Advanced Disposal Services Inc. officials are expected to announce early next week where the Jacksonville-based company will locate its headquarters, which now operates in the Baymeadows area of Southside.
The possibilities include Downtown, elsewhere in Duval County, St. Johns County or Atlanta, Milwaukee or Charlotte, N.C.
Advanced Disposal Services executives haven't indicated a preference publicly, although real estate sources say they wouldn't be surprised if the company moves Downtown. Some specifically say they hear the SunTrust Tower is among the top choices.
Advanced Disposal Chief Marketing Officer Mary O'Brien declined to comment about SunTrust or any choice of location.
The announcement had been expected this week, but O'Brien said Tuesday it likely would be next Monday or Tuesday.
Rob Clements, chairman and CEO of EverBank Financial Corp., said Tuesday he was not aware of a decision by Advanced Disposal.
Clements, the keynote speaker to the Economic Roundtable of Jacksonville, said Jacksonville-based EverBank has moved 2,000 employees from the suburbs to what is now the EverBank Center Downtown.
EverBank's corporate offices remain in the Riverside area, near Downtown. The suburban move involved operations employees.
Clements said the move has worked out well. EverBank leased 270,000 square feet of office space among nine of the building's 30 floors. Clements said Tuesday that 2,000 workers, more than initially reported, have moved.
A member of the Downtown Investment Authority, Clements said after the meeting more workforce moves to the city's core would help redevelop the area.
Yet there is strong competition for the Advanced Disposal corporate offices. Jacksonville and St. Johns County have approved incentives packages for the company's headquarters, offering tax refunds, grants and other assistance.
As reported, O'Brien said the company needs 25,000 square feet of space. Incentives documents show Advanced Disposal expects the consolidation will retain 35 headquarters employees and create 85 new, full-time jobs in 2013.
The 85 new corporate headquarters jobs will pay an average annual wage of $112,209 plus benefits, documents show.
The company also proposes to invest $8.2 million in leasehold improvements, machinery, equipment, furniture and technology infrastructure.
O'Brien previously said the company has reviewed "multiple headquarter location sites in Jacksonville, Charlotte, Atlanta and Milwaukee" for its base of operations once its corporate acquisitions were completed.
Last week, Advanced Disposal announced it completed the acquisition of Veolia ES Solid Waste Inc., a $1.9 billion transaction, and said the combined business, operating as Advanced Disposal, will be the largest privately owned environmental services company in the United States with operations in 20 states and annual revenues of about $1.4 billion.
Advanced Disposal provides solid waste collection, transfer, recycling and disposal services.
The company has operations in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Wisconsin and the Bahamas.
Charlie Appleby, chairman and CEO of Advanced Disposal, said in an August interview with the Daily Record for the 89.9 FM First Coast Connect program that he wanted to keep the headquarters in Jacksonville.
Asked if he saw keeping the company in Jacksonville, he responded:
"Personally, I hope to. We acquired a company headquartered in Milwaukee and we are merging with a sister company that's headquartered in New Jersey and each of us has corporate headquarters in each of those locations. I am from Northeast Florida. I was raised in Palatka. I prefer to stay here," he said.
"I am chairman of the board, but we have to report to a board and we have to make an informed business decision. I certainly hope that informed business decision points to Jacksonville," he said.
According to the Jacksonville City Council project summary, Advanced Disposal was considering consolidating companies based in Basking Ridge, N.J., and Milwaukee. It said Milwaukee, Charlotte and Atlanta were in play, with Charlotte and Atlanta offering a centralized location.
The Loop launches new concept
The Loop Pizza Grill announced that it will open its new-concept Loop Friday at 4413 Town Center Parkway, next to Total Wine, in St. Johns Town Center.
It will be the Jacksonville-based chain's ninth Jacksonville location and will introduce a new design that will serve as the prototype for future Loop locations, including works by local artists and "paying homage to the restaurant's history and to its signature items such as cheesy, juicy hamburgers, fresh salads, tossed pizza pies and hand-dipped milkshakes."
Co-founder and designer Terry Schneider said in a news release that she describes the place as "a funky, burger brasserie. … It's hip and comfortable; a space not only for dining, but for meeting, drinking and enjoying life.''
The Loop announcement said the warehouse-style space includes overhead iron beams, large windows, a 50-foot mural by local artist Steve Williams, comfortable booth and "sparkling industrial lighting."
Customers will see parts of the design incorporated into all existing Loops.
Co-founder and owner Mike Schneider said "the food is always the star."
The Loop is less than 2 miles from the University of North Florida and will accept the students' Osprey Card for dining.
The 4,000-square-foot restaurant will seat 150 customers. Hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
The Loop Pizza Grill was founded by Mike and Terry Schneider in 1981 as a 60-seat restaurant. Today there are 13 locations in two states.
For more information, visit looppizzagrill.com.
Tom Gray leaves Bistro AIX, Zeke Mears takes reigns
Tom Gray, a founding partner, operating partner and executive chef of Bistro AIX since it opened in 1991, is moving on to open a new venture.
Executive Sous Chef Zeke Mears, who has been with the restaurant since 2002, becomes executive chef.
Bistro AIX partners Mike Schneider, Terry Schneider and Ann Riley all said in a newsletter they wished Gray well and welcomed Mears as executive chef.
Gray told The Florida Times-Union's Gary Mills he plans to build and open a new restaurant next year at the St. Johns Town Center.
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