Metro Jacksonville

It's outside of the Riverside Avondale Historic District or Overlay area. 

Quote from: DDC on April 13, 2016, 12:55:08 PM

Quote from: TheCat on April 13, 2016, 12:51:51 PM
So, the downtown location is closing?

yes, as is Burro Bar

Technically, Burro Bar is closing and Chomp Chomp is moving.

I ran into Ian Chase right after he'd picked up his zoning sign. Apparently his lease was up at the downtown location, and the landlord wanted to raise the rent by 75%. The old Hungry Howies location will provide a lot more seating as well as a big outdoor area. I'm psyched to have Chomp Chomp in the 'hood!

I am truly happy for Chomp Chomp. the Landlords downtown are NUTS.

This is the same thing that happened to Poppy Love Smoke.

At the same time, it sucks that the core is loosing this gem.

If they're raising the rents that much I hope that they plan some serious renovations to that busted ass building.  Wishful thinking  ::)

Quote from: manasia on April 15, 2016, 02:28:00 AM
the Landlords downtown are NUTS.

It's unfortunate, their greed/impracticality is not only stifling downtown's growth, it's clearly chasing away the few commodities it had to begin with.

Fairfax is on the rise! That little corridor is one of my favorites over on this side of town. That old Shell station on the corner of San Juan/Herschel is ripe for something cool!

I live off Pine Grove and things keep getting better and better. I am even warming up to that monstrosity going up next to Orsay. Now I just need a little bodega for some fresh produce so I don't have to drive to the mega Publix on 17. Perhaps one of the three convenient stores (AP, no name, Superette) can be replaced with a Grassroots-esque grocery??

More about the decision to leave downtown:

Quote"The landlord tried to charge us $3,600 a month with an increase every six months," he said. "We'd be paying $5,000 a month."

Elias Hionides of Petra Management, which handles leasing on the building, confirmed the price for the 3,500-square-foot space.

"That's $12 a foot, which is below what a lot of people are asking downtown," he said. "Go on Loopnet and you'll see retail space is $14 up to $20 a foot. We represent the landlord who doesn't think $12 is an unreasonable asking price."

He said he's been getting calls about the space from potential tenants, including one from a broker who saw Thursday's article in the Times-Union about Burro Bar closing.

But Touchton said that business downtown isn't consistent enough to pay that price.

Full article: http://jacksonville.com/business/real-estate/2016-04-15/story/chomp-chomp-restaurant-next-burro-bar-closing-too#

QuoteTouchton said they're planning on being open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday. And he wasn't too worried about losing the downtown lunch trade.

"Most of those guys live in Riverside," he said, "so we'll be seeing them for dinner."

He also said he's hoping to find a third party to deliver lunch downtown. But he will miss being there.

"I love downtown," he said. "We've been here for five years and even before we opened, I liked to go to the shows and the bars.

"We'd go to the shows at Underbelly, but now that's closed. Businesses struggle here and it's not because these are failing business ideas. There's just not enough people."

It sounds like the landlord doesn't have any plans to replace the departures. That's too bad.

Quote from: Tacachale on April 15, 2016, 05:19:17 PM
It sounds like the landlord doesn't have any plans to replace the departures. That's too bad.

Here's to hoping the leasing agent's claims of them getting calls about the space already are, somehow, true. (They almost certainly aren't  ::))

Quote from: CoastalJax on April 15, 2016, 09:59:30 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on April 15, 2016, 05:19:17 PM
It sounds like the landlord doesn't have any plans to replace the departures. That's too bad.

Here's to hoping the leasing agent's claims of them getting calls about the space already are, somehow, true. (They almost certainly aren't  ::))

I'd say they actually probably are. Doesn't mean anything is imminent or will even happen. But people are always biting around these parts.

Quote from: BoldCityRealist on April 15, 2016, 01:22:54 PM
Fairfax is on the rise! That little corridor is one of my favorites over on this side of town. That old Shell station on the corner of San Juan/Herschel is ripe for something cool!

I live off Pine Grove and things keep getting better and better. I am even warming up to that monstrosity going up next to Orsay. Now I just need a little bodega for some fresh produce so I don't have to drive to the mega Publix on 17. Perhaps one of the three convenient stores (AP, no name, Superette) can be replaced with a Grassroots-esque grocery??

I live in the same area and would love to have something like that. Growing up in Arlington, there was a fresh produce market that occupied an old Footlocker and seemed to do very well. The side of Park opposite from Orsay/South is due for a makeover.

Quote from: BoldCityRealist on April 15, 2016, 01:22:54 PM
Fairfax is on the rise! That little corridor is one of my favorites over on this side of town. That old Shell station on the corner of San Juan/Herschel is ripe for something cool!

I live off Pine Grove and things keep getting better and better. I am even warming up to that monstrosity going up next to Orsay. Now I just need a little bodega for some fresh produce so I don't have to drive to the mega Publix on 17. Perhaps one of the three convenient stores (AP, no name, Superette) can be replaced with a Grassroots-esque grocery??

I live on Pine Grove as well and I agree that I would love to see a small grocery store nearby.

