Five Below, a Philadelphia-based retailer aimed at teens and pre-teens that would be new to the market, is targeting a store in Argyle Village in Southwest Jacksonville.
A building-permit application shows Five Below will occupy about 8,000 square feet at 6001 Argyle Forest Blvd., No. 60.
Five Below spokeswoman Liz Romaine said by email it is company policy not to comment about unsigned leases.
Five Below Inc. offers products priced at $5 or less in categories such as style, room, sports, tech, crafts, party, candy and “now.”
Fivebelow.com says its merchandise includes games, fashion accessories, bath and body products, beverages and candy, room décor and storage, iPhone accessories, novelty and gag items and more, all priced $1-$5.
As of Nov. 1, Five Below operated 365 stores in 21 states. It also broke ground in New Jersey on an East Coast distribution center “to support the considerable runway of growth that lies ahead,” said co-founder and CEO Thomas Vellios in a Dec. 4 report.
Houston-based Weingarten Realty Investors owns the Argyle Village center, anchored by Publix Super Markets Inc. and Michaels. The site is at southwest Interstate 295 and Blanding Boulevard. No contractor was listed for the estimated $60,000 build-out.
A Weingarten Realty property executive declined to comment.
It’s unclear how many stores the chain plans in Northeast Florida or in the state, but company strategy appears to point in this direction.
In September, Five Below announced it signed a lease for the 1 million-square-foot N.J. distribution center to replace a 421,000-square-foot facility 12 miles away in Delaware. It said it expected the new center would be fully operational in the second half of 2015 and would support the company’s continued East Coast expansion.
Vellios said while the Northeast was an “extremely important” market, he saw substantial opportunity on the East Coast.
The closest store to Jacksonville is in McDonough, Ga., near Atlanta.
Asana Wellness building out center
Asana Wellness Center is making progress toward its gym and clinic in the former YMCA space at 9119 Merrill Road, just east of the Interstate 295 East Beltway.
Florida Wellness & Rehabilitation Center of Homestead is listed as the owner of the wellness center.
Kur-Star Construction is the contractor for the $128,070 project that would renovate about 3,500 square feet for six exam rooms, a physical therapy room, five offices, billing, a break room and an X-ray area.
Asana Wellness Marketing Director Mike Forrest said in November the 15,000-square-foot center should open in the first quarter of 2015.
Forrest described the center as “a brand new gym with state-of-the-art equipment and innovative fitness programs that are designed and monitored by health professionals.”
It will provide fitness classes, nutritional counseling, health care consultations and more.
He said the on-site medical clinic would allow health professionals to monitor members’ progress.
Belk signs ahead
As Belk continues its “moving sale” at Regency Square Mall, its new location at Kernan and Atlantic boulevards continues toward completion. Last week, Taylor Sign & Design was given the OK to put up two wall signs there.
An illuminated Belk sign with its logo is going up, along with a second sign, not illuminated, that says “Modern. Southern. Style.”
Belk intends to open March 11 at the one-story store at 11901 Atlantic Blvd. Regency Square management says it hopes to find a tenant for the two-story mall location, but in the meantime will close the store after Belk moves, effectively dividing the mall.
Belk serves as a pass-through between the mall’s east and west sides.
Management moved the mall’s retail tenants to the East Mall and is targeting nontraditional tenants, such as churches, schools and office users, to the West Mall.
However, Dillard’s and Sears still operate on the west side because both own their buildings. Dillard’s operates a clearance center there.
Family Dollar plans West Beaver Street store
Developer TRC McDuff LLC seeks city approval for a Family Dollar store at northwest West Beaver Street and McDuff Avenue.
TRC McDuff LLC of Charleston, S.C., wants to develop an 8,050-square-foot Family Dollar at the site. TRC McDuff is led by J.J. Lamberson, who has developed more than a dozen Family Dollars in the Jacksonville area.
About 50 Family Dollar stores operate in Northeast Florida and several more are planned.
@MathisKb
(904) 356-2466