The former Ruby Beach Brewing Co. and Campeche Bay buildings at 131 and 127 First Ave. N. will be demolished to make way for a multitenant building.
Jacksonville Beach Mayor Chris Hoffman prepares to take the first pieces of the building down on the morning of Jan. 28.
Hoffman receives guidance on how to operate the excavator.
Hoffman takes down the first part of the building, which happened to be a message of support for her mayoral campaign.
Hoffman poses for a photo after starting the demolition.
Beth Angelo, David Angelo, Marc Angelo, Jacksonville Beach Mayor Chris Hoffman and Jacksonville Beach City Manager Mike Staffopoulos.
Hoffman takes a chunk out of a marquee on the back of the building to start the demolition.
A Realco Recycling employee begins tearing down the Campeche Bay building.
A Realco Recycling employee begins tearing down the Campeche Bay building.
A rendering of the future construction at 131 and 127 First Ave. N.
The excavator tears into the former Campeche Bay building.
More pieces of the Campeche Bay building come down.
A rendering of Jax Beach Town Center planned at 131 and 127 First Ave. N.
The new center will house a restaurant, rooftop bar, retail and event spaces.
Demolition began Jan. 28 in Jacksonville Beach on two First Avenue North buildings to make way for a two-story, mixed-use building called Jax Beach Town Center.
Developer Marc Angelo owns the buildings that housed Ruby Beach Brewing Co. and Campeche Bay Cantina. Ruby Beach is relocating to Downtown Jacksonville and Campeche Bay closed in August 2019.
The Campeche Bay building at 127 First Ave. N. was built in 1940, according to the Duval County Property Appraiser.
131 First Ave. N., which housed Ruby Beach, was built in 1952.
The buildings are adjacent to Latham Plaza. They are a block from the beach and Seawalk Pavilion.
Angelo intends to develop a two-story, 19,000-square-foot building. It is not fully leased, but Angelo said it will house a restaurant, rooftop bar, retail and event spaces.
“It’s just what Jax Beach needs,” he said.
He declined to say the cost of construction.
Angelo and his wife, Beth, through Jax Beach Town Center LLC, purchased 127 First Ave. N. in 2019 for $1.95 million. Angelo bought the Ruby Beach building in January 2020 for $1.85 million.
By owning the adjacent buildings he was able to expand his redevelopment plans.
“I think Jacksonville Beach needs a central business district redevelopment,” Angelo said.
Design Cooperative is the project architect. The Angelo Group is the contractor.
David Laurie of Strategic Sites Clifford Commercial is the leasing agent.
Jacksonville Beach Mayor Chris Hoffman took down the first piece of the building about 8 a.m. Jan. 28.
Angelo said he hopes to have the new space built by next year.
“With all the new hotels coming online, we’re just really bullish on the Jax Beach market,” Angelo said.
About a half-mile north, Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Beach Hotel at 715 N. First St. opened Jan. 26.
