5 Big Companies Based in Jacksonville

Over the past couple of decades, Jacksonville has enticed a nice collection of major businesses to call the city home.

Some are well-known, and others are quieter but still valuable both within our community and across the country. The city has been able to attract businesses through its enormous office buildings and office parks, as well as its status as an important southern port city and logistics center.

Here’s a look at just a few examples of major companies that currently have headquarters located in Jacksonville.

Firehouse Subs

The first company on our list is not only based in Jacksonville; it was also founded here.

The popular sandwich chain Firehouse Subs was founded here in 1994 by brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen. The chain’s most distinct feature is its firefighting theme; the Sorensen brothers were firefighters prior to opening their first sub shop. Continuing the “fire” theme, the company’s restaurants also feature an extensive collection of hot sauces, a feature not often found at sandwich chains.

Firehouse Subs has expanded rapidly in the past decade or so, with their locations totaling more than 900 throughout the country. As such, it’s by far the largest restaurant chain currently based in Jacksonville.

CSX Corporation

If you’re not familiar with the Jacksonville area, or a big fan of railroads, chances are you’ve never heard of CSX Corporation. The company’s largest subsidiary, CSX Transportation, owns and operates almost half of the railroads on the eastern coast of the country. Altogether, the length of railroads owned by CSX totals over 20,000 miles. In addition to railroads, the company’s other ventures include real estate and logistics.

In 2003, CSX moved its headquarters to Jacksonville, where it remains today in its large building along the Northbank.

Southeastern Grocers (Winn-Dixie)

Southeastern Grocers LLC was formed in 2013 as a holding company for three southeastern grocery chains — BI-LO, Harveys Supermarkets, and Winn-Dixie. This was in large part the result of a 2011 merger between BI-LO and Winn-Dixie; Winn-Dixie became a subsidiary of BI-LO, but continued to operate as a brand with very little change. In 2013, Harveys was also purchased by BI-LO.

Winn-Dixie has a long history in Jacksonville; it has been based out of the city since the 1940s and is the official grocer of the Jaguars. As such, when Southeastern Grocers was formed, the company opted to make use of Winn-Dixie’s Jacksonville offices as the corporate home for all three brands.

The company’s headquarters building is located within the Prominence office park near Baymeadows Road and I-95.

Stein Mart

Focused on providing department store products at discounted prices, Stein Mart’s headquarters have for years been located in Jacksonville near the Southbank area.

The brand has a long history, having originated over 100 years ago. In recent years, however, it has struggled to maintain its status among a sea of similar stores such as Marshalls or Bealls.

Despite its struggles, the brand continues to operate over 200 stores throughout the country, including six in the Jacksonville area.

Fanatics

Fanatics is the second brand on our list that originates in Jacksonville. The company began in 1995 with the opening of its first physical store, Football Fanatics, at The Avenues Mall. While its physical locations were a success, the company found its niche in the form of online sales. Today, it ranks as one of the top online retailers for sports clothing, accessories, and memorabilia, expanding far beyond its initial focus of football. The company also operates the NBA’s new flagship store in New York City, and also partners with many professional sports teams to help run their online fan shops. Fanatics continues to call Jacksonville its home, with its headquarters located off of Philips Highway deep within the Cypress Plaza business park.