QuotePeterbrooke Chocolatier plans move to Brooklyn next year
Peterbrooke Chocolatier is planning a new factory and tourist destination in the quickly growing Brooklyn neighborhood. Andy Stenson, vice president of marketing for the candy maker, confirmed Friday the company will close the San Marco factory it's operated for almost 20 years and relocating to Brooklyn next year.
The new facility will be larger than its San Marco plant and include factory tours and a factory store. He has been working with Visit Florida, the state's tourism marketing organization, to make it a destination.
But he said the company had not planned to release any information until the beginning of the year and that he could not give further details or location.
Full (paid) story: http://jacksonville.com/business/2014-12-19/story/peterbrooke-chocolatier-plans-move-brooklyn-next-year
Good win for Brooklyn.
Sounds very cool, and it is interesting that we'll get a second chocolate factory/destination ....
Sad for San Marco, great for Peterbrook and Brooklyn. Good news for the urban core overall.
Brooklyn is blowing up.
I wonder if Pete Behringer still owns any shares of Peterbrooke. He was still a minority owner when he opened Sweet Pete's. A little friendly competition never hurts.
the story doesn't say exactly where. wonder where it is ...
The Peterbrooke building on San Marco Blvd has been for sale for quite some time. I guess this is all making sense now.
Great news!
My guess is this got let out of the bag prematurely. I would think that 220 Riverside would be perfect for a chocolate factory since Unity Plaza is already being promoted as a destination itself. I think Auchter had to kind of make up an answer on the spot. Since nothing except the restaurant has been announced for 220, I'm thinking there will be a big January announcement where all of the retailers will be announced together. All along they have been saying 220 will be focused on "local" retail and not chains. Peterbrooke fits perfectly with their overall concept.
Of course this is just my brain thinking out loud.
If I had to guess, I'd select one of those large warehouse buildings or sites along the Park Street corridor.
Quote from: brainstormer on December 19, 2014, 05:46:22 PM
Great news!
My guess is this got let out of the bag prematurely. I would think that 220 Riverside would be perfect for a chocolate factory since Unity Plaza is already being promoted as a destination itself. I think Auchter had to kind of make up an answer on the spot. Since nothing except the restaurant has been announced for 220, I'm thinking there will be a big January announcement where all of the retailers will be announced together. All along they have been saying 220 will be focused on "local" retail and not chains. Peterbrooke fits perfectly with their overall concept.
Of course this is just my brain thinking out loud.
it does appear that Peterbrooke wasn't ready to release any info until the T-U found out. But I don't think there's space in 220 for it. It's just restaurant space and this would need to be a lot bigger.
Quote from: brainstormer on December 19, 2014, 05:46:22 PM
I would think that 220 Riverside would be perfect for a chocolate factory since Unity Plaza is already being promoted as a destination itself. I think Auchter had to kind of make up an answer on the spot. Since nothing except the restaurant has been announced for 220, I'm thinking there will be a big January announcement where all of the retailers will be announced together. All along they have been saying 220 will be focused on "local" retail and not chains. Peterbrooke fits perfectly with their overall concept.
You're totally right about 220 making "big announcements" and being a good fit. But they only have <4000 sq ft restaurant spaces, so a bit different from what Peterbrooke would be seeking. I'd love to see a reuse of the warehouses on Park as Ennis suggested!
As SJTC drains off Regency, will the new Brooklyn drain off San Marco?
^Out of curiosity how do you think Brooklyn will affect the short term in the 5 points, King St., and Murray Hills of the world Dare?
^I think you're right or close to it. I was discussing this with a friend earlier and we had similar thoughts. We thought it might slow down the amazing growth the areas is having for a bit initially. Our only concern was how long does it take that person from Pittsburgh/Dallas/San Francisco to discover Brooklyn when the initial appeal of the beach may get them.
Quote from: stephendare on December 20, 2014, 12:08:30 AM
Quote from: spuwho on December 19, 2014, 10:16:27 PM
As SJTC drains off Regency, will the new Brooklyn drain off San Marco?
