Went to La Nopelara tonight... Saw a "3800 sq ft for lease" sign on the front of their building.
Our waiter said they're moving "by Panera"... I'm assuming the old waterworks building. I'm kind of surprised. Wonder if this will trigger a remodel of the existing facility.
I'm also imagining a new La Nopelara... Outdoor seating? Panera + La Nop sharing that little parking lot at San Marco Station at lunch time will be fun to watch.
Interesting spot for a La Nop. Maybe it's a new fancier concept?
Weird, I heard from the Aardwolf guys that the Waterworks building (the brick one, right) was only going to be leased to a "white tablecloth" concept... Is La Nop stepping up it's fine dining game? Are they investing in more microwaves than ever?
Quote from: BoldCityRealist on November 09, 2015, 10:56:36 AM
Weird, I heard from the Aardwolf guys that the Waterworks building (the brick one, right) was only going to be leased to a "white tablecloth" concept... Is La Nop stepping up it's fine dining game? Are they investing in more microwaves than ever?
Maybe they were just tired of it sitting empty. Although the La Nop in Jax Beach is (was?) fancier than this one.
From: http://jacksonville.com/business/2016-04-19/story/la-nopalera-moving-san-marco [paywall]
La Nopalera moving in San Marco
By Roger Bull Tue, Apr 19, 2016 @ 2:01 pm | updated Tue, Apr 19, 2016 @ 2:49 pm
La Nopalera in San Marco is moving just down the street. The Mexican restaurant at 1629 Hendricks Ave. will close in the next couple of months and reopen at the San Marco Train Station project two blocks north on Hendricks.
Last month, AshCo, the developer of the Train Station, announced that the new tenant would be Puerta Vallarta, which it referred to as an upscale Mexican restaurant. But after the state's restaurant licensing website revealed it to be La Napolera, a spokeswoman for the developer confirmed it.
Flavio Leon, a manager at the restaurant, said the menu will be the same as it's been, with many of the meals under $10.
The restaurant has been on Hendricks for about 20 years, Leon said. That's one of six in the Jacksonville for the small chain, which also has two in the Savannah, Ga., area and one in Beaufort, S.C.
The new location is expected to open in about two months.
San Marco Train Station already has a Panera Bread, which opened in 2013 after closing four years ago in another spot on Hendricks.
Roger Bull: (904) 359-4296
I can't even rememeber where the Panera was before. Was it where hurricanes is now?
Quote from: acme54321 on April 19, 2016, 07:52:48 PM
I can't even rememeber where the Panera was before. Was it where hurricanes is now?
Yea.
Cool - I never eat at the current location because it just doesn't look inviting to me. And thank goodness the new location isn't going to be filled up by some up-scale concept. Maybe it is just me but I am tired of everything having to be up-scale all the time. To quote City Slickers:
Clay Stone: This is the best Western chef going.
Cookie!
Tell'em what they're gonna eat.
Cookie: You ain't gonna be gettin'
no nouveau almondine thin crust...
...bottled water, sauteed city food.
Food's brown, hot-and plenty of it.
Quote from: blfair on April 19, 2016, 03:02:08 PM
From: http://jacksonville.com/business/2016-04-19/story/la-nopalera-moving-san-marco [paywall]
La Nopalera moving in San Marco
By Roger Bull Tue, Apr 19, 2016 @ 2:01 pm | updated Tue, Apr 19, 2016 @ 2:49 pm
La Nopalera in San Marco is moving just down the street. The Mexican restaurant at 1629 Hendricks Ave. will close in the next couple of months and reopen at the San Marco Train Station project two blocks north on Hendricks.
Last month, AshCo, the developer of the Train Station, announced that the new tenant would be Puerta Vallarta, which it referred to as an upscale Mexican restaurant. But after the state's restaurant licensing website revealed it to be La Napolera, a spokeswoman for the developer confirmed it.
Flavio Leon, a manager at the restaurant, said the menu will be the same as it's been, with many of the meals under $10.
The restaurant has been on Hendricks for about 20 years, Leon said. That's one of six in the Jacksonville for the small chain, which also has two in the Savannah, Ga., area and one in Beaufort, S.C.
The new location is expected to open in about two months.
San Marco Train Station already has a Panera Bread, which opened in 2013 after closing four years ago in another spot on Hendricks.
Roger Bull: (904) 359-4296
Parking is going to be fun. :o
They're gonna have to push people to some lots across the street or it won't work.
That's a great upgrade for them... but where will customers park? There's not even enough spots for Panera.
