*BIG UPDATE* The Markets At Town Center

[thelakelander]

The new entertainment complex will include the existing vacant retail buildings near Big Island Drive.  The bar opening in March will be inside one of the existing buildings.

(its the white buildings on the bottom left of this image)

[reednavy]

Too bad the Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Westin haven't come back around. Hopefully all 3 do down the road.

[fsujax]

Looks like California Pizza Kitchen is going to open up. Another missed opportunity for something unique to Downtown.

http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2010/02/01/daily33.html?ed=2010-02-04&ana=e_du_pub

[reednavy]

OMG, OMG, OMG. Salavating begins now.

[Duke]

It's about dang time....  that's fixing to be a very busy corner right there....

[zoo]

Yep, another one that should have gone Downtown. The commercial brokerage community in Jax has the creativity and hipness of a slug.

[copperfiend]

Looks like California Pizza Kitchen is going to open up. Another missed opportunity for something unique to Downtown.

http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2010/02/01/daily33.html?ed=2010-02-04&ana=e_du_pub

Very cool.

[thelakelander]

Not suprising.  There is no reason for a chain like California Pizza Kitchen to come downtown in its current state.  A lot of these places tend to cluster around complementing chains.  We'll have to address the basics holding back DT before chains like this take a real interest.

[finehoe]

Those tiresome chains like CPK and Whiskey River belong in a place like SJTC.  I much prefer the likes of our homegrown London Bridge, Burrito Gallery, Chicago Pizza, Twisted Martini, TSI, Dive Bar, Mark's, Northstar Substation, TheIvy, Lit, and Dos Gatos downtown.

[thelakelander]

agreed.

[Duke]

Those tiresome chains like CPK and Whiskey River belong in a place like SJTC.  I much prefer the likes of our homegrown London Bridge, Burrito Gallery, Chicago Pizza, Twisted Martini, TSI, Dive Bar, Mark's, Northstar Substation, TheIvy, Lit, and Dos Gatos downtown.

Ah, the obligatory plug for our local establishments tied in with an little jab towards the big guys.  Look, i've lived in Jacksonville all my life and I've been to and even frequent several of those businesses downtown (especially the Bars on Bay (catchy eh?)) and even local businesses throughout town for that matter.  I'm just happy that new options are still coming into town.  I'm not saying I'm going to truck it all the way to the southside for CPK, but it's good to know that despite the economy businesses are still expanding into our city.  Besides, CPK, Bahama Breeze, Whiskey Whatever, and all those places that are going up at the town center will bring much needed JOBS to the area.  

[tufsu1]

Whisky River as a tiresome chain?  The Jacksonville location will only be the 2nd.

[thekillingwax]

It's at the town center so it must be evil! I am thrilled to know that when I want what CPK serves, I can instead go downtown and go to a bunch of hipster douche clubs and not get what I originally wanted. AWESOME! Next time I'm in the mood for thai, I'll try JL Trent's or Lenscrafters.

[thelakelander]

This city is nearly 800 square miles.  There's room for those that like chains and those that like mom & pops.  I haven't been to SJTC to walk around since phase II opened.  Will CPK be in the entertainment complex or the actual SJTC?

[reednavy]

The actual town center, in front of Maggiano's. It is going in the Oceanology location, which wasn't even open 6 months or so, which was originally The Sharper Image Store.