Mellow Mushroom to Open Up in 'town Space??

[mtraininjax]

Please keep us posted on RAP, MM, and Benham. You seem to have your ear to the ground. What did you mean by "they can move the front of the shops to the sidewalk, yes, another RAP issue, but Benham has been there and done that and it would make the stores all look the same instead of the oddity there is there now."??

Ben Says - I heard this from some of the owners of SofA as well as from some friends who know Benham personally. There are other issues going on, that need not be public on this board, but Benham is in the driver's seat and the space across the street from her, to the right of the Sushi is available and waiting for someone to expand it. The fact that it is recessed from the street, and that the space can be altered so that the storefront is moved closer to the street is the fact that I was trying to make. In the end, the city would prefer to have storefronts that are uniform along St. Johns. Peacock was only there for a month, no one knew she was open for business because no one can see the storefront unless you look right at it, is one argument I am sure Benham will use for her justification.

As far as ear to the floor, just good friends with many owners and with real estate in the area too, I too want to make sure that there will be a balance of restaurants, shops, and solutions for the cars coming into the area. I really want the city to look to lower the speed limit in that area, between the brick crosswalks from each end, down to 20 MPH, and add flashing yellow lights to make it so that anyone crossing the street has the right of way, by state law, like they do in Georgia. Everyone should allow people to walk across the street in a crosswalk without fear of being run over. I'd like to see a special emphasis in protecting the patrons in the area. If you are in a hurry, take Park Street and run over someone's cat, but on St. Johns slow down and bring some patience.

[fieldafm]

to make it so that anyone crossing the street has the right of way, by state law, like they do in Georgia. Everyone should allow people to walk across the street in a crosswalk without fear of being run over.

That already is a state law in Florida and is in practice in places like St Augustine and Sarasota.  All FDOT needs to do is put up signs and paint the necessary yellow lines for the crosswalk.

[mtraininjax]

fieldafm - Thanks, I'll mention this to my neighbor Jim Love. I'll see if I can find the law in the books and this should help in the Avondale area.

I did send the info to Jim, here is the link if anyone is interested in the Pedestrian laws in the State of Florida:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/ped_bike/brochures/pdf/Pedestrian%20LEGuide-08.pdf

[JaxJerry]

and hand out citations to the ever so many jaywalkers!!

[urbaknight]

Thank you everyone for your advice and well wishes. I may be working for them when they open up. I haven't read anything about it, has anyone else? Does anyone know when they plan to open?

[fieldafm]

fieldafm - Thanks, I'll mention this to my neighbor Jim Love. I'll see if I can find the law in the books and this should help in the Avondale area.

I did send the info to Jim, here is the link if anyone is interested in the Pedestrian laws in the State of Florida:

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/ped_bike/brochures/pdf/Pedestrian%20LEGuide-08.pdf

I have a ton of pictures, but obviously not home right now to post them, but here's an example of how it looks in St Armands Square (which Avondale should REALLY study especially in regards to all the talk about parking permits-which I still think is a long way off from being needed)

[mtraininjax]

Excellent picture, it is a start. It would be good for the area to get these setup NOW, before the traffic really ramps up for whatever happens in the space. Something will happen and these signs are needed now, along with a drop in the speed limit. Can't put up humps because the ambulances use the road to St. Vincent's. 

[Know Growth]

Please keep us posted on RAP, MM, and Benham. You seem to have your ear to the ground. What did you mean by "they can move the front of the shops to the sidewalk, yes, another RAP issue, but Benham has been there and done that and it would make the stores all look the same instead of the oddity there is there now."??

Ben Says -There are other issues going on, that need not be public on this board, but Benham is in the driver's seat and the space across the street from her, to the right of the Sushi is available and waiting for someone to expand it. The fact that it is recessed from the street, and that the space can be altered so that the storefront is moved closer to the street is the fact that I was trying to make. In the end, the city would prefer to have storefronts that are uniform along St. Johns. Peacock was only there for a month, no one knew she was open for business because no one can see the storefront unless you look right at it, is one argument I am sure Benham will use for her justification.

