The city is reviewing a permit application for First Coast Energy L.L.P., the parent company of the Daily’s convenience store chain, to renovate and move into its new Southside headquarters at 6867 Southpoint Drive N.
Dav-Lin Interior Contractors Inc. is the contractor for the estimated $5.6 million project to renovate the 37,850-square-foot building.
First Coast Energy paid $3.025 million on May 14, 2021, for the single-story Southpoint building developed in 1991 on a 4.8-acre site.
Ebert Norman Brady Architects of Jacksonville Beach is the architect. The civil engineer is Goodson, Bergen & Associates.
The project comprises interior build-out for office and warehouse space and exterior improvements to parking and sidewalks.
Director of Marketing Max Glober said First Coast Energy is targeting this year to make the move to the new corporate office, most likely in the fourth quarter.
Glober said First Coast Energy has about 100 corporate employees, with a total workforce of 2,000 among its gas and convenience store network, including 38 Daily’s and other Shell stations.
He said about 40-50 employees will work full time in the office.
Glober said previously the space is larger than its existing location of 24 years while remaining in the same general area.
He said it allows space for a commissary kitchen for First Coast Energy to develop and test concepts for its Daily’s Dash food service and for warehouse space.
“We decided to buy that building because it is centrally located,” Glober said.
“We like sticking to the Southpoint area,” he said, referring to the Interstate 95 and Butler Boulevard area.
Glober said the company has been leasing its current 22,500-square-foot space, which has office, warehouse and some kitchen functions, since 1998 at 7014 AC Skinner Parkway, No. 290, in Liberty Business Park.
First Coast Energy bought the Southpoint building from South State Bank, a successor by merger to CenterState Bank.
CenterState assumed the property in a deed in lieu of foreclosure in March 2020.
“We are going to be having some pretty extensive build-out and modifications to the building,” Glober said.
The city issued a permit June 4, 2021, for First Coast Energy to demolish the interior nonstructural components, including walls and the ceiling, at a cost of $63,000.
C.&.R. General Contractors Inc. of Jacksonville is the demolition contractor.
First Coast Energy is led by President and CEO Aubrey Edge, who also is president of Petro Distributing Inc., which was created in 1994 and shares headquarters.
Glober said First Coast Energy operates about 100 stations, including the Daily’s, in Florida as well as 20 stores in North Carolina under the Mountain Energy brand. All of First Coast Energy’s stores sell Shell gasoline.
The majority of the Northeast Florida Daily’s stores have Dash cafes. Glober said First Coast Energy is looking at adding those to the Southeast Florida Daily’s.
The Dash fast-casual cafe concept sells breakfast and lunch sandwiches, subs, paninis, tacos, soups, salads, baked goods, ice cream and drinks, including coffee and smoothies. Glober said the company continually refreshes the menu.
First Coast Energy also is the title sponsor of the Daily’s Place amphitheater next to TIAA Bank Field. As a Jacksonville Jaguars Jamboree partner, it has three Daily’s locations in the stadium
Daily’s also operates a 3425 N. Main St. commissary and warehouse along with a 48-foot-long food truck.
The Daily’s truck operates at Jaguars games, Daily’s Place and community events.
First Coast Energy operates The Daily’s Foundation to support Northeast Florida charities.