Store closings

[I-10east]

I was so surprised to see that the RaceWay gas station on Golfair Blvd & I-95 had closed; I'll tell one thing, it sure wasn't from lack of business. They had locked the doors after a certain time of night and used the lil' anti-robbery service window, so I'm not sure if they were getting robbed alot. The quick access to 95 certainly will help a robber. Whatever the reason it closed, something shady was goin' down. Talk about a warzone of demos, and closings; I can't think of a more harder hit area in Jax.

[stjr]

Five Guys coming to Mandarin on San Jose at Crown Point Rd.  Sign was up yesterday when I drove by.  New jobs for Jax.  Way to go, Mayor! 

[copperfiend]

the Village Inn and PJ's on Third Street in Neptune Beach both closed

Can't say I am surprised by Village Inn closing. The place smelled like old rotten rubber mats and sometimes it was a two hour event there between waiting to get sat, waiting to actually get someone to take an order and then waiting to get your food.

[KenFSU]

Did anyone ever take over the vacant cafe spot in the main library?

[Jaxson]

Did anyone ever take over the vacant cafe spot in the main library?

It's still vacant...

[reednavy]

Did anyone ever take over the vacant cafe spot in the main library?

It's still vacant...

not surprising, they probably want your first born child for rent.

[Dog Walker]

And both Magnificat Cafe and Chamblin's Cafe are a few steps away with much better food and service than the library cafe ever had.

[Jaxson]

And, in the meantime, there is empty retail space in the Main Library.  It's a shame about Shelby's, but I have to agree with Dog Walker on that one...

[KenFSU]

And, in the meantime, there is empty retail space in the Main Library.

I'm a sucker for Chamblin's, but it was really nice to have a cafe right in the library.

[Timkin]

I was so surprised to see that the RaceWay gas station on Golfair Blvd & I-95 had closed; I'll tell one thing, it sure wasn't from lack of business. They had locked the doors after a certain time of night and used the lil' anti-robbery service window, so I'm not sure if they were getting robbed alot. The quick access to 95 certainly will help a robber. Whatever the reason it closed, something shady was goin' down. Talk about a warzone of demos, and closings; I can't think of a more harder hit area in Jax.

The location on Beach Blvd near Parental Home also closed. I was just as surprised by that, as it always seemed busy.

[Bativac]

the Village Inn and PJ's on Third Street in Neptune Beach both closed

Can't say I am surprised by Village Inn closing. The place smelled like old rotten rubber mats and sometimes it was a two hour event there between waiting to get sat, waiting to actually get someone to take an order and then waiting to get your food.

Are all the Village Inn restaurants closing? All I have ever eaten there is pie, but where else am I gonna get pie at midnight? (3rd St Diner I guess. Maybe Denny's.) The one close to me on Atlantic closed, and the other one on Baymeadows is an Indian place now (I think). Are there any left?

[reednavy]

Yeah, the VI on San Jose in Mandarin is open and always packed on the weekend mornings and has steady business the rest of the day.

[Jaxson]

Yeah, the VI on San Jose in Mandarin is open and always packed on the weekend mornings and has steady business the rest of the day.

I wonder how many Village Inn fans are trekking out to Mandarin for their VI fix...

[stjr]

the Village Inn and PJ's on Third Street in Neptune Beach both closed

Can't say I am surprised by Village Inn closing. The place smelled like old rotten rubber mats and sometimes it was a two hour event there between waiting to get sat, waiting to actually get someone to take an order and then waiting to get your food.

Are all the Village Inn restaurants closing? All I have ever eaten there is pie, but where else am I gonna get pie at midnight? (3rd St Diner I guess. Maybe Denny's.) The one close to me on Atlantic closed, and the other one on Baymeadows is an Indian place now (I think). Are there any left?

Yeah, the VI on San Jose in Mandarin is open and always packed on the weekend mornings and has steady business the rest of the day.

I wonder how many Village Inn fans are trekking out to Mandarin for their VI fix...

Did you know that Village Inn is owned by a Jacksonville company?  You would never guess but it's... Fidelity National Financial.  And, now, they just bought another restaurant chain out of bankruptcy:

Fidelity buys Midwest restaurant chain
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Christian Conte Staff writer

A Fidelity National Financial Inc. subsidiary was the winning bidder in a bankruptcy court competition for a Midwestern-based chain called Max & Erma’s Restaurants Inc.

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge is scheduled to rule Wednesday on a confirmation of the sale of Max & Erma’s, which is a casual dining chain known for its hamburgers and sundae bar, to Fidelity Newport Holdings LLC.

Details of the bid were not revealed, but according to a sale notice, the offers had to begin at $25.7 million, a level that topped the opening bid of $24.8 million proposed July 9 by an investment partnership and private equity investor.

Columbus, Ohio-based Max & Erma’s operates dozens of restaurants throughout the Midwest and East Coast, the closest to Jacksonville of which is in Mrytle Beach.

In 2007 the company announced plans to move into the Florida market by building 15 to 30 restaurants per year over five years in Orlando, Tampa, Tallahassee and Jacksonville, none of which were built, according to the company’s website.

In October 2009 the company declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Fidelity Newport Holdings and Newport Global Advisors LP acquired the Village Inn and Bakers Square dining chains and the related Vicom bakery last year for an estimated $55 million. Village Inn, a chain of 267 restaurants, was in Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization when it was acquired.

Jacksonville-based Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF) is a provider of title insurance, specialty insurance, claims management services and information services.

http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2010/08/16/daily17.html

[fsujax]

whats up with all the Woody's BBQ closing? Old St Augustine and US 1, Roosevelt Blvd, and US 1 and Baymeadows!