he has spoken with other retailers as well and there is no deal with any of those, either.
“We are cautiously optimistic that we are going to be able to have a deal with a new retailer for all or part of that building within the next few months,” he said.
Pending a deal and building permits, the store, at 1650 San Pablo Road S., could be one of three Walmart Neighborhood Markets in Duval County. City reviewers also have been looking over preliminary plans for Neighborhood Markets in Arlington at 8011 Merrill Road and in Mandarin at 10550 Old St. Augustine Road.
Early this year, Food Lion closed its Florida stores. There were 20 in Northeast Florida, including a dozen in Duval County. Wal-Mart is expected to open five to nine Neighborhood Markets, which are the smaller grocery-store concepts, in Northeast Florida. The stores are typically 42,000 square feet in size, which is just a quarter of the size of the average 185,000-square-foot Supercenter.
The site development plans for the 1650 San Pablo Road property show a Walmart Neighborhood Market “takeover” project at the former Food Lion supermarket. The developer is listed as Wal-Mart Stores East L.P., based in Bentonville, Ark., and the engineer, surveyor and landscape architect is CPH Engineers.
Site data on the plans indicate Wal-Mart wants to develop a Walmart Neighborhood Market in a 49,333-square-foot space that formerly housed a Food Lion.
The 11-acre “Wal-Mart project area” is at southwest San Pablo Road and Atlantic Boulevard.
Ovinte Wine Lounge in the works at town center
Garza Constructors Inc. is preparing to renovate the former Original Pancake House in St. Johns Town Center for the Ovinte Wine Lounge & Dining, developed by Wine Lounge Concepts LLC. The limited liability company’s partners are Fraser Burns, Charles Munsey and Jacques Klempf. Plans for the building, at 10208 Buckhead Branch Road, show bar, lounge and dining areas. The design is by Design Cooperative LLC.
River City Marketplace expanding
A $1 million retail center is nearer construction on an outparcel at the River City Marketplace in North Jacksonville. Pointe Place is shown as a 14,782-square-foot building for multiple tenants on 1.73 acres along Duval Road between Airport Center and Skymarks drives. CPH Engineers is the project engineer.
RaceTrac, Starbucks and Joelle
RaceTrac Petroleum Co. plans a service station on 2.34 acres at Atlantic and Forest boulevards. It’s a $1.25 million project. … Starbucks intends to renovate its 1650 Margaret St. store. ... Interior build-out is planned for the Joelle Café at 7910 Baymeadows Way.
Taco Del Mar to open in Arlington
Space is being renovated in the Cobblestone Crossing center in East Arlington for a Taco Del Mar restaurant. It will operate next to the Subway shop.
The Taco Del Mar website, www.tacodelmar.com, shows just one other Florida location, at 7159 Philips Highway in Jacksonville.
In addition to tacos, the menu features burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas, salads and more.
Downtown tenants
The Hester Group and the Health Planning Council are listed on plans for new digs on the eighth floor of The Jacksonville Bank Building at 100 N. Laura St. Downtown. The Hester Group will take 2,121 square feet and the Health Planning Council will occupy 3,126 square feet, the plans show.
UNF to discuss pension reform
The Foundations of Local Government Initiative at the University of North Florida sent notice Wednesday it will host an informational session about pension reform at 10 a.m. Friday at the University Center at UNF. Atlanta City Council President Caesar Mitchell will talk about the comprehensive pension reform passed last year in Atlanta. Matthew Corrigan and Carol Weissert will talk about national and Florida issues.
For information, call or email Corrigan, who is a professor and the chair of political science and public administration at UNF. Call 620-1925 or email [email protected].
According to the notice, Jacksonville City Council members and other area government officials are invited.
FDOT wants your ideas
The Florida Department of Transportation will host six regional “listening sessions” to hear public views about developing the state’s new “Freight Mobility and Trade Plan.”
The plan, required by House Bill 599, is supposed to help design an efficient intermodal system to move freight by ship, air, rail and truck.
The Jacksonville session is 9 a.m.-noon today at the JaxPort Cruise Terminal.
Former Olympian Fleming coming to town
The 5th annual Pink Ribbon Symposium is planned Oct. 6 at the Hyatt Downtown to provide information about breast cancer prevention, early detection and treatment options, side effects of treatment, survivorship, and good health and wellness topics.
Breast cancer survivor Peggy Fleming, a former Olympic gold medal winner in figure skating, is the special guest.
The symposium is free. Doors open at 8 a.m. and the event concludes at 12:10 p.m., when guests are invited to take part in the 20th anniversary celebration of Buddy Check 12, the partnership of Baptist Health and Jeannie Blaylock of First Coast News. Buddy Check 12 promotes monthly breast self-examinations and educates women about the early detection of breast cancer.
Haley retires, Bowman hired
After 18 years with the JAX Chamber, John Haley retires at the end of August and will be succeeded by retired U.S. Navy Capt. Aaron Bowman. Haley is senior vice president of business development for the JAXUSA economic development division of the chamber and has focused on the development and relocation of aviation and aerospace companies and advanced manufacturing companies to Northeast Florida.
Bowman starts Monday at the chamber as a senior vice president, according to JAXUSA Partnership President Jerry Mallot, speaking after Haley’s retirement party Wednesday evening.
Bowman has been director of business operations with BAE Systems Southeast Shipyards Inc. since April 2011 after a Navy career that included serving as commanding officer of Naval Station Mayport.
Yates to lead FSCJ trustees
Florida State College at Jacksonville announced Wednesday that District Board of Trustees Chair Jim McCollum will retain the position through Sept. 30, when he will be succeeded by Gwendolyn Yates.
Trustees elected officers for 2012-13 at a meeting Aug. 7, the first of the 2012-13 fiscal year.
Douglas Burnett and Candace Holloway will serve as vice chairs for Duval and Nassau counties, effective immediately.
McCollum remains as chair until Oct. 1 to allow for completion of the independent operational study under way by MGT of America. FSCJ said the study will be presented as scheduled in September. Yates serves as chair-elect until Oct. 1.
Trustees Bruce Barcelo, Karen Bowling, Kevin Delaney and Mac McGehee will serve Duval County and Suanne Thamm serves Nassau County. McCollum also will serve Nassau County as of Oct. 1.
FSCJ president Wallace to be roasted
Florida State College at Jacksonville President Steve Wallace is this year’s honoree for the 4th annual sheriff’s roast to benefit the Police Athletic League of Jacksonville Inc. Sheriff John Rutherford is the honorary chair of the event, scheduled the evening of Nov. 16 at the Hyatt Downtown. An event spokeswoman said past honorees were asked earlier this year for their suggestions about who to roast and Wallace was chosen. Rutherford invited him and he accepted.
No roasters have been named yet. For information about PAL, visit www.jaxpal.com.
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