Incentive requests to help establish two new restaurants and a salon in Downtown Jacksonville are headed to a Downtown Investment Authority committee for consideration.
On Aug. 14, the DIA Retail Enhancement and Property Disposition Committee is scheduled to discuss the requests for the proposed establishments, two in San Marco and the other in LaVilla.
They are:
• Tavola Trattoria
Carl and Lindie Garrett, owners of Tavola San Marco LLC, are applying for a $135,000 forgivable loan to cover a portion of the estimated $600,000 cost to build-out a 4,500-square-foot building at 1037 Hendricks Ave., former home of Reddi-Arts in San Marco.
The project under consideration is described in the application as an “Upscale yet approachable Italian restaurant blending classic cuisine with modern presentation and local Florida ingredients.”
It would be open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
If eventually approved by the full DIA board, the award will be structured as a forgivable, 0% interest grant that will amortize at 33.33% each year following closing for three years, with the full remaining balance forgiven at the end of the third year, so long as the restaurant remains in business.
According to a DIA staff report, Carl Garrett is an accomplished restaurateur who worked for a group in Seattle before moving to Bentonville, Arkansas, home to Walmart, in 2008. There, he and his wife started a restaurant group that now comprises nine restaurants with another on the way on the Walmart corporate campus. Garrett’s tie to Jacksonville is that he attended Duncan U. Fletcher High School in Jacksonville Beach and took some classes at Florida State College at Jacksonville.
• Salon on the Southbank
Amanda Kelloway, owner of Salon on the Southbank, is applying for an $80,250 forgivable loan to cover a portion of the estimated $225,125 cost for improvements to a 2,675-square-foot building at 1038 Kings Ave., also part of the former Reddi-Arts site.
The loan will facilitate development of a salon, spa, suites and a boutique.
If approved by the DIA board, the total principal balance will be forgiven and reduced at a rate of about 33.33% per year. At the end of 36 months, the grant will be entirely forgiven on the condition that the business remains in operation, improvements are made and the premises are maintained in reasonably good condition.
According to the staff report, Kelloway owns and operates the Salon on the Southbank at 1034 Hendricks Ave. and proposes moving to and renovating the building at 1038 Kings Ave.
The salon opened in San Marco more than 35 years ago offering hair care, styling for weddings and events, and sunless tanning. Kelloway seeks to expand the business’s offerings and footprint as well as find a new home since the current location was recently put on the market for sale.
• Koto Izakaya & Listening Room
Raymond De Padua, managing partner of Koto Jax LLC, and Justin Raulerson, general manager, applied for a $156,000 grant to cover a portion of the $692,115 cost for tenant improvements for a 10,400-square-foot Koto Izakaya Japanese restaurant at 927 W. Forsyth St. in LaVilla.
The property is owned by SADS Inc. and will be leased to De Padua for 10 years with two optional extensions.
If approved by the DIA board, the award will be structured as a 0% interest forgivable loan grant that will amortize at 33.33% each year following closing for three years, with the full remaining balance forgiven at the end of the third year, so long as the business remains in operation.
The staff report states that the project is similar to Koto Jax LLC’s existing successful venture, Izakaya Ko in Jacksonville Beach, but with an added listening room/lounge. The concept will offer Japanese small plates and a bar on the first floor and a lounge and listening room on the second floor, which will also have food service from the main kitchen.
The venue would open at 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and close at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. It would close at 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
The three-story building at 927 W. Forsyth St. has been owned by Paul Sifton since 2006 and has mostly served as an event space and residence since that time. Each floor is 5,200 square feet, with Koto leasing the first two floors.
The DIA committee meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. at the main Jacksonville Public Library, 303 N. Laura St.