Is Avondale Ready For A 7-Eleven?

thelakelander · August 10, 2011, 11:30:31 AM

The 7-11 I walked in the other day sold a lot more than slurpees and candy bars. It was stocked like a small market. It sold fresh fruit, frozen foods, milk and general merchandise items like deodorant. There was also some sort of hot bar with hot dogs and pizza. Oh yeah, you could still get your slurpee on as well. This seems like a company that knows how to operate it's business, so if they do buy this lot, you better believe they'll stock it in a manner that brings profitable returns. Jacksonville really needs to grow up and look at the world outside of Duval County.

Jaxson · August 10, 2011, 01:08:10 PM

Amen, thelakelander...

MusicMan · August 10, 2011, 01:38:19 PM

I still don't want it there. I have traveled all over Florida and the United States, more than almost anyone I know,
I have lived in Tallahassee, Coral Gables, South Beach, Boca Raton, Naples, and now Jacksonville. In all my travels I have never seen a 7-11 that I thought would fit in at The Shoppes of Avondale.

If you asked every person who blogs on MJ to complete a top 10 list about what they would like to see there, how many would have a 7-11 in their list? Not me. Now, I may be wrong. I don't mind being wrong or being proved wrong, but a 7-11 is not an upgrade to The Shoppes, no amount of "spin" or commentary will ever make me believe that is the best use of that lot.

In brainstorming with one of the Shoppes owners, we agreed the best use would have been for all the owners to chip in, buy the lot, and put a beautiful "landmark quality" fountain on the corner and some shaded parking and seating in that space. A total pipe dream I realize, but then The Shoppes would have a unique architectural point of interest/reflection and some shaded dedicated parking, which it sorely needs.

P.S. The Shoppes has several critically acclaimed eateries: if you go to 7-11 to get lunch then that would have a negative impact on those locally owned restaurants.

JeffreyS · August 10, 2011, 01:40:53 PM

No one going to the brick will for go it for 7-11. Your right it wouldn't be a first choice.

Bativac · August 10, 2011, 01:43:02 PM

Quote from: MusicMan on August 10, 2011, 01:38:19 PM
I still don't want it there. I have traveled all over Florida and the United States, more than almost anyone I know,
I have lived in Tallahassee, Coral Gables, South Beach, Boca Raton, Naples, and now Jacksonville. In all my travels I have never seen a 7-11 that I thought would fit in at The Shoppes of Avondale.

If you asked every person who blogs on MJ to complete a top 10 list about what they would like to see there, how many would have a 7-11 in their list? Not me. Now, I may be wrong. I don't mind being wrong or being proved wrong, but a 7-11 is not an upgrade to The Shoppes, no amount of "spin" or commentary will ever make me believe that is the best use of that lot.

In brainstorming with one of the Shoppes owners, we agreed the best use would have been for all the owners to chip in, buy the lot, and put a beautiful "landmark quality" fountain on the corner and some shaded parking and seating in that space. A total pipe dream I realize, but then The Shoppes would have a unique architectural point of interest/reflection and some shaded dedicated parking, which it sorely needs.

P.S. The Shoppes has several critically acclaimed eateries: if you go to 7-11 to get lunch then that would have a negative impact on those locally owned restaurants.

Seems like it's a question of "what would local businesses like to see" versus "what business is actually willing to sink the money into opening something there."

Yeah, there are more upscale places than 7-11, but it seems to me that a 7-11 would be preferable to an empty lot.

Look at the Racetrac gas station that just opened on Atlantic near the Hart Bridge expressway. FAR superior to what was there beforehand. All things considered, I'd rather have had an art gallery or an imported foods market or something, but a nice gas station is better than the crappy gas station and the adjoining vacant lot that were there before.

cline · August 10, 2011, 01:52:56 PM

QuoteIn brainstorming with one of the Shoppes owners, we agreed the best use would have been for all the owners to chip in, buy the lot, and put a beautiful "landmark quality" fountain on the corner and some shaded parking and seating in that space.

Glad your "brainstorming" came up with what you thought would be the "best use" for the site. So I'm wondering why you guys haven't come forward and stroked a check make this dream a reality? Question: do you think a context sensitive 7-11 (such as the multitude of examples that have been posted) is better than a vacant lot?

