The closed Jim’s Place along the Arlington Expressway is coming down.
Realco Recycling Co. of Jacksonville will demolish the 8,760-square-foot structure on 1.84 acres at 7900 Arlington Expressway now that the city issued a permit May 21 for the $2,400 project.
The project scope is the complete demolition of the restaurant structure and associated sidewalks. There is no paving or curbing removal.
Perimeter construction fencing is part of the project.
The property owner is listed as 8000-Amenity LLC in care of AXIA GeoCapital LLC of Boca Raton and Fort Lauderdale.
Jim’s Place was a former TGI Friday’s restaurant built in 1982.
Owner and operator Jim Jones III bought the property from TGI Fridays in 1991, later deeding it to himself and Keith Cornell Jones II.
At the age of 78, Jim Jones III closed the club Jan. 1, 2024, after 33 years, deciding to retire and sell the business and liquor license.
They sold it Jan. 16, 2024, for $1 million to Arlington Florida LP, part of the larger campus ownership group.
The Jim’s Place site is part of the proposed 16.42-acre redevelopment of three existing office buildings into apartments and the construction of more.
The city issued a permit April 9 for the $2.4 million clearing, demolition and utilities to rehabilitate the first of the three buildings already under renovation.
That six-story, 95,256-square-foot building previously housed the FBI, which relocated to Gate Parkway in 2009.
Site work and utilities contractor W. Gardner LLC of Jacksonville is doing that project.
The overall contractor is Axios Construction Services LLC of Fern Park. Fisher Koppenhafer of Jacksonville is the architect.
Jacksonville City Council enacted legislation March 25, 2025, to allow the transformation of the closed buildings into an office-to-residential project and new multifamily construction.
Council approved two sets of companion ordinances to redevelop the site in the 7800 and 7900 blocks of the expressway, which includes the former FBI building, two vacant Offshore Power Systems office buildings and the closed Jim’s Place.
Plans call for the six-floor FBI and Offshore Power Systems buildings to be converted into apartments, with construction of four new six-story buildings.
According to city Planning and Development Department staff reports, the land that includes the FBI and Offshore Power Systems buildings would comprise six multifamily buildings totaling 659 multifamily units, plus an amenities area.
The restaurant property would be redeveloped with a seventh building along with a dog walk and pickleball courts.
During hearings before Council committees and the Jacksonville Planning Commission, the project drew praise as an infill development that would address an eyesore along the expressway.
The two former Offshore Power Systems structures are vandalized with graffiti and broken windows.
Property owner and developer Marc Kozman, through Arlington Florida LP, acquired the four properties in separate deeds totaling $8 million. Arlington Florida LP is affiliated with the 8000 Realco and 8000-1 limited liability companies.