Marcos Pizza opening along Blanding
Marco's Pizza plans a restaurant at 5436 Blanding Blvd., No. 5, which appears to be its second area location.
Cohen Construction Co. plans a $37,943 renovation of the 1,870-square-foot space, according to a building permit application. The site is in West Jacksonville near 103rd Street.
The chain has one area store open at 8415 Cheswick Ave. in the Argyle area in Southwest Jacksonville.
In December, Marco's Pizza area franchise owner Kirk Luchman, a former basketball player with the Jacksonville Barracudas, told the Daily Record he wanted to open 34 stores over the subsequent five-10 years in North Florida and South Georgia.
The build-out cost for the first 1,725-square-foot location was shown as $55,000.
Luchman said in December that each store represents an average $240,000-$250,000 investment, ranging from $230,000 to $275,000, and each averages 15 people, ranging from 12 to 18 drivers and inside employees. At the low end of those figures, 34 stores represent a $7.8 million investment and 408 employees.
The investment cost includes equipment, leasehold improvements, franchise fees, licensing, permits, construction, architectural plans, startup inventory and marketing costs and other fees, he said.
Because the Marco's model is takeout and delivery, the stores range from 1,200 to 1,800 square feet in size. They can seat 10-20 per store, Luchman said.
The menu and more information can be found at marcospizza.com. The menu features pizzas, subs, salads and wings, among other items.
Luchman said the Jacksonville territory, called a demographic market area, comprises Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties as well as Palatka in Putnam County and a few sites in Georgia — St. Marys and Brunswick.
He and his business partner also have the Tallahassee area.
Luchman said the chain looks for densely populated areas with a targeted median income.
Marco's Pizza is based in Toledo, Ohio. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale "Pat" Giammarco.
Jimmy John's OK'd at Beach and University
Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches will open at 5960 Beach Blvd., No. 2, at Beach and University boulevards. Dakenna Development Inc. was approved for the tenant build-out at a project cost of $150,000. It appears to be the 10th Jimmy John's in the area.
Tijuana Flats signs on the way up
Three wall signs for Tijuana Flats Burrito Co. are on their way up at River City Marketplace in North Jacksonville. Custom Graphics & Sign Design is the contractor for the $2,700 project at 651 Nautica Drive, No. 2.
Sunshine Natural Foods
Walter H. Bryan Inc. filed a notice under the state's Fictitious Name Law on March 11 to operate Sunshine Natural Foods at 4530-13 St. Johns Ave. and to register the name with the state Division of Corporations.
4 Dudes & A Grill
Tax Collector Michael Corrigan issued a business license for 4 Dudes & A Grill LLC at 6251 Argyle Forest Blvd., No. 102. William Koon was listed as the applicant.
The company was registered with the state April 25, 2012, and the Feb. 28 annual report shows George Casey Jr. as the manager, and managing members as Koon, Willie Stewart, Melvin Jordan, Derryck Arnold and Terrance Jones.