QuoteBy Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor
Zoning applications show Bento Café Asian Kitchen & Sushi is interested in leasing the Fans and Stove Antiques Mall site in Five Points.
It would be the third Bento restaurant in the area. The first opened in The Markets at Town Center and the second in the Tinseltown area.
Bento Group Senior Executive Jimmy Tung said Tuesday his group was not sure yet about the Five Points location, but would know in a couple of weeks.
Applications for a zoning exception and an administrative deviation show Bento would occupy a 6,000-square-foot building at Park and Lomax streets owned by Miami investor Jeff Morr.
The exception seeks approval for the retail sale and service of all alcoholic beverages and the deviation is to reduce the minimum number of required off-street parking spaces from 32 off-street spaces to 11 on-street spaces.
Bento would be a 160-seat restaurant.
The application shows the restaurant and 20 peak-hour employees would generate a requirement for 50 parking spaces.
The application explains the new use would receive credit for 18 spaces required under the original conforming use, which reduces the number of required parking spaces to 32.
The applicant would receive credit for 11 on-street parking spaces in the Park and Lomax streets right-of-way next to the building.
Morr did not respond to emails or phone calls. The agent is Rogers Towers lawyer Wyman Duggan, who did not return a call or email.
Bento Café opened its first restaurant in the summer of 2002 near the University of Florida. It has grown to seven locations in Gainesville, Jacksonville and Orlando with more to open in Tallahassee and Davie.
Jimmy Tung and his brother, Johnny Tung, were inspired by their father to open the business. He worked in Chinese restaurants in the 1980s in New York City.
District 14 City Council member Jim Love said Tuesday he was not familiar with Bento or its interest in the site but he knew the location would be a restaurant.
"It's a thriving area," he said, noting that parking is always an issue.
Love said the possible addition of another restaurant gives neighborhood businesses and supporters more reason to update Five Points.
A plan is being completed to do so, including altering the sidewalks and making the noted Five Points intersection "a little bit easier to understand," he said.
The five-way intersection can be confusing for drivers, especially those who are unfamiliar with it.
Love said he was trying to get first-phase funding into the 2017-18 city budget.
"Five Points is taking off just like San Marco is," Love said. "We are moving forward with innovative businesses coming in and it is time for an upgrade."
Caliber Collision considering Mayport
A zoning exception request is under review for Caliber Collision at 2079 Mayport Road.
Owner Atlantic Beach Professional Office Park LLC and agent Fred Atwill seek an exception to allow an auto service garage for major repairs.
Caliber Collision proposes a 16,900-square-foot center on 4.47 acres. The property is vacant.
The company, based in Lewisville, Texas, launched its Jacksonville presence this year and operates centers at 8318 Atlantic Blvd., 13051 Beach Blvd. and 8320 Dames Point Crossing Blvd.
It is developing another in the Timuquana Commerce Center near Naval Air Station Jacksonville.
A Caliber Collision vice president said in January the privately held company wanted to open six Jacksonville locations this year.
The company calls itself the largest collision-repair company in the country.
Chicken Salad Chick to open in Galleria Marketplace
Chicken Salad Chick of Jacksonville intends to open Tuesday at 6025 Butler Point Road in the Galleria Marketplace. It will be the 14th Chicken Salad Chick in Florida and the third in Jacksonville.
kmathis@jaxdailyrecord.com
@MathisKb
(904) 356-2466
http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=548199
Bento Blue or Bento Red?
Blue = Express
Red = Express/Day, Sit down/Waiter@Night
Quote from: spuwho on August 24, 2016, 12:12:59 PM
Bento Blue or Bento Red?
Blue = Express
Red = Express/Day, Sit down/Waiter@Night
My guess would be red if they are looking for a full alcohol permit (which would include liquor) and would have 160 seats. Speaking of which, I have only been to the towncenter location. I am assuming that would be one of their blue locations?
Quote from: dp8541 on August 24, 2016, 12:31:49 PM
Quote from: spuwho on August 24, 2016, 12:12:59 PM
Bento Blue or Bento Red?
Blue = Express
Red = Express/Day, Sit down/Waiter@Night
My guess would be red if they are looking for a full alcohol permit (which would include liquor) and would have 160 seats. Speaking of which, I have only been to the towncenter location. I am assuming that would be one of their blue locations?