Quote from: beach breh on April 20, 2016, 09:01:43 AM
Quote from: blfair on April 19, 2016, 03:02:08 PM
From: http://jacksonville.com/business/2016-04-19/story/la-nopalera-moving-san-marco [paywall]
La Nopalera moving in San Marco
By Roger Bull Tue, Apr 19, 2016 @ 2:01 pm | updated Tue, Apr 19, 2016 @ 2:49 pm
La Nopalera in San Marco is moving just down the street. The Mexican restaurant at 1629 Hendricks Ave. will close in the next couple of months and reopen at the San Marco Train Station project two blocks north on Hendricks.
Last month, AshCo, the developer of the Train Station, announced that the new tenant would be Puerta Vallarta, which it referred to as an upscale Mexican restaurant. But after the state's restaurant licensing website revealed it to be La Napolera, a spokeswoman for the developer confirmed it.
Flavio Leon, a manager at the restaurant, said the menu will be the same as it's been, with many of the meals under $10.
The restaurant has been on Hendricks for about 20 years, Leon said. That's one of six in the Jacksonville for the small chain, which also has two in the Savannah, Ga., area and one in Beaufort, S.C.
The new location is expected to open in about two months.
San Marco Train Station already has a Panera Bread, which opened in 2013 after closing four years ago in another spot on Hendricks.
Roger Bull: (904) 359-4296
Parking is going to be fun. :o
They're gonna have to push people to some lots across the street or it won't work.
There's a huge lot behind the building.
Parking? Heaven forbid that someone actually walk a few hundred feet. I actually enjoy a stroll after eating. Besides, it isn't like their current location has some semblance of Wal-mart style parking. What do they have now, 20 spaces or so and they share them with 2 other restaurants.
Quote from: Kerry on April 20, 2016, 09:28:49 AM
Parking? Heaven forbid that someone actually walk a few hundred feet. I actually enjoy a stroll after eating. Besides, it isn't like their current location has some semblance of Wal-mart style parking. What do they have now, 20 spaces or so and they share them with 2 other restaurants.
^This.
This is how density works. Likewise, there is just as much parking at this location as their old one.
With just the Panera currently open there is always ample parking in the lot behind the new location. Even if that lot fills up with the new location for la nop there is always plenty of street parking on Hendrix within a block or two. This is a non issue
The area is starting to get dense enough where business-specific parking won't matter. With as many venues as there are, people are going to be walking back and forth, which will give the area a safer feel and people will be ok parking farther away and joining the walking crowd. I already bounce between Aardwolf and Sidecar or V Pizza and Aardwolf on fridays and saturdays. Now people will start at Bearded Pig (which is adjacent to hundreds of unused spaces) and end at sidecar, start at aardwolf and end at the Pig, start at la nop and end at sidecar, or start at Panera at 8 am and drink their way through all 6 establishments.
It will be about a 1/2 mile from the new Broadstone Apartments and hopefully the District.
My only worry with this project is how La Nop will use this space. Don't get me wrong I have definitely had quite a few meals there and there food is what it is, cheap Mexican food. I am just worried given the décor of the interior and the appearance of the exterior of their other locations (lets just say it is nothing to write home about).
Hopefully the owners have plans to take advantage of an awesome shell of a building and make this the "jewel" of their franchise.
Are the roaches and rats moving with them?
I'm hoping the vermin dies inside the building and doesn't flee outward looking for a new home.
As for the parking lot -- I doubt it will matter at dinner time.
Lunch will be another story... weekdays I see La Nopelara's lot fill up consistently -- Panera's lot is not as bad but I've also seen it full, though it probably turns over faster with takeout.
The people who think they MUST park in the attached lot are going to have a bad time -- I see people circling La Nop's lot (Impossible as it seems) waiting for empty spots -- Panera's is just big enough to encourage that even more.
If you don't mind walking, there is plenty of room in the area.
Quote from: dp8541 on April 20, 2016, 11:18:04 AM
With just the Panera currently open there is always ample parking in the lot behind the new location. Even if that lot fills up with the new location for la nop there is always plenty of street parking on Hendrix within a block or two. This is a non issue
I don't know what your definition of "ample" or "always" is. In peak morning and lunch hours, that Panera parking lot is a disaster.
The new location opened on Nov 1st. It was busy last night (11/7 a Monday) and beautiful inside. The prices on some dishes are a little higher but they have the same staff and feel. I think they will do great at the new location, just have to fight for parking. One note for lunch, you can always park at Aardwolf and walk over to La Nopalera. Aardwolf isn't open at lunch during the week and some nights and they have a very large parking lot.