Ideas for new retail in Murray Hill

[ProjectMaximus]

I suggest a motorcycle service shop.........

Congrats, Max.

Josh, I assume this is a joke about that broken down bike I found. Well coincidentally we already have a bike shop on the premises lol. I'm not sure if they're open for business yet, but they've been building out their space for a few months. The garage fronting Post St at this corner.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

My $0.02:

A butcher shop
A garden shop/hardware shop (think ACE Hardware)
An outdoor retail - kayak / canoe / paddle board / ammo / camping - Obviously nothing too large, but could be tied in with another larger retailer
Find the old owners of the Mexican restaurant that is now Gina's and beg them to re-open
Golf / tennis pro-shop
Bike shop - sales/service - think ZenCog, not Open Road

High-End(ish) Consignment shop - (Plato's closet)
Some sort of tech-store - home security / networking / PI type stuff

[jaxlore]

+10000 on the Indian food and 3FX. Have to drive to baymeadows for both and many people do.

[camarocane]

Speaking of "curry" I think the area would do well with an Indian restaurant. That's one thing Riverside, etc lacks and would likely support. Jax doesn't have very many Indian restaurants and the ones it does have aren't all that great.

This too,
I think this area needs more culture. Aromas boba tea would fit in well I think. We certainly do not need another BBQ joint, gastropub, or burger place.

[Tacachale]

Very exciting, Maximus, this is awesome news and it's only Monday!

I hear these guys are looking to expand, might be some competition for Dreamette

https://www.facebook.com/ThreeFxIcecreamwaffles

If that's true, that could be an interesting option. That place is always packed, including at night, and it's in Baymeadows. Doubt they'd need 4000sf though.

For that space, I'd try to think of things we don't have in the urban core (that preferably could earn their keep for y'all as well).

For example, as someone with Filipinos in the family, I've never understood why there aren't any truly great Filipino restaurants in town (ok, I do understand why; it's because they mainly cook their awesome food at home). An Indian restaurant could also be a big hit, I think.

Going outside the box for that kind of space, I might suggest looking at an urban bowling alley. These places have been big in a lot of cities, and I think it's only a matter of time before one hits Jax. Splitsville out of Tampa has been successful with kind of a scaled-down, urban model of what Latitute 360 does, with bowling plus good food and drinks; there are others in Miami and Downtown Disney and perhaps elsewhere. They may be a bit too gimmicky to work in urban Jax, though, but I went to this place in Boston. Sacco's is a combination candlepin bowling alley (a type of bowling only found in New England) plus a really good flatbread pizzeria and craft beer bar. A similar place minus the food and with regular bowling is The Gutter in Brooklyn. Plus, there's a custom bowling alley company in Downtown Jax.

[UNFurbanist]

I really like the urban bowling alley(plus maybe small bar) and Indian restaurant ideas. My sister lives in Brooklyn and this place is her favorite indian spot http://www.panna2.com/index.html. It is a ton of fun all packed into a small space and would be a great concept to work off of. Just divide up the 4000 sq/ft and have multiple uses!

[Adam White]

My $0.02:

A butcher shop
A garden shop/hardware shop (think ACE Hardware)
An outdoor retail - kayak / canoe / paddle board / ammo / camping - Obviously nothing too large, but could be tied in with another larger retailer
Find the old owners of the Mexican restaurant that is now Gina's and beg them to re-open
Golf / tennis pro-shop
Bike shop - sales/service - think ZenCog, not Open Road

High-End(ish) Consignment shop - (Plato's closet)
Some sort of tech-store - home security / networking / PI type stuff

I think a bike shop sells Brompton folding bikes would do well - those will catch on eventually. Apparently they are popular in NYC these days and they (unfortunately) appear to be in the process of becoming the next "fixed wheel/fixed gear bike".

https://www.brompton.com

[benfranklinbof]

Thanks, John/Capt/Josh/Adam!

Hmmm a health food store, nice bars, a speacilty beer store and places open later than two. Moon river and occasionally maple street are the only late night food options.

How late would you want something open? 3am? 24 hours?
It looks like Moon River is only open til 10p?
We have been working on a late night food concept that we might try at this location...

I hear these guys are looking to expand, might be some competition for Dreamette

https://www.facebook.com/ThreeFxIcecreamwaffles

Haha, I have been talking to them for several months. I think they would be a perfect fit...this would be Jax's ice cream corner. Right now their Jax franchises are going in Mandarin-area and around UNF, iirc. But we'll see.

Sad to see Curry Thomas leave we have had a business account with them for years. Any chance of another hardware store? Doubtful I guess given the proximity of Lowes.

This took us by total surprise. It was a 0-day notice. Would have been nice to know ahead of time but I think they had a very poor relationship with the previous owners so oh well. If another Hardware Store is a good fit and can be successful then I'll fight to make it happen, but it's doubtful. Curry Thomas' rents were literally about 30% of market rate...and they couldn't make it work.

Speaking of "curry" I think the area would do well with an Indian restaurant. That's one thing Riverside, etc lacks and would likely support. Jax doesn't have very many Indian restaurants and the ones it does have aren't all that great.

Of course, unless you have a penchant for cooking Indian food, I doubt there's much you could do with this sage "advice".

Congrats on getting the buildings! I look forward to seeing what you do.

I am no Indian food expert but I do love it and we have a large Indian population in town. I always enjoy most of the establishments along Baymeadows (aka Bombaymeadows). I think last time I counted was 7 restaurants and 3 Indian grocers. For personal bias I'd love to have an Indian restaurant there...we'll see.

