Incoming JAX Chamber Chair John Peyton, a former Jacksonville mayor, will lead the group on a return visit to Toronto this year during the 37th annual Chamber Leadership Trip from Nov. 1-3.
In an invitation to register, emailed Friday to Mayor Lenny Curry’s Chief of Staff Kerri Stewart, Peyton said the focus for this year’s trip is downtown development “and Toronto is just the city.”
The chamber led a Leadership Trip to Toronto in 1993.
Peyton wrote that 20 years ago, Toronto’s downtown was not vibrant.
“Since that time, however, they have had explosive growth. With a large downtown footprint, they have defined themselves through placemaking including redeveloping their waterfront. They are supporting and attracting jobs in industries varying from banking to technology to distribution services,” he wrote
Another Jacksonville-Toronto connecting is Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan.
Peyton wrote that Khan submitted a proposal to redevelop a large portion of the sports and entertainment area in Jacksonville and that he also has significant investments in Toronto.
“In 2016, he purchased the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto and residential towers located in the heart of the city’s shopping district. We are delighted that we will be staying at Mr. Khan’s hotel and that he will host a dinner for our group there during the trip,” Peyton wrote.
The email said bronze-level or higher investors have the first opportunity to register. Registration opens to chamber trustees May 1.
Peyton is president of Gate Petroleum Co. He served as mayor from 2003-11.
First Coast Energy LLP wants to add a Dash food service to its Daily’s store at 4991 Gate Parkway, south of Butler Boulevard.
Spokeswoman Andrea Kane said the company is targeting a late May or early June completion. Dash is Daily’s fast-casual, cafe concept that sells made-to-order breakfast and lunch sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts and specialty coffee drinks.
First Coast Energy is growing the Dash brand in the Jacksonville market. With 29 Daily’s gas stations and convenience stores in the area, 17 have a Dash.
“We will continue to grow and as we open more Daily’s stores they will always have a Dash in them,” Kane said.
She also said the decision to add the Dash to the Daily’s was not connected to the fact that Wawa Inc., a gas station and convenience store chain also known for its food service, is building at The Crossings at Town Center, at Gate and Town Center parkways.
First Coast Energy applied for a permit to renovate the Daily’s store at a cost of $150,000 to add a new quick-service restaurant deli-café with three touchscreen ordering kiosks, a new coffee area and other renovations.
Duval County property records show the almost 5,100-square-foot building was developed in 2001.
Kane, public relations and communications manager, said she was unable to share the cost of the project, “but it is a substantial investment that will allow us to bring that store up to our current Daily’s standards which are in line with what our customers’ expectations are.”
@MathisKb
(904) 356-2466