MusicMan · August 10, 2011, 01:55:50 PM

"Seems like it's a question of "what would local businesses like to see" versus "what business is actually willing to sink the money into opening something there."

Good point. These huge multi-national corps are well positioned to take advantage of the market conditions right now. I would bet that 7-11 Corp is not financing this deal. I imagine it is cash.

north miami · August 10, 2011, 09:18:40 PM

possibly none of this matters

Parking facility may in fact be the highest,best and most embarrassing use........

Bad deals get worse

The episode driven by unrealistic sellers/over priced,unfounded expectations.Therefore enters speculative entity that simply,so easlily explores what can be had.

the Resident News is to be commended for their outlook,coverage parameters

As to evolving Convenience stores,I remain hopeful.Visits to central and Northern California revealed many examples of a different really wonderful neighborhood small footprint 'convenience store' facility.We were there in anticipation of Avondale going bad,sad.The next move.
prove me wrong,please.

JeffreyS · August 10, 2011, 10:17:19 PM

I don't think you have to worry NM . RAP will have the lot stay undeveloped before allowing something that is not context sensitive into the space. A landmark fountain would be great. You had better start that donation drive fast.

cline · August 10, 2011, 10:33:02 PM

QuoteParking facility may in fact be the highest,best and most embarrassing use

A parking facility? I'll go ahead and assume that's an "embarrassing" joke. There is ample on-street parking throughout the neighborhood (I prefer to walk to The Shoppes however).

MusicMan · August 11, 2011, 12:03:38 AM

Actually on-street parking in that neighborhood is below average. In fact on Riverside immediately behind The Shoppes it is particularly awful. The streets in that particular area are mostly skinny, not really leaving enough room for parking (on street) and two cars to pass . The new street scape is very nice, however, as is the angle parking.

thelakelander · August 11, 2011, 01:15:51 AM

Why does a local residential street need to be wide enough to allow for two cars to pass? You have a natural solution to slowing down vehicle speeds already. Enjoy it.

Dog Walker · August 11, 2011, 10:46:29 AM

Is this a step back towards the "neighborhood corner grocery store" that all of the historic neighborhoods used to have? The store on the corner of Oak and Stockton seems to be well used by walk-up traffic more than automobile traffic.

fieldafm · August 11, 2011, 11:00:47 AM

QuoteActually on-street parking in that neighborhood is below average

There is only one street that is narrow near the Shoppes. And frankly I have seen many children playing in the front yards on that street, so having slow traffic is actually a virtue.

QuoteIn all my travels I have never seen a 7-11 that I thought would fit in at The Shoppes of Avondale.

You need to travel more. I've seen about 10 7-11's in other cities that would fit very well... all seen in the first 6 months of this year alone.

Quoteput a beautiful "landmark quality" fountain on the corner and some shaded parking and seating in that space

Really? That is PRIME commercial land... and the best thing to do is put a big fountain there?

QuoteThe Shoppes has several critically acclaimed eateries: if you go to 7-11 to get lunch then that would have a negative impact on those locally owned restaurants.

So yesterday, when I went grabbed a to-go sandwich at Goal Post, stopped and got a banana at Gate on Stockton and then later grabbed a sub to go at Larry's... I was somehow destroying the Shoppes of Avondale? So by that measure, I guess buying a couple of steaks at Publix last Sunday and grilling them in the backyard was somehow taking a defiant stand against local business.

Really doesn't matter at this point. The sale has gone through. It will be a two parcel building and 7-11 serving as the end cap space. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that Biscotti's is not going to close b/c a 7-11 is right down the street(there are already three convenience stores two blocks away).

Jaxson · August 11, 2011, 11:13:06 AM

I believe one element of the opposition to an Avondale 7-Eleven is based on fear. There is a fear that the wrong elements will frequent the 7-Eleven and will scare away patrons of nearby businesses. I am going to go out on a limb and say that the 7-Eleven will likely end up with a clientele from the immediate neighborhood or from those who are patronizing nearby businesses.
Based on my own personal experience, my convencience store habits rarely change. I also know others who have their daily or regular routine that involves going to the same one or two convenience stores. I do not forsee someone from another part of Riverside-Avondale going out of their way to shop at the 7-Eleven - especially with the cost of gas. The only exception may be those who want to go out of their way for a Slurpee.