Congrats on the new space! Although I have an idea what you could do with that old space, since I'm no longer in town and I dare not speak for my friends that live in MH, I would hope you and your wife and all parties involved use due diligence on what would be the best use, and tennant fit for that space.

With all the investment in the area from people like yourselves, the possibilities for the neighborhood are endless. GL!

Please share! Dont worry about steering us wrong, we will do diligence! It's just about collecting ideas for now and moving forward.

I believe Moon River closes way too early. I've been in there during closing time and people were still eating and there were also people still trying to sneak in. A late night place could definitely survive in the area.
A lot places close around 2 in Murray hill which is a bummer for people like me  who works a 6-2pm job. I'm a young millennial who wants something that's open later than two. I have to leave my hood so I can satisfy my food cravings.

[Live_Oak]

So, say goodbye to Tradewinds and A Tavern??

[Tacachale]

I really like the urban bowling alley(plus maybe small bar) and Indian restaurant ideas. My sister lives in Brooklyn and this place is her favorite indian spot http://www.panna2.com/index.html. It is a ton of fun all packed into a small space and would be a great concept to work off of. Just divide up the 4000 sq/ft and have multiple uses!

Yeah, I think spacewise this is almost exactly the same as Sacco's including the restaurant, kitchen and (really good) bar. The place was busy enough midweek that we had to wait several hours for a lane and there weren't even seats in the bar.

[ProjectMaximus]

I believe Moon River closes way too early. I've been in there during closing time and people were still eating and there were also people still trying to sneak in. A late night place could definitely survive in the area.
A lot places close around 2 in Murray hill which is a bummer for people like me  who works a 6-2pm job. I'm a young millennial who wants something that's open later than two. I have to leave my hood so I can satisfy my food cravings.

Ohhhh, this makes sense now. I thought you were saying 2am (you know, typical closing time for most establishments in this city). Gotcha...yes, I'm with you on wanting a hangout late into the evening. Maybe Vagabond will have later hours?

So, say goodbye to Tradewinds and A Tavern??

They seem to be doing alright. At least they're paying on time and although still below market rate, their rent is well above what Curry Thomas was paying.

[thelakelander]

Hello folks!

My wife and I, along with some silent partners, purchased the commercial buildings on the NE corner of Edgewood and Post. The majority investors are in Miami but as the primary decision makers, my wife and I would really like to have this building meet the needs of the community. We also favor local establishments and would be willing to work with anyone who can add some vibrancy to this block.

So in ronchamblin fashion I'm coming to MJ members to seek ideas and/or potential tenants for the building on Edgewood Ave across from Murray Hill Theatre. The Curry Thomas Hardware Store closed down this weekend and vacated over 4000 sq ft. of space. We will have a brand new roof up there imminently with other improvements planned and/or negotiable. There is also an ~1k sq ft vacant space in the building facing the Dreamette. Everything is zoned CCG-1.

We've discussed the possibility of redevelopment into mixed use at some point in the future (With our very own Lakelander leading the design and implementation if we go that route) but right now it looks like that would be down the road a bit if it happens.

Please don't hesitate to reach out. We were thrilled to acquire these buildings because we are big fans of Murray Hill and believe this property is ideally positioned to serve residents in the area. Let us know what you think and come forward if you are interested in a space.

TIA!

Congrats. I know you two have been working on this for quite a while. I'm glad to see some progress made and I wish for the best!

[ProjectMaximus]

^Thanks, Lake.

I like the bowling alley idea, and I'm really enticed by the Indian restaurant for selfish reasons. Anybody want to do it?

I really like the urban bowling alley(plus maybe small bar) and Indian restaurant ideas. My sister lives in Brooklyn and this place is her favorite indian spot http://www.panna2.com/index.html. It is a ton of fun all packed into a small space and would be a great concept to work off of. Just divide up the 4000 sq/ft and have multiple uses!

Noticed panna is owned by a "Mr. Khan"

[johnnyliar]

I live in Murray Hill and am extremely excited about all the new prospects for our hood!
Any chance we can meet up to discuss some of these awesome ideas that everyone has shared, as well as some of my own? 

[Tacachale]

^Thanks, Lake.

I like the bowling alley idea, and I'm really enticed by the Indian restaurant for selfish reasons. Anybody want to do it?

I really like the urban bowling alley(plus maybe small bar) and Indian restaurant ideas. My sister lives in Brooklyn and this place is her favorite indian spot http://www.panna2.com/index.html. It is a ton of fun all packed into a small space and would be a great concept to work off of. Just divide up the 4000 sq/ft and have multiple uses!

Noticed panna is owned by a "Mr. Khan"

I've made a point of suggesting at every Indian place I go to that if they got to Riverside-Avondale (Murry Hill should be close enough) first, they'd kill it. The usual response is that so much of their business is from the community that's based in the older Southside area that they don't want to get too far from it (it's not called "Bombaymeadows" for nothing). I really think it would work if they just brought that quality of food and made sure the atmosphere was cool. You might talk to the owners of Mint for advice.

On urban bowling, there are a few in Florida, but the ones I've seen are kind of, well, yuppyish. Doing it... differently would definitely be a chance to do something that would stand out in the region (not knocking "yuppyish", btw, in their contexts many of them are very successful).

And if you want something more true to the spirit of Florida, there's always shuffleboard, which has also now been Brooklynized.