The Mathis Report: Be Still Float Studio under construction; Pet Paradise relocating HQ

Boarding and day care company moving to San Marco.


Be Still Float Studio is planned at 1050 Riverside Ave.
Be Still Float Studio is planned at 1050 Riverside Ave.
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Gina Schimpff
Gina Schimpff

Be Still Float Studio is closer to opening in Riverside. 

The city approved a permit for River City Contractors Inc. to renovate 3,405 square feet in Suite A at 1050 Riverside Ave. for the flotation therapy center to open in a former law office. The renovation cost is $433,457.

 Gina Schimpff, part of the ownership group that bought the property, is investing a little more than $800,000 into the studio, including the six float rooms. She said in August she wants to open the studio, which will take half of the building, in December.

Pet Paradise relocating HQ

The city approved a permit for Tenant Contractors Inc. to build-out headquarters space for Pet Paradise at 1551 Atlantic Blvd. at a cost of $765,542.

Pet Paradise will lease about 7,424 square feet of space on the second floor of the San Marco building.

Jacksonville-based Pet Paradise Resort and Day Spa develops and owns boarding and day care centers for dogs and cats. It occupies about 5,000 square feet of office space in Southside at 5130 University Blvd. W. next to one of its pet centers.

The 16-year-old company will move to accommodate its growing staff, which is working on adding eight to 10 Pet Paradise centers a year. Brian Franco, vice president of real estate for its corporate parent American Pet Resort LLC, said previously the company is “expanding exponentially” and needs more space.

About 25 corporate staff members will move to the second floor of the Atlantic Boulevard building. Franco said Pet Paradise intends to add 10 or so full-time employees at the headquarters and also will continue to boost systemwide employment as centers open.

Franco said that upon the relocation, the company’s call center will move from the Baymeadows area into the University Boulevard offices. That also is about 25 employees.

 Pet Paradise operates 35 locations with more than 800 employees throughout the South. In Northeast Florida, Pet Paradise will open its fourth location Oct. 1 as a prototype at 14976 Walden Springs Way in the Bartram area.

 

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