The free Slurpees provided by 7-Eleven Inc. Wednesday at the Landing may have been cold, but the announcement of more than 800 jobs coming to Jacksonville was met with a warm reception.
“A new 7-Eleven opens somewhere in the world every two hours and we think it’s time to get the stores back here,” said Joe DePinto, president and CEO of 7-Eleven Inc.
He claimed that each store generates about $100,000 in sales and property tax revenue each year. Each store is reported to create at least 10 jobs.
The schedule for opening stores in Duval County includes 15-20 stores this year and 20-25 next year. By 2015, there will be 80-plus stores in the Jacksonville area.
DePinto said those openings will lead to 800 jobs. The company has 7,300 stores in the U.S. and 45,500 stores in 16 countries.
By this summer, two will be open in Duval County, both Downtown. One will open at State and Main streets and the other at 111 Julia St., at Forsyth Street.
On hand to welcome DePinto to Jacksonville were Gov. Rick Scott, Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, state Rep. Mike Weinstein, Mayor Alvin Brown, City Council President Stephen Joost and Landing developer Toney Sleiman.
Spokeswoman Margaret Chabris with 7-Eleven said the company is working on five properties with Sleiman, who develops sites around the area.
DePinto thanked the City for waiving the mobility fee on development. City Ordinance 2011-617-E waives mobility fees, which were created to help manage development in Jacksonville, for 12 months to help stimulate business and building activity in the area. It was enacted Oct. 10.
“We waived the fees for developers for one year so that it will allow us to focus on jumpstarting our economy and helping builders by attracting industry here. I want to compete with other counties, and so having a moratorium for one year is a good thing for our city,” said Brown.
The 7-Eleven chain is returning to Jacksonville. Jacksonville-based Gate Petroleum Co. bought 28 7-Eleven stores in 1990 and converted them to Gate stores. The noncompete clause between 7-Eleven and Gate recently expired.
With its return, 7-Eleven will compete with Gate.
“We love Gate gas stations. I go there all the time and competition is always healthy in the marketplace,” said Brown.
Gate said by email that it did not wish to comment.
With Dallas-based 7-Eleven re-establishing itself in Florida, Scott would like to recruit its headquarters.
“I am hoping that 7-Eleven will expand so much around the world that Jacksonville will be the logical place for their headquarters rather than Dallas,” said Scott.
“Florida is becoming the center of the world and all the trade should be coming through Florida,” he said.
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