http://asiantownjax.com/en/asian-town/
Anybody know where is this in Jacksonville?
Nice. Regency. The West Mall. Now I see why Project Maximus was excited.
Quote from: Rynjny on March 17, 2017, 04:36:50 PM
http://asiantownjax.com/en/asian-town/
Anybody know where is this in Jacksonville?
nevermind, its Regency Mall. Why would they put it in that location?
Probably because IDO has leased the West Mall and has been trying to find tenants for year. It's a pretty cool use of the space if they can pull this off.
I think this would be great fun for Jacksonville and bring some much needed vitality to a failing area. My guess is that they cut a great deal on the property, bargain basement pricing would make a project like this much more reasonable to pull off. It will be quite an undertaking. I thought there was some discussion a while back about the old mall becoming a medical center of some sort? Anyone heard anything like this?
^I haven't heard that about Regency. Basically, most of Regency is already leased. A church took the Belk space and IDO leased the entire west mall.
A few years ago, there was talk about turning Gateway's old mall into a medical center. However, I don't think that ever materialized.
Quote from: thelakelander on March 17, 2017, 04:46:15 PM
Nice. Regency. The West Mall. Now I see why Project Maximus was excited.
Yep. I guess they weren't trying to keep it a secret. Get some momentum going even before they even have any sublease agreements. It's interesting, I'll say that much.
^Thanks for the update Ennis. I think this new project sounds like a bunch of fun if it is done well.
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on March 17, 2017, 05:02:02 PM
bargain basement pricing would make a project like this much more reasonable to pull off.
It is not. Hence why I'm not terribly optimistic.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on March 17, 2017, 08:16:49 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on March 17, 2017, 05:02:02 PM
bargain basement pricing would make a project like this much more reasonable to pull off.
It is not. Hence why I'm not terribly optimistic.
About the project or it's location?
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on March 17, 2017, 09:56:15 PM
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on March 17, 2017, 08:16:49 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on March 17, 2017, 05:02:02 PM
bargain basement pricing would make a project like this much more reasonable to pull off.
It is not. Hence why I'm not terribly optimistic.
About the project or it's location?
Both. In this case I consider the project to be intrinsically tied to this location, as I haven't heard of anyone currently seeking to develop an Asiatown elsewhere in the city. The prices I was told were more in line with San Marco than a vacant, indoor mall in a struggling part of town.
If it happens and it's legit I will be coming to Regency far more often. Heck, even if it's not legit I probably will be there pretty regularly, which would be infinitely more often than I have been the last few years. (I think my last visit was in 2010 or 2011)
Conversion of parts of old malls to Asian centers like this has been a growing trend. The ones I've seen were anchored by a Great Wall or Ranch 99 supermarket and attract a lot of related small businesses giving new life to these dying places and I hope they have a similar affect on that part of Regency Square.
What's different about more recent conversions is that they're happening in areas that do not have a sizable traditional Asian-American population centers like the communities they have in California, for instance. Here's an example of one such conversion in Iowa City...
http://www.thegazette.com/subject/life/people-places/old-capitol-mall-becomes-hub-for-asian-students-20170129
I could see something like that be supported quite well by the Jacksonville Asians and non-Asian community. Best of luck to the developers and future merchants.
Many, many years ago wasn't there something similar in a part of the old Philips Mall? Perhaps that wasn't all Asian, but seems like majority was if not all.
Yeah, it was an International Food Court for a little while but after a year or too the only business still around and thriving was the Filipino restaurant.
This sounds really cool. I hope it's able to attract some authentic food vendors and restaurants. It would be awesome to grab some noodles to go and walk around and shop.
I wish we had a Cambodian restaurant.
There is good size community on the border of Murray Hill. I need some Bahn Chiao!
I have to wait for my wife family to cook it or wait another year for Cambodian New Years LOL
This sound like a great idea but just wish it could be in the urban core.
Imagine if this was at the Landing.