Quote from: ProjectMaximus on April 15, 2016, 11:53:28 PM

Quote from: CoastalJax on April 15, 2016, 09:59:30 PM

Quote from: Tacachale on April 15, 2016, 05:19:17 PM
It sounds like the landlord doesn't have any plans to replace the departures. That's too bad.

Here's to hoping the leasing agent's claims of them getting calls about the space already are, somehow, true. (They almost certainly aren't  ::))

I'd say they actually probably are. Doesn't mean anything is imminent or will even happen. But people are always biting around these parts.

That's true, I'm forgetting that there's definitely a big difference between getting calls and getting serious inquiries/interest.

Time to change the thread title?

QuoteBusinesses struggle here and it's not because these are failing business ideas. There's just not enough people

There a business owner said it, finally the damn facts. After waiting for 5 years for Brown and his cronies to grow downtown and now Curry with his pledge to do nothing until he gets his BJP tax passed for the pension, owners are beginning to cry out and tell it like it is. There are not enough downtown residents to support all these venues. Its refreshing to hear it from the owners of the businesses. Good for Ian, good for Fairfax and good for Avondale.

I gotta feel for Scotty Schwartz though, he wants top open BullBriar, but I am worried that there may not be enough people in that huge space on a nightly basis. That is a big space to pay for....

^ I don't think anyone has ever disagreed that there aren't enough people living downtown. Everyone on this board (at least I hope) knows there needs to be much more residential. Although you also have to make the area attractive for people to move in i.e. restaurants and bars. Classic chicken and egg debate. Both need to rise at the same time, which is very difficult. Overall, trends for DT are good I think but there are obviously still plenty of problems and this is a very unfortunate development. Hopefully since rent is going up someone else is vying for it but only time will tell.

Anyone know when they are supposed to be open?

QuoteIf you have a space that requires walk up traffic, you struggle.

Beaches establishments seem to debunk this idea. Lots of walkup or bike traffic. Just have to fit the demographic.

QuoteAnd btw. there is a giant residential base next to downtown. Springfield, and the East side.  But dating back to the 1980s, there are structural barriers that make it somewhat a pain to get from those neighborhoods to downtown.  Im a Springfield resident, and its actually quicker for me to hop on over to five points than it is to go through the incompetently administered downtown loop system stoplights. 

Why can't you bike from Springfield into downtown? Why is a car the only means of accessing downtown?

QuoteWith no traffic on the streets whatsoever, it can still take 20 minutes to drive through downtown if the lights are against you.  It literally takes seven minutes to drive over and drop down into brooklyn or five points.

Isn't a slower more ped friendly downtown one of the goals of MJ? Two-way streets, closing of some streets, more ped friendly with more places to bike in and around downtown are great, but then, yeah, its going to take longer to get around downtown, but then again, that is what makes it unique or could make it more unique.

^Walkup traffic is great in places with enough people in walkup distance. Downtown doesn't have enough of them. People who would bike or drive a short distance also have access to an increasing number of options in Riverside, Brooklyn, Springfield, and San Marco. Destination type places that draw people from all over will do better, but as has been known for years, downtown businesses will always struggle until there are more residents (and connectivity).

Quote from: mtraininjax on April 19, 2016, 02:42:09 PM

QuoteIf you have a space that requires walk up traffic, you struggle.

Beaches establishments seem to debunk this idea. Lots of walkup or bike traffic. Just have to fit the demographic.

QuoteAnd btw. there is a giant residential base next to downtown. Springfield, and the East side.  But dating back to the 1980s, there are structural barriers that make it somewhat a pain to get from those neighborhoods to downtown.  Im a Springfield resident, and its actually quicker for me to hop on over to five points than it is to go through the incompetently administered downtown loop system stoplights. 

Why can't you bike from Springfield into downtown? Why is a car the only means of accessing downtown?

QuoteWith no traffic on the streets whatsoever, it can still take 20 minutes to drive through downtown if the lights are against you.  It literally takes seven minutes to drive over and drop down into brooklyn or five points.

Isn't a slower more ped friendly downtown one of the goals of MJ? Two-way streets, closing of some streets, more ped friendly with more places to bike in and around downtown are great, but then, yeah, its going to take longer to get around downtown, but then again, that is what makes it unique or could make it more unique.

I'm not sure I've ever heard closing streets. Personally, I don't know if I can see that as a positive.

I don't know if it's ever taken me 20 minutes to traverse downtown by car. I would agree that the walk isn't amazing from Springfield. Down main Street, you walk by Confederate park (which while an asset it does create a bit of a distance between), cross State and Union (which is not the most comfortable thing to do), then once you're past that it's not bad.

Yeah we went a couple of Fridays ago and I was shocked at how busy it was.  I was a little skeptical of the location but it looks like this was the right move. Much more diversified clientele too.

They've added to their menu, both entrees and sides. They serve beer and wine, now, and there's ample seating. I'm so stoked for them.

QuotePlus, it is breathing life into that strip, which desperately needs it. 

That's a bit of a stretch there.....the fact that are few eateries along there does not mean that the entire strip was in need of help. The Cleaners has leased all the additional space and the nursery seems to be doing well despite the pop-up nursery that comes and goes at the old gas station. Even JW Culinary seems to be making it. HH was an eyesore, but everyone who rides by knew that the space would get consumed.