Developer wants to bring Walmart Neighborhood Market to the urban core

[thelakelander]

By Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor

Frank and Frankie Gatlin moved their development headquarters, families and futures to Jacksonville three months ago, quietly settling in while setting their sights on significant growth.

Father and son see the potential for a Downtown grocery store, redeveloped community centers that now struggle with vacancies and new shopping plazas.

Gatlin Development owns 700,000 square feet of space in Northeast Florida.

The Gatlins see the possibility of developing at least 1 to 2 million square feet more in the area. Here's what they plan:

• They envision redevelopment of largely vacant shopping centers that need rejuvenation, perhaps some with Walmart Neighborhood Markets. Gatlin said they are looking at several opportunities of 100,000 to 150,000 square feet, but declined to identify them.

• Gatlin said he is committed to finding a Downtown area location he hopes Walmart would approve for a Neighborhood Market. He also hopes to identify several more sites for markets in the metro area, pending Walmart, city and community approvals.

• They are looking for opportunities to develop or redevelop community shopping centers to bring in tenants desired by the neighbors.

"There is nothing I like more than to bring a community services and tenants and restaurants that are needed and that they want," Gatlin said.

The Gatlins work with many big-name retailers, including Home Depot, Best Buy, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl's, PetSmart, Michaels and others, in addition to Walmart.

They also want to bring new names to Jacksonville. Frankie Gatlin is creating "void reports" to assess which retailers are not in Jacksonville and where they might want to locate.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546069

[Bill Hoff]

Neighborhood Walmart in the Downtown area? I volunteer the vacant grocery store building on 8th Street, near Main.

[I-10east]

^^^That would be a much needed location for that area. I would definitely have a good police/security presence, ala DT Winn Dixie.   

[thelakelander]

I'm glad to see them desire to take on the challenge of revitalizing aging shopping centers. I wish them well.

[vicupstate]

The Gatlins said Jacksonville offered the oak trees, historical architecture and waterfront scenery like New Orleans, while the temperate weather offered a taste of four seasons.

Being from Louisiana, Frank Gatlin also was familiar with the Panhandle and its beaches. Still, Jacksonville was different.

"I never thought we would travel 300 miles north to return to the south," he jokes.

This is EXACTLY how I felt about Jax when I was first exposed to this city. It SHOULD be the basis for the city's 'brand' , a brand which is non-existent today.  Unfortunately, the emphasis is on how to replicate South Florida's brand and appearance.

[Adam White]

The Gatlins said Jacksonville offered the oak trees, historical architecture and waterfront scenery like New Orleans, while the temperate weather offered a taste of four seasons.

Being from Louisiana, Frank Gatlin also was familiar with the Panhandle and its beaches. Still, Jacksonville was different.

"I never thought we would travel 300 miles north to return to the south," he jokes.

This is EXACTLY how I felt about Jax when I was first exposed to this city. It SHOULD be the basis for the city's 'brand' , a brand which is non-existent today.  Unfortunately, the emphasis is on how to replicate South Florida's brand and appearance.

I would never consider Jacksonville's climate to be "temperate" and you basically get two seasons in Jax. But I suppose it's more than you get down south!

[Know Growth]

(We are two distinct weather zones removed from my native south Florida.......enjoy!)


"Downtown" Walmart et al could also attract Avondale/Venetia/Ortega patrons who would rather not, or do not patronize Normandy Blvd. or 103rd Street,Orange Park Walmart et al.

Maybe the same even for San Marco area residents......Phillips HWY or Downtown       

Hmmmm.....the return of Downtown.   

[civil42806]

(We are two distinct weather zones removed from my native south Florida.......enjoy!)


"Downtown" Walmart et al could also attract Avondale/Venetia/Ortega patrons who would rather not, or do not patronize Normandy Blvd. or 103rd Street,Orange Park Walmart et al.

Maybe the same even for San Marco area residents......Phillips HWY or Downtown       

Hmmmm.....the return of Downtown.   

Excuse me Sir, I'll Have some of what hes smoking!  Hey it could be wait for it........................ wait................  a GAME CHANGER!!!!

[jph]

(We are two distinct weather zones removed from my native south Florida.......enjoy!)


"Downtown" Walmart et al could also attract Avondale/Venetia/Ortega patrons who would rather not, or do not patronize Normandy Blvd. or 103rd Street,Orange Park Walmart et al.

Maybe the same even for San Marco area residents......Phillips HWY or Downtown       

Hmmmm.....the return of Downtown.   

This would be a downtown Walmart Neighborhood Market, which is just a grocery store.

[Keith-N-Jax]

There is nothing in Jax that offers South Fla feel, I wish people would stop that non-sense. Jax does offer a difference is season change, is it like NY or Vermont, no but there's certainly a difference in Nov vs mid July.

I wish them the best of luck with their project.

[I-10east]

This is EXACTLY how I felt about Jax when I was first exposed to this city. It SHOULD be the basis for the city's 'brand' , a brand which is non-existent today.  Unfortunately, the emphasis is on how to replicate South Florida's brand and appearance.

I totally agree that there's alot of that in Jax today (South FL replication). Look none other than that Shipyards proposal (I get that it's kinda in limbo, but still). I don't think it's a bad thing being near southern GA like some joke about. We should embrace our geography, way of life, architecture etc.

[Adam White]

This is EXACTLY how I felt about Jax when I was first exposed to this city. It SHOULD be the basis for the city's 'brand' , a brand which is non-existent today.  Unfortunately, the emphasis is on how to replicate South Florida's brand and appearance.

I totally agree that there's alot of that in Jax today (South FL replication). Look none other than that Shipyards proposal (I get that it's kinda in limbo, but still). I don't think it's a bad thing being near southern GA like some joke about. We should embrace our geography, way of life, architecture etc.

I agree. Jax is distinct from South Florida and shouldn't try to ape that.

[The_Choose_1]

Has anyone gone into a Walmart Neighborhood Market? I have when they first came to town. The W.N.M. is more like two steps down from a Winn Dixie and 5 steps down from a Publix. If you're looking for cheap prices then W.N.M. is your store. But unless it has a different look inside or out it's nothing to write home about. And during checkout these W.N.M.  have several lanes which you bag your own groceries and perform self pay, and the other lanes have a human that will take your money & bag your groceries.

[Adam White]

Has anyone gone into a Walmart Neighborhood Market? I have when they first came to town. The W.N.M. is more like two steps down from a Winn Dixie and 5 steps down from a Publix. If you're looking for cheap prices then W.N.M. is your store. But unless it has a different look inside or out it's nothing to write home about. And during checkout these W.N.M.  have several lanes which you bag your own groceries and perform self pay, and the other lanes have a human that will take your money & bag your groceries.

It may not be Publix, but any development downtown/in the "core" like this is a good thing. And self checkout is so common nowdays that it's not that big a deal. I'm happy this might happen.

[thelakelander]

I prefer self checkout lanes myself. I also wouldn't mind having a few WNMs, Aldi's, etc. open up shop in various underserved neighborhoods.