I would be there almost every day:)
Quote from: benfranklinbof on March 18, 2017, 11:18:16 AM
I wish we had a Cambodian restaurant.
There is good size community on the border of Murray Hill. I need some Bahn Chiao!
I have to wait for my wife family to cook it or wait another year for Cambodian New Years LOL
I haven't been to this restaurant, but they serve the Vietnamese version of the dish. https://www.yelp.com/biz/a-bit-of-saigon-jacksonville
Also, I believe Pho99 on Blanding is now owned and operated by a Cambodian chef, but they don't serve it.
Quote from: benfranklinbof on March 18, 2017, 12:20:49 PM
Imagine if this was at the Landing.
I would be there almost every day:)
Yes! Even more outlandish but that is a Jacksonville I would love to imagine for multiple reasons.
Quote from: Rynjny on March 18, 2017, 12:06:20 PM
This sound like a great idea but just wish it could be in the urban core.
I agree, but I think the urban core will benefit from this even if it is at Regency Square. We need the neighborhoods closer to the core to be revitalized. Having this at regency square will certainly benefit the urban core more than if it were near the Avenues.
Sounds like a big chance that they are gonna remove the Jax theming in the food court which is sad IMO. RSMs food court is one of the best themed out there IMO. Asian Town is all for the better good, don't get me wrong!
Interesting I hope it takes off.
From the Modern Cities article:
QuoteWhen Jacksonville-based International Décor Outlet (IDO) inked a deal to take over Regency Square Mall's west wing in December 2015, the company announced its intentions to transform the space into a center where businesses from all over the world, including China, would have designated storefronts and market their products directly to consumers in the United States.
Isn't that what Walmart is for (selling Chinese made products) ? I guess they're cutting out the middleman then ;)
No to be a downer but I seriously doubt this is going to work.
They are seriously getting a lot of press though.
Quote from: Rynjny on March 20, 2017, 05:30:59 PM
No to be a downer but I seriously doubt this is going to work.
Why wouldn't it work? Lots of space to get creative, and they apparently will offer the area a unique experience.
Quote from: RattlerGator on March 20, 2017, 10:58:01 PM
Quote from: Rynjny on March 20, 2017, 05:30:59 PM
No to be a downer but I seriously doubt this is going to work.
Why wouldn't it work? Lots of space to get creative, and they apparently will offer the area a unique experience.
The location is not ideal and the rent is too high
I think this place is pretty cool ...in the Northern suburbs of Atlanta's own "Asian Town"...but if they had something like this here, I would use it often.
http://www.aofwc.com/
https://www.google.com/maps/uv?hl=en&pb=!1s0x88f509def1bb77a1:0xae082a42bb7db8c5!2m19!2m2!1i80!2i80!3m1!2i20!16m13!1b1!2m2!1m1!1e1!2m2!1m1!1e3!2m2!1m1!1e5!2m2!1m1!1e4!3m1!7e115!4shttps://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname%3D101890932360669907947%26id%3D6330632419042132194%26target%3DPHOTO!5s+-+Google+Search&imagekey=!1e3!2s-ODbvqmOlxJg/V9rspNyUAOI/AAAAAAAALP0/KStGuQqiyQoMq6miSyA7dCvfOUKebZkAACJkC
Quote from: Rynjny on March 21, 2017, 09:20:14 AM
The location is not ideal (well, clearly that's a matter of opinion; high traffic? -- yes; plenty of interior space? -- yes; plenty of parking? -- yes; looks like a damn good location to make a go of it) and the rent is too high (the market will determine that, especially the specialty market they are looking to create; this could be wildly successful)
All the best to these entrepreneurs.
More press and more clarity. I certainly hope they can pull it off...maybe it's worth paying top dollar for a space in Regency when it's branded this way. History says no but more surprising things have happened. I am dying for an Hmart, Great Wall, Ranch 99, TNT, etc.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on March 23, 2017, 09:08:04 PM
More press and more clarity. I certainly hope they can pull it off...maybe it's worth paying top dollar for a space in Regency when it's branded this way. History says no but more surprising things have happened. I am dying for an Hmart, Great Wall, Ranch 99, TNT, etc.