Towncenter = Blue
Tinseltown = Red
Any residential on the second floor so Max can move in? I'm sure they'll see some opposition, but this would be a great addition to the area. Bento does a great job with their buildouts and usually tries to incorporate sidewalk/patio seating.
We don't really need more Asian fusion in five points, but I'm sure they would be successful.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on August 24, 2016, 01:39:14 PM
Any residential on the second floor so Max can move in? I'm sure they'll see some opposition, but this would be a great addition to the area. Bento does a great job with their buildouts and usually tries to incorporate sidewalk/patio seating.
Hahaha yeah I'll be there almost everyday if possible. The Bento brothers have been getting frustrated. They're not used to urban infill, old structures, or historic districts, and had no idea it would take this long. Feels like it's been half a year at least. As I'm learning with Edgewood, this process can take a long time.
I'm not friends with the Bento brothers (hopefully they wouldnt be offended by that moniker) so I will try to avoid saying too much, but yes I believe the plan is to have outdoor seating and it's also going to incorporate an entirely new concept. Afaik, something new for them as well. (For those not aware, they actually own about half a dozen different F&B businesses, not just the Bento franchise)
I love Bento - but damn, we don't need another pan-Asian in 5-Points! There's Hawkers and Kaika...followed by two sushi joints and a Thai place (if that's still open?). I fear Kaika will suffer most from a Bento opening. We simply don't need a Bento in this location.
^Then don't go.
Bento is totally different food from Hawkers. Not sure how that relates at all. And as I mentioned, they are planning a new concept which would bring something not available in the urban core (and arguably the entire metro) to the table. We'll see how it turns out, but I'm optimistic.
I just ate at Dragonfly in Gainesville last night, so some Gainesville-based Japanese food is all I can think about. I hope the Bento guys are able to clear all of the hurdles they need to in order to open in 5 Points.
We don't need any more faux Mex places in Riverside.
We could certainly use an Indian Restaurant! I just saw another one open up in Bombaymeadows last month... I figure they could spare at least one.
I would get behind an Indian restaurant! More food diversity and delish vegetarian food!
Quote from: BennyKrik on September 16, 2016, 03:30:14 PM
I would get behind an Indian restaurant! More food diversity and delish vegetarian food!
That I agree with.
Indian & Vietnamese are my 'wants'...wants I don't think we'll ever get in Riverside. :(
Former Tapa That space will be a Vietnamese restaurant with pho and dishes from the Far East.
Lomax St is really burgeoning with foreign food and "'foreign' Americans".
Bento deal is over. I may have to wait another few years for them to come to the urban core. :'(
There's another deal in the works that some of you will probably be thrilled about. But I'm very disappointed.
And what would that be?
MAX! NO!!!! Why couldn't you sway them to stay the course?
I just hope my original idea of a burger and bourbon bar owned by Burger King is the new prospective tenant.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on September 27, 2016, 05:27:34 PM
Bento deal is over. I may have to wait another few years for them to come to the urban core. :'(
There's another deal in the works that some of you will probably be thrilled about. But I'm very disappointed.
any hints?
Quote from: johnnyliar on September 28, 2016, 09:12:07 AM
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on September 27, 2016, 05:27:34 PM
Bento deal is over. I may have to wait another few years for them to come to the urban core. :'(
There's another deal in the works that some of you will probably be thrilled about. But I'm very disappointed.
any hints?
I heard Applebees.
Fuddruckers, Red Robin, Cici's, discount mattress firm, Blockbuster?
Quote from: Captain Zissou on September 28, 2016, 09:08:56 AM
MAX! NO!!!! Why couldn't you sway them to stay the course?
Lol...other than brief conversations where I talked up the urban core and Murray Hill in particular, I've never had any interaction with the Bentos folks. The underlying issue I've been told is that of their couple dozen establishments throughout the state, they've never not been in new/recent construction and definitely never had to deal with zoning issues. So it was just a bit much to handle since they're undergoing multiple openings in other cities right now.
Hawkers folks have them beat in that regard.
Quote from: johnnyliar on September 28, 2016, 09:12:07 AM
any hints?
No. I was sworn to secrecy on my baby's head and I didn't have my balls crossed.