Building Up Jax, 2/13: Forever 21 leaves Town Center

It’s Saturday, and that means it’s time for our weekly Building Up Jax report! It wasn’t a very busy week, but here’s a few key happenings in the city.

Forever 21 leaving St. Johns Town Center

National retailer Forever 21 will close its location at St. Johns Town Center, according to Jax Daily Record. The store originally opened as part of Phase II of the Town Center’s development, initially having been rumored to be a long-awaited Crate & Barrel location. It’s unknown at this time why the store is closing down, but given that Forever 21 is also an anchor store at the nearby Avenues Mall, it’s likely that the company simply wished to consolidate the two locations. There’s currently no word as to what will replace the store; the location is big enough to fit a large retailer, or even to be divided into two or three smaller stores.

Mariott upgrading airport hotels

Also via Jax Daily Record, Mariott plans to upgrade two of their Jacksonville hotels, both located in the immediate vicinity of the Jacksonville International Airport. The two locations impacted are the Courtyard on Duval Road, and the Residence Inn on Airport Road. Both renovations are valued at over $1,000,000.

Other Notes

• 200 Riverside, located between the new 220 Riverside development and a shopping center including Fresh Market among other tenants, is expected to be a 7-story complex with ground-level retail. Plans are still being reviewed.
• Hakimian Holdings has acquired Butler Blvd’s Liberty Center office complex, and according to JDR, hopes to add a restaurant or two as outparcels facing Butler Blvd.
• BBQ restaurant The Bearded Pig is expected to open in March on Kings Ave, via Jacksonville Business Journal.
• Also via JBJ, Impact Church will move into Regency Square Mall in the former Belk anchor location. The church says it will restore the ability for shoppers to pass through the centrally-located anchor spot to access each end of the struggling mall. It’s expected to open in early 2018.