Rumors--a dim sum restaurant and an asian super market will be opening shop in there...
One of those established Asian chain grocery stores would be great, or maybe it could catch the eye of a current grocery looking to expand? When I'm back in town, La Salsa Market has been my go to place for produce and seafood, but I could see them utilizing the space for a proper butcher and bakery or have some take out or prepared meals to go. That would be the key to making this the draw IDO hopes it will be also given that besides the Walmart that area has been a virtual grocery desert ever since Winn-Dixie left years ago. I hope the prospective new Aldi on Atlantic didn't make any possible big box tenants skittish to opening up there.
Meant to paste this link with my last post:
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2017/03/23/asiantown-could-open-as-soon-as-6-months-at.html
Quote from: Rynjny on March 23, 2017, 10:31:47 PM
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on March 23, 2017, 09:08:04 PM
More press and more clarity. I certainly hope they can pull it off...maybe it's worth paying top dollar for a space in Regency when it's branded this way. History says no but more surprising things have happened. I am dying for an Hmart, Great Wall, Ranch 99, TNT, etc.
Rumors--a dim sum restaurant and an asian super market will be opening shop in there...
Im not gonna get excited til I see it. Btw back in the early oughts there was a dim sum restaurant (not great) at that intersection across from the regency mall. I remember eating there several times. Tasted frozen...
Quote from: JaxJersey-licious on March 23, 2017, 10:51:10 PM
One of those established Asian chain grocery stores would be great, or maybe it could catch the eye of a current grocery looking to expand? When I'm back in town, La Salsa Market has been my go to place for produce and seafood, but I could see them utilizing the space for a proper butcher and bakery or have some take out or prepared meals to go. That would be the key to making this the draw IDO hopes it will be also given that besides the Walmart that area has been a virtual grocery desert ever since Winn-Dixie left years ago. I hope the prospective new Aldi on Atlantic didn't make any possible big box tenants skittish to opening up there.
Yes a good bakery would be nice. Chinese, Korean, Japanese, whatever...they are all excellent and all mostly lacking in Jax.
While we're dreaming of Asian chains, I'll request Quickly as well. Thanks.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on March 24, 2017, 01:14:14 AM
Yes a good bakery would be nice. Chinese, Korean, Japanese, whatever...they are all excellent and all mostly lacking in Jax.
While we're dreaming of Asian chains, I'll request Quickly as well. Thanks.
Quickly would be a great addition for something like the proposed Asiantown. It gets a "meh" reputation in New York just because there are so many other places that do that concept better or classier but would be an upgrade for a place like Jax. Heard so much about Bonchon from friends so I'll finally going to try to get to one in Jersey (you're so right about Korean fried chicken being less greasy). One new franchise hear that would be a great addition to a neighborhood like Five Points is Walk To Wok which just opened in the U.S. It's similar to the Blaze Pizza concept - choice of noodle/rice, veggies, meats, flavored sauce, and something to top it off. For the more culinary adventurous the chain for you is Xi'an's Famous Foods (minced lamb cumin jalapeno burger anyone?)
Hmm....
QuoteAfter several delayed starts, the people behind International Decor Outlet now say opening is two weeks away. And they've announced a new wrinkle: A mixture of Asian restaurants and stores will fill part of that space.
A kickoff event for what they call Asian Town was held Wednesday in front of a standing-room-only crowd in a well-appointed room on the 21st floor of One Enterprise Center downtown. Water bottles and notebooks embossed with IDO were waiting at each chair.
But hanging over the project is a series of lawsuits. Six Chinese manufacturers are suing IDO, claiming they gave anywhere from $96,000 to $660,000 to open stores in either Regency Square or the company's similar project in Darien, Ga. Neither center has opened.
http://jacksonville.com/business/metro/2017-03-24/decor-outlet-project-regency-square-mall-facing-lawsuits-ahead-expected