Firehouse Subs wants a new headquarters. Not interested in a downtown highrise:
Quoteby Karen Brune Mathis
Jacksonville-based Firehouse Restaurant Group Inc., parent of the nationwide Firehouse Subs fast-casual chain of more than 900 restaurants, is looking for a new headquarters.
The space should be large enough to accommodate company operations as it plans to add at least 1,000 more restaurants in the U.S. and internationally as part of a 10-year plan.
Firehouse Restaurant Group doesn't intend to leave Northeast Florida.
QuoteSorensen said a location in Duval or surrounding counties would work, although he said a Class A Downtown skyscraper isn't necessary. He said Class B-plus space or better would be the target.
"We want a great space to grow, in a safe location for our team. A tall building with our name on it doesn't fit our culture, nor is it frugal, which is a core reason for our success," he said.
Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546058
What buildings in the core might fit the definition of what they are looking for?
They want 210 parking spaces. They don't seem like they're interested in being in the core.
I agree, but...if JEA abandons its building, would that fit the bill of a frugally priced, class B+ building with dedicated parking?
Stephen, I remember in your old "If Jacksonville had vision" piece, you mentioned encouraging the homegrown fast food chains to set up HQs in the core. That surely would be nice.
I am sure they will end up on the Southside somewhere
I wish they could somehow use the old fire station across from 220 Riverside . They could use that building for a flagship restaurant and build some offices behind it or something.
Quote from: Dapperdan on September 02, 2015, 01:46:19 PM
I wish they could somehow use the old fire station across from 220 Riverside . They could use that building for a flagship restaurant and build some offices behind it or something.
Yep, every time I go by that fire station, I think how nice it would be if a homegrown company with an obvious fire station connection would transform the building into a showcase.
They need 30,000 square feet and +200 parking spaces. Maybe they should lease FCSL's Baymeadows space, freeing the school to relocate downtown.
Anything in freedom crossing trail would be good, that's pretty vacant if I recall. Or the old KMart at univ. and beach.
Quote from: coredumped on September 02, 2015, 02:21:36 PM
Or the old KMart at univ. and beach.
That area could use a shot in the arm. Easy trip in to DT for lunch/happy hour. I like that location for them better than Baymeadows...
Quote from: InnerCityPressure on September 02, 2015, 02:33:55 PM
Quote from: coredumped on September 02, 2015, 02:21:36 PM
Or the old KMart at univ. and beach.
That area could use a shot in the arm. Easy trip in to DT for lunch/happy hour. I like that location for them better than Baymeadows...
Doesn't sound like they will do anything unique. Suburban office building with lots of surface parking. Lake, both your comments were literally my first two thoughts after reading the article. They are frugal and need 210 parking spots, plus they don't want a tall office building, he is basically saying "I don't want to locate downtown." FCSL wants out of their lease off Baymeadows, sounds like the perfect spot for them to relocate to but boring choice as far as I'm concerned.
It would be cool if they did something unique for Jacksonville and located in the core, but I doubt they will. His comments seemed to suggest "we are not a unique type of culture so we are just looking for a lot of space, nothing more." I like the old firehouse on Riverside idea but that would require lots of new construction.
From Lake: "They need 30,000 square feet and +200 parking spaces. Maybe they should lease FCSL's Baymeadows space, freeing the school to relocate downtown."
Yes, that sounds like a great idea. Maybe too easy.
Quote from: InnerCityPressure on September 02, 2015, 02:33:55 PM
Quote from: coredumped on September 02, 2015, 02:21:36 PM
Or the old KMart at univ. and beach.
That area could use a shot in the arm. Easy trip in to DT for lunch/happy hour. I like that location for them better than Baymeadows...
Btw, the old Kmart building is 113k square feet. They only need 30k.
Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on September 02, 2015, 01:51:33 PM
Quote from: Dapperdan on September 02, 2015, 01:46:19 PM
I wish they could somehow use the old fire station across from 220 Riverside . They could use that building for a flagship restaurant and build some offices behind it or something.
Yep, every time I go by that fire station, I think how nice it would be if a homegrown company with an obvious fire station connection would transform the building into a showcase.
