Metro Jacksonville

Jacksonville by Neighborhood => Downtown => Topic started by: thelakelander on February 11, 2013, 03:18:32 PM

Title: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: thelakelander on February 11, 2013, 03:18:32 PM
Pita Pit will be opening at 116 North Pearl Street (the courthouse garage).

full article: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2013-02-11/pita-pit-plans-downtown-restaurant-near-duval-county
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: ben says on February 11, 2013, 03:32:51 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on February 11, 2013, 03:18:32 PM
Pita Pit will be opening at 116 North Pearl Street (the courthouse garage).

full article: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2013-02-11/pita-pit-plans-downtown-restaurant-near-duval-county

Wow. Great news. Now bring one to 5 Points
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: JeffreyS on February 11, 2013, 03:44:27 PM
7-11, McDonald's, Family Dollar and now Pita Pit. I know chains are not very exciting but they are a good signal to people looking to work or live downtown that it is becoming more and more viable.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: Captain Zissou on February 11, 2013, 03:49:37 PM
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This will become a regular part of my late night diet.  Thank goodness.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: PeeJayEss on February 11, 2013, 03:51:57 PM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on February 11, 2013, 03:49:37 PM
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  This will become a regular part of my late night diet.  Thank goodness.

I hope to Shiva they are open until 3am... At least until midnight.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: Captain Zissou on February 11, 2013, 03:52:13 PM
Now that I have regained my composure....  You know this would have already gone in at the Everbank building in Brooklyn if their retail bays were realistic. 
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: ben says on February 11, 2013, 04:06:16 PM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on February 11, 2013, 03:52:13 PM
Now that I have regained my composure....  You know this would have already gone in at the Everbank building in Brooklyn if their retail bays were realistic.

Is that why nobody will go in those spots? Been wondering....

Think they'll come to 5 Points/Park/King?
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: Captain Zissou on February 11, 2013, 04:08:53 PM
^ The bays have zero depth.  In order to be functional, a tenant would have to use three or 4 bays and orient their business parallel to Riverside Ave along.  That may be too cost prohibitive for tenants.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: jaxlore on February 11, 2013, 04:09:40 PM
Dizam! They better stay open late or it defeats the purpose. No disrespect to my love of late night chomp chomp, but it would be nice.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: thelakelander on February 11, 2013, 04:21:59 PM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on February 11, 2013, 04:08:53 PM
^ The bays have zero depth.  In order to be functional, a tenant would have to use three or 4 bays and orient their business parallel to Riverside Ave along.  That may be too cost prohibitive for tenants.

I believe the bays are roughly 25' deep.  The depth of a typical specialty retail bay is roughly 60-70'.  The Riverside Publix retail spots along Riverside Avenue and Margaret Street are around 50' deep.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: comncense on February 12, 2013, 07:37:06 PM
I understand WHY it's being built over that way but not thrilled about it. Living at the Berkman, I don't think I've walked any further than Burrito Gallery for food downtown. Wouldn't that area be DEAD after 5pm and on the weekends?
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: DDC on February 12, 2013, 11:28:06 PM
Quote from: comncense on February 12, 2013, 07:37:06 PM
I understand WHY it's being built over that way but not thrilled about it. Living at the Berkman, I don't think I've walked any further than Burrito Gallery for food downtown. Wouldn't that area be DEAD after 5pm and on the weekends?

Mostly dead but not completely. Phoenix Taproom is  around the corner on Forsyth, and a couple of blocks west on Forsyth is Secrets, the old Voodoo/JoAnns building. Who knows? Could be the beginning of a new district?
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: comncense on February 13, 2013, 08:22:46 AM
You're probably right, I'm just being selfish. I want a restaurant in my side of downtown to actually stay open late night. Chomp Chomp is about the only thing you can halfway count on to be open past midnight and that's only on the weekends.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: Dapperdan on February 13, 2013, 08:35:39 AM
I bet Pita Pit takes courthouse hours. I hope they don't, but that is my gut.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: comncense on February 13, 2013, 08:43:27 AM
Yeah that's what I was thinking. It would be great if they took the old Poppy Loves Smoke building. Not sure if that's a big enough spot though. Or better yet, what about that space next door to Mark's that's empty. Wasn't a restaurant supposed to go there a long time ago?
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: aubureck on February 13, 2013, 09:41:14 AM
I'm so excited about this!  I fell in love with the Pita Pit at the beach but I live in Mandarin so I hardly ever get to go there.  That said, this is around the corner from my office!
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: blizz01 on February 13, 2013, 09:52:55 AM
From Mandarin, there's currently one a bit closer to you in Fleming Island near the movie theater.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: Captain Zissou on February 13, 2013, 09:59:18 AM
In all honesty, I had a dream about the downtown Pita Pit last night.  In my dream, however, it was on Laura Street.

