The city issued a permit March 5 for Voodoo Brewing Co. to build-out a 7,165-square-foot bar and restaurant in San Marco Square.
Tim Young Construction Inc. of Jacksonville is the contractor for the $713,317 project at 1974 San Marco Blvd.
The two-story project will provide a new bar with extra seating upstairs.
In September, Meadville, Pennsylvania-based Voodoo Brewing Co. announced it was planning to open a 8,646-square-foot project in San Marco that will sell the beer that it brews at its home base.
Locke Rudin Enterprises LLC of Ponte Vedra is the franchise owner. LGA Partners of Pittsburgh is the architect.
Voodoofranchising.com says that the company brews its craft beer at a 30,000-square-foot taproom in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and delivers it to the brewpub franchise locations.
The voodoobrewery.com site shows Voodoo has 20 locations in eight states, including in Fort Myers in Florida.
It owns six of them, including Fort Myers, and franchises the others.
The franchise site says Voodoo Brewing also sells barrel-aged mixed-drinks as well as nitro coffee and nitro teas.
Its pub menu, called “eclectic, localized,” is crafted for each brewpub.
It also sells merchandise that includes baseball caps and T-shirts.
The site says Voodoo Brewing prefers old buildings that previously housed restaurants, which cuts down build-out costs.
The ideal franchise location size is about 4,000 square feet.
Sleiman Enterprise bought the two-story, 8,200-square-foot building in 2019. The 99-year-old structure is on the south side of the street in front of Balis Park and San Marco Lions sculpture.
The acquisition included adjacent properties at 1980 and 1972 San Marco Blvd. Tenants are Starbucks and Beau Outfitters.
“In acquiring these properties in San Marco Square, we intend to provide Jacksonville with an experience like no other. We’re confident this acquisition will only further elevate San Marco Square,” said Toney Sleiman, CEO of Sleiman Enterprises.
The 1974 San Marco Blvd. property formerly was used by Bohemian Lounge, Indochine and Square One. The 2019 news release says the property is “a prime retail or restaurant opportunity to provide Jacksonville with a unique-to-market customer experience.”
The property includes exposed brick, domed terrace doors and vaulted ceilings. It has kitchens and bars on both floors.
Sleiman Enterprses’ site plan shows Voodoo Brewing will occupy 8,646 square feet, with 4,530 square feet on the first floor and 4,116 square feet on the second floor.