Building Up Jax: AsianTown, Brooklyn distillery, and much more

Well, we followed up a dull week with a super exciting one.

This week’s round of development news brings us an Asian cultural center in the remains of Regency, a whiskey distillery coming to Brooklyn, and several other notable developments.

Let’s jump right in.

IDO announces AsianTown

International Décor Outlet announced a new twist for about one-third of the space it’s taking over at Regency Square Mall.

Last week, IDO announced that 100,000 square feet of the mall would be dedicated to what it’s calling AsianTown Jacksonville. AsianTown will be a cultural hub for Jacksonville’s large (and growing) Asian population. Its stores and restaurants will offer “products and cuisine from China, Japan, Korea, Indonesia and India,” according to the company’s press release.

The other 200,000 square feet of IDO’s space will be dedicated to décor outlet storefronts from across the globe.

The IDO portion of the mall is expected to open as soon as April 6, but there will probably only be a handful of storefronts ready by this time. Captain’s Catch, a seafood restaurant previously announced as part of IDO’s plans for the mall, will be one of those opening day tenants.

We’ll be there on April 6 to let you know what happens!

Brooklyn warehouses to house new distillery

Burlock and Barrel, a whiskey distillery, plans to open at the site of two old warehouse buildings across the street from Unity Plaza in Brooklyn.

According to Modern Cities, the distillery has secured adjacent buildings at 417 Magnolia Street and 476 May Street with the help of Jacques Klempf’s Foodonics Equities.

It hopes to open its doors as Jacksonville’s only whiskey distillery later this year.

New life for former Corner Bakery spots

Both former Jacksonville-area Corner Bakery Café locations are getting new tenants.

According to Jax Daily Record, fellow breakfast chain First Watch will take over its old building at 192 Riverside Ave. in Brooklyn Station.

Meanwhile, the Southpoint location at 7111 Bonneval Rd. will be taken over by Fresh Mex & Co. Urban Grill and Cantina, a new fast-casual concept from Michael and Amanda Touissant.

The locations were both abandoned rather abruptly by Corner Bakery Café late last year. The Southpoint spot was very briefly filled by Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, before Dickey’s then abruptly left Jacksonville as well.

Hopefully these new tenants will decide to stick around a little longer.

Gate stays busy

Gate plans to rebuild its flagship station at the corner of San Jose Blvd. and Sunbeam Rd., according to Jax Daily Record. A Daily’s convenience store and gas station is currently being built across the street.

Site plans show that Gate is also planning on building a new gas station and Gate Express Car Wash on land it owns along Philips Highway near 9B.

Noted projects

The portion of Main St. that crosses Hogans Creek has now re-opened, after a $2 million rebuild of the bridge supporting the road.
Morton’s Steakhouse will open this summer in the Hyatt Regency in downtown Jacksonville, according to several sources. The premium steakhouse previously had a location on Riverplace Blvd.
Uptown Cheapskate, a clothing consignment chain, will be opening soon in the Mandarin shopping center anchored by Whole Foods Market on San Jose Blvd. according to Jax Daily Record.