The City approved the building permit Wednesday for the $3.1 million renovation at a St. Johns Town Center for the area’s first Microsoft Corp. retail store.
While Microsoft hasn’t confirmed a lease at the Southside shopping center, the building permit application and plans show the technology company will occupy a store at 4791 River City Drive, taking spaces No. 107-113.
The space is 4,975 square feet. The City previously approved shell construction, at a cost of $400,000, to prepare the space for build-out for Microsoft.
Microsoft, founded in 1975 and based in Redmond, Wash., near Seattle, is a global competitor in software, products and services.
JTM Construction Group Inc. is the contractor for the project, both the space preparation and the build-out. State corporate records show JTM is based in New York.
Simon Property Group, an owner of St. Johns Town Center, has not confirmed the store lease either.
It’s no secret, however.
On April 29, the Daily Record reported Microsoft, which has about 65 full-line and specialty stores in 29 states, Canada and Puerto Rico, intended to open a retail store in St. Johns Town Center, based on plans filed with the City.
On June 6, we reported that while no lease had been announced, the City was reviewing detailed construction plans for the store that indicated the $3.1 million build-out cost.
Preliminary utility and other landlord work also already had been approved at the address to prepare for a tenant. The $26,514 project includes utility work and exterior soft seating.
Then there was the $400,000 shell modification work.
The Microsoft plans show a theater, Xbox area, Skinit room and more. The permit shows the work would cover tenant improvements, architecture, signs and graphics, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, security and communications, lighting design and other elements.
The architect is Gensler of Los Angeles, the program manager is ADMI Inc. of Morgan Hill, Calif., and the tenant coordinator is Simon Property Group Inc. of Indianapolis.
Simon is the landlord and a co-developer of the St. Johns Town Center.
As of this morning, the Microsoft.com website does not list Jacksonville as a retail-store location.
When Jacksonville is searched on the site, the response is: "We're certain it's a nice town, but at the moment there are no Microsoft Stores near you."
"Don't worry, we're opening new stores around the nation and one of them might be in your fine neighborhood," it says.
A St. Johns Town Center official has said there were discussions with Microsoft but no lease had been signed.
The Microsoft location is not far from the Apple store, which is at 4712 River City Drive and is one of the debut tenants at St. Johns Town Center, which opened in March 2005.
Microsoft has issued two statements since April that it doesn't have an announcement.
Microsoft Corp. opened its first Microsoft Retail Store in 2009 in Scottsdale, Ariz., according to the website.
The stores sell computers, software, games, music, tablets and mobile phones. The site lists product selection as "a curated assortment of products" including desktops, laptops, tablets and all-in-one PCs running Windows 8; Xbox 360 consoles and accessories, including Kinect for Xbox 360; Windows Phones; Microsoft Office; and personalization options and accessories.
Microsoft has five full-line and smaller specialty stores in Florida.
The website also focuses on the store associates, who "will provide tailored services so customers find the technology that works best for their lives."
Stores include an answer desk, customer training, a workshop area, personal shopping sessions and business solutions.
Stores feature a community development specialist to work with local organizations "to arrange in-store events and activities that help drive awareness of their causes within the community while offering the opportunity to learn new technology skills."
The site lists events such as Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops earning tech badges, local chamber of commerce meetings, science class field trips and resume workshops for women re-entering the workforce.
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