No, when we opened up all the shops in five points, many of us came from San Marco. The exits allowed for more upscale establishments to take their places, which is what will continue to happen in San Marco as Brooklyn pulls development again.
There is always pressure to move upscale into the square from the wealthier people wanting to move up the social ladder from San Jose and Beauclerc.
I kinda feel like the same will happen with 5 Points (Riverside in general) in the next decade. Seems like its already moving in that direction.
Certainly not a bad thing. As it means that same demographic will just end up moving on to places like Murray Hill & Springfield to work their magic.
^My long game money's on the Eastside as a pioneer neighborhood.
Quote from: spuwho on December 19, 2014, 10:16:27 PM
As SJTC drains off Regency, will the new Brooklyn drain off San Marco?
I don't see Brooklyn being a negative. Instead, it's a trendsetter in a community like this. All Brooklyn's revitalization will do is attract more urban redevelopment in adjacent neighborhoods and established ones like San Marco because Brooklyn's projects will prove this type of development can work in a place like Jacksonville. Heck, Brooklyn's success could finally lead to the East San Marco development getting over the hump.
This city is about 10 -15 years behind its peers in offering the type of urban product going up in Brooklyn. Apartment complexes the size of 220 Riverside and Brooklyn Riverside come a dime a dozen in most cities and there's not much readily available supply of anything similar in San Marco.
Even though this stuff seems big time, what's rising in Brooklyn pales in comparison with the amount of multifamily units and commercial going up in spots like East Baymeadows Road and Gate Parkway. Plus, there's still another potential big urban housing type that isn't available in large supply Jax.....townhomes/rowhomes. Brooklyn is just the beginning of a large redevelopment process that should have happened over a decade ago. Expect a lot more.
How exciting! Yay for progress
Quote from: Tacachale on December 20, 2014, 08:05:34 AM
^My long game money's on the Eastside as a pioneer neighborhood.
I hope you're right. I've always loved that area & think it deserves it.
Any word on exciting things or interest along Philip J Randolph? I know Intuition is coming on the Bay side, but I'm talking all the way up the corridor to 1st.
Quote from: thelakelander on December 19, 2014, 06:03:31 PM
If I had to guess, I'd select one of those large warehouse buildings or sites along the Park Street corridor.
Unless something else is already confirmed there, my money would be on the old Trophy Center space on Park. It's massive and has parking.
Quote from: Jimmy on December 20, 2014, 08:16:32 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on December 19, 2014, 06:03:31 PM
If I had to guess, I'd select one of those large warehouse buildings or sites along the Park Street corridor.
Unless something else is already confirmed there, my money would be on the old Trophy Center space on Park. It's massive and has parking.
Hallmark already has the option on that building.
Brooklyn does have something that San Marco doesn't: Parking.
I see that the DBJ has posted an update about their move to Brooklyn. In addition to this move they will also be opening a retail store downtown at the corner of Bay and Laura.
Interesting. Peterbrooke is heading to Mixontown. Not exactly Brooklyn (for the local media). The new location (one Billy Morris already owns) will be the old bacon slicing plant that was once a part of the Jones Chambliss slaughterhouse complex.
QuoteThe Jacksonville-based chocolatier is renovating a former food-processing plant at Copeland and Forest streets, on the western edge of Brooklyn, into its corporate base, production plant and tourism center.
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=544668
Btw, they also plan to open a retail store at Bay & Laura Streets.
Here's a Metro Jacksonville article from this past fall, highlighting the history of Peterbrooke's new manufacturing facility:
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/3570784818_fbW9tTC-M.jpg)
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-oct-abandoned-jacksonville-jones-chambliss-meat-packers/page/1
Jacksonville will be a candy destination. Very exciting times for Jacksonville
Wow, what awesome news for the urban core. A factory coming to life and a new downtown shopping destination.
It's interesting to see how place names evolve to cover more or less area depending on perception. Two years ago, I doubt many in Jacksonville could even tell you where "Brooklyn" is. Now not only is it well known, but it includes this factory well on the other side of the interstate.
Did they ever open up the Factory for tours as they had said?
No, but they are making chocolate in Brooklyn.