Bob’s Discount Furniture Inc., which markets its stores in “Oh My Bob!” TV advertising and mailed flyers, has identified two Jacksonville locations for its entrance into the market, possibly its first stores in Florida.
The city is reviewing permits for Bob’s Discount Furniture in Argyle Village shopping center in Southwest Jacksonville and at River City Marketplace in North Jacksonville.
Jericho, New York-based Kimco Realty Corp. is the landlord at both.
Bob’s Discount Furniture sells home and home office furniture, mattresses, rugs, home décor and design assistance.
The Manchester, Connecticut-based company has stores in 26 states, but not Florida.
• Argyle Village: The city is reviewing a permit to convert a 48,060-square-foot store at 6001 Argyle Forest Blvd. at an estimated project cost of $700,000. Bob’s Discount Furniture is shown on a site plan for Argyle Village in a 48,945-square-foot space next to T.J. Maxx. The space previously was a Joann Fabrics and Crafts. Argyle Village is at southwest Interstate 295 and Blanding Boulevard.
• River City Marketplace: The city has been reviewing a permit to convert a 40,526-square-foot store at 13265 City Square Drive at an estimated cost of $700,000. The city indicates the permit expired but is expected to be reactivated, and the city also is reviewing permits for four signs for Bob’s Discount Furniture and Mattresses at the site at a combined estimated project cost of $8,800. Prime Installation LLC of Jacksonville is the contractor.
Plans show Bob’s will replace Ashley Furniture. Franklin Street Regional Managing Director Ricky Ostrofsky said July 14 that he represents Kimco at River City Marketplace. He said Ashley Furniture has a lease term through the end of 2026 and will be replaced by a single tenant, but he could not comment on the identity of that tenant.
MS Consultants Inc. of Columbus, Ohio, is the architect for both Bob’s Discount Furniture projects.
The Bob’s Discount Furniture expansion into Jacksonville could be a result of the company’s launch of an initial public offering in February that is expected to support a nationwide expansion.
A spokesperson for Bob’s Discount Furniture was preparing a response to questions July 13 but had not returned an email with answers as of 2 p.m. July 14.
Kimco Realty says it is a real estate investment trust “and leading owner and operator of high-quality, open-air, grocery-anchored shopping centers and mixed-use properties in the United States.”
Bob’s Discount Furniture is shown as a tenant in Kimco Realty’s presentation to investors, indicating it might pursue expansion sites in Kimco’s properties.
MyBobs.com says Bob’s Discount Furniture is a high-growth, national retailer of value home furnishings with more than 210 showrooms, primarily in the Northeast, Midwest and West.
The closest stores to Florida are more than 310 miles north in South Carolina.
The site says Bob’s Discount Furniture was founded in 1991.
“Each local furniture store features our famous café with complimentary coffee, cookies, and ice cream – because shopping for home furniture should be fun!”
The company says it has become the seventh-largest U.S. furniture chain according to the Furniture Today industry site.
Bob’s Discount Furniture Inc. took its stock public in February in an initial public offering.
CoStar News reported in January that Bob’s Discount Furniture said it has the momentum to more than double its store count to 500 locations during the next decade.
There was a Bob. Bob Kaufman founded Bob’s Discount Furniture and initially appeared in the commercials.
Online research finds that Kaufman was replaced by a puppet version called “Little Bob.”
Kaufman retired in 2014 when Bain Capital bought the company.