FS5 building is only about 5,000sf. It would take roughly 3.25 million to rehab the exterior, bring the building up to current code and to construct the interior up-fit. Not to mention the cost of purchasing the building and property from the current owner Bill Foley. Added to this cost you would have construct the parking lot, which will probably only yield 55 spaces on the remaining parcel of land. This just doesn't sound like a very practical business decision for Firehouse Subs.
I get all that. Is space all leased up in the old St Joe Building next door to it? Wouldn't be right on site, but they would be right next to it. The Firehouse could be the flagship restaurant downstairs and the lab and artist areas upstairs. Ist justa great area to be in right now. I know it won't work out.
Quote from: thelakelander on September 02, 2015, 01:24:45 PM
They want 210 parking spaces. They don't seem like they're interested in being in the core.
Bingo.
Regency Square?
Quote from: knhknh on September 03, 2015, 06:04:15 AM
Regency Square?
they were also looking for safety .. lol
Regency is over 1 million square feet. I can't imagine Firehouse wanting to take up 30k of space there, only to be surrounded by emptiness and an undecided future.
Quote from: Dapperdan on September 02, 2015, 01:46:19 PM
I wish they could somehow use the old fire station across from 220 Riverside . They could use that building for a flagship restaurant and build some offices behind it or something.
I like the idea.
Quote from: I-10east on September 03, 2015, 08:23:36 AM
Quote from: Dapperdan on September 02, 2015, 01:46:19 PM
I wish they could somehow use the old fire station across from 220 Riverside . They could use that building for a flagship restaurant and build some offices behind it or something.
I like the idea.
I like it, too. But if it's not ideal for use as a corporate HQ, I wonder what if it could just be a really amazing Firehouse Subs location?
They will end up in southern duval or northern St Johns, all other talk is just noise
Quote from: knhknh on September 03, 2015, 06:04:15 AM
Regency Square?
A better location would be Metro Square at Emerson and Philips. That area could use some life and 30,000 sf would do more to turn that area around. It's certainly not high profile, but if it is Class B space, then they could certainly get it at a bargain. I believe at least one of the Sorensons lives in San Marco as well.
Quote from: Adam White on September 03, 2015, 08:35:55 AM
Quote from: I-10east on September 03, 2015, 08:23:36 AM
Quote from: Dapperdan on September 02, 2015, 01:46:19 PM
I wish they could somehow use the old fire station across from 220 Riverside . They could use that building for a flagship restaurant and build some offices behind it or something.
I like the idea.
I like it, too. But if it's not ideal for use as a corporate HQ, I wonder what if it could just be a really amazing Firehouse Subs location?
+100
Quote from: acme54321 on September 03, 2015, 08:51:06 AM
They will end up in southern duval or northern St Johns, all other talk is just noise
nowhere in Northern St. Johns unless they build something. I'd have to think they wind up in the Baymeadows or JTB corridor.
In the article, they mention that being frugal is a core reason for their success. While them having a location in an old fire station would be cool (even the one at Adams & Ocean would be fine), it doesn't seem like it would fit into their "being frugal" position. With that said, it would be pretty cool if there were a strip in the core that was filled with a cluster of locally based eateries and chains. It would certainly stand out.
Quote from: thelakelander on September 03, 2015, 09:54:43 AM
In the article, they mention that being frugal is a core reason for their success. While them having a location in an old fire station would be cool (even the one at Adams & Ocean would be fine), it doesn't seem like it would fit into their "being frugal" position. With that said, it would be pretty cool if there were a strip in the core that was filled with a cluster of locally based eateries and chains. It would certainly stand out.
Frugal schmugal. I want to eat a sub in an old fire station. Make it happen!
Another article and another hint about not being interested in downtown....although downtown has a ton of Class B office space....
QuoteFox said he's fairly open to where the new headquarters might be, but that he doubts it would be downtown.
"We don't really need Class A space," he said.
Full article: http://jacksonville.com/business/2015-09-03/story/jacksonville-based-firehouse-subs-open-first-90-restaurants-canada-and
Hmm, someone mentioned to me last night that the Springfield Warehouse District (yes, I know, not really officially called that) would be a great place for them to be. Maybe take the old Coke Cola building and the buildings behind and modify to what they need today and for tomorrows growth - could even get protected parking out of it. Urban but not Downtown. Historic tax credits could be worked into it (need to landmark at least part of it). A great stimulus for revitalizing the area.