Carvana, the used car vending machine company, files plans to come to Jacksonville, several renovations are coming up at Jacksonville’s malls, plus several other noteworthy projects in this week’s Building Up Jax.

Put in coin, receive car

According to a few sources, plans have been submitted for a Carvana car vending machine tower at 6951 Lenoir Ave. E.

Here’s how the service works: customers shop for a used car on carvana.com, at which point the car is shipped to Carvana’s location. The car is loaded inside of a giant “vending machine” tower for the customer to come pick it up. When the customer arrives, they’re given a 3-inch “coin” to insert into the “vending machine”, at which point their car is unloaded. A video is taken of the entire experience and given to the customer as a memento.

Given its location, the tower would likely be visible from I-95 near the Butler Blvd. exit. It would join a corridor mostly filled by hotels, along with a Cracker Barrel location.

Mall projects

Loft, Buckle, and Dick’s Sporting Goods at the St. Johns Town Center will all undergo renovations, according to Jax Daily Record. Buckle and Loft will have extensive changes, while Dick’s will just remodel their athletic shoe department.

Additionally, Victoria’s Secret and Bath & Body Works at The Avenues will undergo remodels.

Another Gramercy Woods tenant

Connecticut-based SS&C Technologies will move its Jacksonville operations to Gramercy Woods, according to Jax Daily Record.

As we noted last week, Gramercy Woods is the new name for the former Bank of America office park at Southside Blvd. near The Avenues. Aetna will move to Gramercy Woods once its current lease expires next year.

A few notes

• Topgolf on Brightman Blvd. next to the St. Johns Town Center will open in October, according to Jacksonville Business Journal.
• Pizza chain Papa Murphy’s is planning aggressive expansion in the Jacksonville area, according to Jacksonville Business Journal. The chain wants to grow from its current eight locations to 30 or more in the area.
• A third future Wawa location has been revealed – this one at the corner of Blanding Blvd. and Filmore St. in Orange Park – via Jax Daily Record.
• Construction has begun, and permits have been issued for renovations, at the former Wild Wing Café that was severely damaged by a fire.
• Plans have been submitted for TownePlace Suites, an extended-stay hotel concept from Marriott, to construct a 5-story hotel at 13741 Beach Blvd., according to Jacksonville Business Journal.

As always, if you have any questions about development in Jacksonville, contact us at buildingupjax@coastaljax.com or on Twitter using hashtag #bujax. We’ll get it answered!