Shad Khan sells Edgewood Bakery to influential Jacksonville restaurateur

[jcjohnpaint]

Great news!!

[I-10east]

Should we add video boards we can see from space too?

Of course, the automatic go to. Yes Mtrain, add 'em indeed....

An exceptional example of the jibber-jabber we all know and love....

+1000

[Know Growth]

http://c.bizjournals.com/ct/c/108066722/NzA5NzAzODI6OjI2ODM2NjYx

local restaurateur involved in several Mellow Mushroom franchises, Burrito Gallery, Uptown Market and, most recently, French Pantry, is set to convert Murray Hill's Edgewood Bakery into a second French Pantry.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan sold Edgewood Bakery to John Valentino, who bought French Pantry from its founders last year.

This is a real game changer for Murray Hill. 

Was sipping a beer and smoking cigar at Edgewood  Ave. Murray Hill this afternoon-same was noted;Murray Hill Boost. It's about time.

(Stay away from white flour and Dripping Sticky Bunns.......bad for you  )

[ProjectMaximus]

This is going to be awesome.  In yesterday's article he said the second location would be "on the westside", so I was a little confused about the location.  This will be a great addition to the area.  I'm sure Max is thrilled about his new neighbor.

Haha, indeed I am. I had to chuckle when I saw that headline this morning...I tried my damnedest (yes I looked up the spelling) to sell them on MH and convince them to consider our property when the news first broke about the sale and the hunt for a second location. I'm willing to share now that they told me flatly that they had already determined a site in Riverside and weren't interested in looking elsewhere.

Lol...yep...that's why it's funny to me now. Happy to welcome them to the block and I guess things are different when you own your building vs lease.

Btw, this is just the beginning in terms of restaurant news for this corridor. I have no timeline but there should definitely be more positive stuff in the coming months.

[Noone]

Can we pass a moratorium on the use of "game changer?"

What if I used it in context with feeling sorry for the Baltimore guys?

Lol.

+1

[thelakelander]

Why John Valentino has his sights on Murray Hill

When you've worked in the restaurant business as long as John Valentino has, you get a feel for which neighborhoods are on the rise.
First, it was Five Points in Riverside. Then, the Riverside neighborhood as a whole. Most recently, it was Brooklyn. Now, he gets the same up-and-coming feeling about Murray Hill.

"I think as part of that whole new gentrification, Murray Hill is one of the last retail pockets," Valentino said. "The site has a lot of parking, a lot of real estate. It's a great neighborhood."

Full article: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2016/03/03/why-john-valentino-has-his-sights-on-murray-hill.html

[MusicMan]

How much did he pay? Don't see it in there.

[banjo]

I like what it will become with the exception of the 9-12 month part. I suppose it's better to make it good than open it quickly. When I heard about this story I realized I liked the thought of the Edgewood Bakery better than the bakery itself. I really only went 1-2 times a year for a donut. I'm really looking forward to the French Pantry especially since it will have weekday dinners and weekend brunches.

[mtraininjax]

Valentino, to me, gambled a bit here. Yes, there is Riverside and Avondale to pull from, and a growing Murray Hill, but the Pantry is a staple in the rich southside WASP community. Once the luster wears off of a few months, I wonder if this pantry can sustain itself. In the meantime, the best thing he can do is add more to the area. Maple street has a simple product, but they have a lot of locations, which helps them in brand recognition.

We shall see if the gamble pays off.

[Captain Zissou]

Valentino, to me, gambled a bit here. Yes, there is Riverside and Avondale to pull from, and a growing Murray Hill, but the Pantry is a staple in the rich southside WASP community. Once the luster wears off of a few months, I wonder if this pantry can sustain itself.

Yeah I bet they're really going to struggle.  They won't have the things that the first location had; a warehouse with no signage on a sketchy street with no parking and very limited seating and difficult hours.

[Steve]

^haha

I can see the concern a little, especially since the weekday lunch crowd might be thinning a bit. Southeastern Grocers is moving their HQ from Edgewood and Cassat to Baymeadows, and Fanatics moved their headquarters from Commonwealth and Edgewood to Southpoint last fall.

I still think they will do okay. They might not have the line outside at 10:30AM like the other place has, but I think that's okay. The name alone will draw the Avondale housewives.

[Captain Zissou]

While the limited hours added an element of adventure and exclusivity to the original location, I think the new location could do more sales in just saturday and sunday brunch than the old location did all week.  I hope they have weekend hours and either breakfast or dinner (both would be nice).

[johnnyliar]

Murray Hill residents are dying for an enticing dinner or late lunch option.
I feel like they're going to do fine.

[thekillingwax]

I'm so excited for this- a French Pantry I can walk to? Hell yes.

[benfranklinbof]

I can walk there as well, I can't wait 9-12 months for them to open.