After selling its property to owners connected to a Georgia-based automotive group, the Pecan Park Flea & Farmers Market announced to vendors it will close in September.
On Facebook, the Pecan Park Flea Market Vendors Group posted an undated photo of a closure announcement from the market operators to vendors saying the new owners planned to develop an auto dealership on the property at 614 Pecan Park Road.
The market will close Sept. 26, with vendors being allowed to remove items from the site through October.
The property is at southwest Interstate 95 and Pecan Park Road, near a planned development of 1,000 acres of timberland at the northeast corner of the juncture for commercial, industrial and residential uses.
In a sale recorded May 29, Butler Family Holdings LLLP purchased the property for $8.55 million from Pecan Park Marketplace Investors LTD.
Butler Family Holdings LLLP is registered in Georgia, with general partners The Bonnie Butler Gibson Family Trust, The G. Marshall Butler Jr. Family Trust and the L. Morris Butler Family Trust.
The Butler Automotive Group site, butlercars.com, lists Marshall Butler Jr. and Morris Butler as copresidents who work with their sister Bonnie Butler Gibson, a board member of the group, and Dixie Butler Clark, who oversees accounting for the company.
The Macon, Georgia-based group lists 15 dealerships and three collision centers on its website, including Butler Toyota Jacksonville at 1290 Cassat Ave.
That property was previously the Ernie Palmer Toyota dealership, which Butler Automotive Group purchased through Butler Jax Acquisition LLC for $13.49 million in 2021.
The group’s brands include Acura, Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, Nissan, Ram and Toyota.
The flea market site is 20.86 acres and contains 18 buildings, according to Duval County Property Appraiser records. The appraiser’s office lists its market value at $7.15 million.
In its notice to vendors, the market said some of them had been with the operation for 40 years.
“This announcement is delivered with sadness and sensitivity for everyone affected,” the notice read. “Future development planned along Pecan Park Road and soaring property values have forced these circumstances. Please be mindful as you reflect on your individual circumstances that this situation greatly affects our employees, several of which reside here as well.”
The operators said they would pursue all rents due on or before July 31 but concede rents due in August and September.
Benderson development coming
In February, Jacksonville City Council voted unanimously to grant a land-use amendment and rezoning for the development at northeast I-95 and Pecan Park Road, which is planned on property. Under the changes, the new land use would comprise low density residential on 413.82 acres, medium density residential on 206.04 acres, light industrial on 289.79 acres, community general commercial on 22.52 acres and conservation on 28.74 acres.
Benderson Development Co. LLC of University Park, near Sarasota, is the property owner. Benderson, a privately held real estate company, bought the majority of it in 2007 from Bacardi Bottling Corp., which operates a rum-bottling plant at 12200 N. Main St.