Construction of a Harris Teeter store in East Arlington is underway, the grocery and property developer announced April 20.
A news release on the store planned at 11901 Atlantic Blvd. said the project marks the first ground-up construction of a Harris Teeter store in Florida. The site is in the Atlantic North shopping center at northwest Kernan and Atlantic boulevards.
A ceremonial groundbreaking is set for 10 a.m. April 24, with Mayor Donna Deegan and other community leaders expected to attend.
On March 13, the city of Jacksonville issued a permit for Harris Teeter to build the store at a project cost of $3 million. A permit issued three days later allowed for construction of an affiliated 3,010-square-foot liquor store at a project cost of $1 million.
Hawkins Construction Inc. of Tarpon Springs was listed as the contractor for the projects. Hawkins plans to build the supermarket and liquor store between LA Fitness and Academy Sports + Outdoors.
The store will be Harris Teeter’s first in Jacksonville since two closed in 2004 and 2006 before The Kroger Co. bought the chain in 2014. The company operates one Florida store in Fernandina Beach.
Jacksonville-based Sleiman Enterprises developed the Atlantic North center. Toney Sleiman, a principal of Sleiman Enterprises, said in the news release that the center “continues to attract leading national retailers, and this development reflects the strong demand and growth we’re seeing in this area.”
The release said the Atlantic North location would feature Teeter’s signature items, including fresh produce, an expanded meat and seafood case, prepared foods and bakery items, plus a fuel center.
It is expected to bring up to 200 new jobs to the area, the release said.
Tammy DeBoer, president of Harris Teeter, said in the release that the location “reflects both our strategic growth and our dedication to bringing high quality products and incredible customer service to new communities.”
North Carolina-based Harris Teeter will lease the space from Sleiman Enterprises. There also will be a 6,000-square-foot retail space added between the liquor store and LA Fitness. That likely will be leased to other tenants. The new stores are called Unit 400 at Atlantic North.
Harris Teeter announced Nov. 10, 2025, that it would open in Atlantic North.