It would be great to see them go into the space recently vacated by Snap Fitness in Riverside. 
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: aubureck on February 14, 2013, 08:40:51 AM
I never go to Fleming Island.  Its a nightmare to drive in Orange Park at anytime of the day.  I would rather drive downtown anyday over Orange Park.  Besides the proposed location of this is two blocks from my office so its perfect.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: ben says on February 14, 2013, 09:23:00 AM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on February 13, 2013, 09:59:18 AM
In all honesty, I had a dream about the downtown Pita Pit last night.  In my dream, however, it was on Laura Street.

It would be great to see them go into the space recently vacated by Snap Fitness in Riverside.

!! Agree
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: PeeJayEss on February 15, 2013, 02:36:27 PM
Quote from: ben says on February 14, 2013, 09:23:00 AM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on February 13, 2013, 09:59:18 AM
In all honesty, I had a dream about the downtown Pita Pit last night.  In my dream, however, it was on Laura Street.

It would be great to see them go into the space recently vacated by Snap Fitness in Riverside.

!! Agree

I'd rather something new and a potential draw to be downtown. The Snap place will fill up just fine, I'm sure. But tenants for downtown, particularly ones that might add to evening vibrancy, do not come by every day.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: Captain Zissou on February 15, 2013, 03:12:43 PM
Quote from: PeeJayEss on February 15, 2013, 02:36:27 PM
Quote from: ben says on February 14, 2013, 09:23:00 AM
Quote from: Captain Zissou on February 13, 2013, 09:59:18 AM
In all honesty, I had a dream about the downtown Pita Pit last night.  In my dream, however, it was on Laura Street.

It would be great to see them go into the space recently vacated by Snap Fitness in Riverside.

!! Agree

I'd rather something new and a potential draw to be downtown. The Snap place will fill up just fine, I'm sure. But tenants for downtown, particularly ones that might add to evening vibrancy, do not come by every day.

I meant in addition to the downtown location.  I don't think Pita Pit has a huge draw for outsiders, but rather serves the late-night needs of a neiborhood.  The core can support more than one.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: joshuataylor on February 15, 2013, 03:18:16 PM
Quote from: DDC on February 12, 2013, 11:28:06 PM
Quote from: comncense on February 12, 2013, 07:37:06 PM
I understand WHY it's being built over that way but not thrilled about it. Living at the Berkman, I don't think I've walked any further than Burrito Gallery for food downtown. Wouldn't that area be DEAD after 5pm and on the weekends?

Mostly dead but not completely. Phoenix Taproom is  around the corner on Forsyth, and a couple of blocks west on Forsyth is Secrets, the old Voodoo/JoAnns building. Who knows? Could be the beginning of a new district?

As a resident of The Metropolitan, I think this is a perfect location. I'm sure the people in CityPlace would feel the same way.

Quote from: comncense on February 13, 2013, 08:43:27 AM
Yeah that's what I was thinking. It would be great if they took the old Poppy Loves Smoke building. Not sure if that's a big enough spot though. Or better yet, what about that space next door to Mark's that's empty. Wasn't a restaurant supposed to go there a long time ago?

There's already a restaurant concept in the planning stages for the Poppy Love Smoke space. Independent to boot, no chains involved.

As for the space next door to Marks, that building is owned by the Insetta family. Jon had planned a rooftop bar in the space, but with Orsay and now Black Sheep, I'm pretty sure he has his hands full at the moment.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: urbanlibertarian on February 16, 2013, 10:31:08 AM
It would be nice to have a 24/7 breakfast anytime kind of diner on the northbank.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: Jason1904MusicHall on February 16, 2013, 01:22:31 PM
Very good news to hear!  As an 11E resident and business owner downtown, quality food is always welcomed.  Let's hope for some late night hours.
Title: Re: Pita Pit plans downtown restaurant
Post by: comncense on February 16, 2013, 05:31:48 PM
Thanks for the insight Joshataylor. I'll be interested to see the plans for Poppy Loves Smoke once it gets announced. It's nice to have such great independent restaurants in those 2 blocks of Adams Street.