As far as ear to the floor"..............with real estate in the area too, I too want to make sure that there will be.......solutions for the cars coming into the area. ........ If you are in a hurry, take Park Street and run over someone's cat

Indeed,best to post less. MJ Light!

[Know Growth]

fieldafm - Thanks, I'll mention this to my neighbor Jim Love. I'll see if I can find the law in the books and this should help in the Avondale area.


Thanks for the help well connected presence person.

Probably best to post less. MJ Light.

At some point area events will finally play out,reveal in front of full City Council vote.

[mtraininjax]

From the Business Journal, this week's edition:

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/2012/04/slideshow-avondale-merchants-react-to.html

Now we need to find a tenant for Monty's.

[ben says]

From the Business Journal, this week's edition:

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/2012/04/slideshow-avondale-merchants-react-to.html

Now we need to find a tenant for Monty's.

How many square feet? Is there a fully equipped kitchen in there?

[ben says]

Jax Biz Journal: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/2012/04/slideshow-avondale-merchants-react-to.html?s=image_gallery

Slideshow with 6 SoA merchants giving their take on MM coming in.

[Know Growth]

Please keep us posted on RAP, MM, and Benham. You seem to have your ear to the ground. What did you mean by "they can move the front of the shops to the sidewalk, yes, another RAP issue, but Benham has been there and done that and it would make the stores all look the same instead of the oddity there is there now."??

Ben Says -There are other issues going on, that need not be public on this board, but Benham is in the driver's seat and the space across the street from her, to the right of the Sushi is available and waiting for someone to expand it. The fact that it is recessed from the street, and that the space can be altered so that the storefront is moved closer to the street is the fact that I was trying to make. In the end, the city would prefer to have storefronts that are uniform along St. Johns. Peacock was only there for a month, no one knew she was open for business because no one can see the storefront unless you look right at it, is one argument I am sure Benham will use for her justification.

As far as ear to the floor"..............with real estate in the area too, I too want to make sure that there will be.......solutions for the cars coming into the area. ........ If you are in a hurry, take Park Street and run over someone's cat

Indeed,best to post less. MJ Light!

indeed.

I thought you said there was a glut, a giant oversupply of restaurants that was threatening to destroy riverside, north miami?  What gives?

This side track all 'ya got?

Don't recall Riverside focus.

I discovered this week the new SofA Sushi venture is still hoping for more customers,and from what I have observed during four visits during their stated peak times,there is plenty of seating available.

Hope it all works out,full seating,overflow parking and finally,the saving grace. Glad I didn't buy a house on Pine Street!

The physical space and influence of SofA has stood distinctly less compromised by seductions and attractions of the market.
We're dangling between past and future.

Perhaps we should look to MJ advertisement campaigns for hint to emerging divisive neighborhood episode.
(I'm telling 'ya now folks,we got Trouble right here in River City! Trouble....I mean Trouble!....that starts with "T" that rhymes with "G" & "P" and that stands for "GastroPub"!)

It's all interesting-glad you have more skin in this than I do.


Post les

[mtraininjax]

I spoke with John Valentino yesterday and Friday at a weekend event. He was excited to see the progress so far, and he did point out that at the Beach, he is only granted 99 spots. So that location saw Salt Life move in after him, taking away spots, then the shops behind have thrived as well. Everywhere they go, the merchants end up with more traffic and more money. I would tend to agree with this.

The interesting thing I see will be when the restaurant is open, will Underwood's see that same increase? We did agree that Monty's West Inn has to be the next project taken over, although there are still spots open for space there in the SofA, but with MM coming in, I suspect that they will not stay vacant for long. Please, no more yogurt shops...

[ben says]

Please, no more yogurt shops...

+1000!!!!!!!!!!