Starbucks returning to Downtown

[Zac T]

Starbucks is slated to activate a vital corner on Laura Street — downtown Jacksonville's main corridor.

The Seattle-based coffee giant signed a lease for space on the ground floor of the Bank of America Tower at 50 N. Laura St. The space will be blown out to create a street-facing storefront with doors opening onto Laura Street. The owner, Group RMC, has embarked on a second phase of renovation for the office tower, focusing on ground-floor restaurant and retail that is open to the public.

...

"The addition of Starbucks to the Laura Street corridor is important to the pedestrian experience. Not only does it offer another option for downtown office users but it's an established brand that is universally recognized by locals and people visiting our downtown," Clark said. "By bringing a storefront online that currently doesn't exist at the corner of Bay and Laura Street, it starts the retail conversation up Laura Street."

...

Of Place, a real estate development firm that's worked on revitalization projects like Water Street in Tampa, sketched a conceptual rendering for the Starbucks. The group was introduced to the Bank of America Tower ownership after a call facilitated by JWB Real Estate Companies President Alex Sifakis and Gateway Jax CEO Bryan Moll, who shared the rendering with building ownership. The call focused on the importance of an activated Laura Street.

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2025/02/12/starbucks-downtown-jacksonville-boa.html

[Ken_FSU]

JWB/Gateway Jax are cooking.

I take back every bad thing I've ever said about anyone.

Laura Street is transforming before our eyes.

Quite a vote of confidence from Starbucks as well, which has been more and more skittish about urban locations without drive throughs in recent years.

Will be a really nice add just a block from the park as well.

[Zac T]

I'm excited about this as well. I spent many evenings with my mom at the jazz and poetry nights that were hosted at the old Starbucks at 11 East

Wonder what will take the Bread and Board space across the street. Can't imagine it will continue to sit vacant for much longer

[bg904]

Nice vote of confidence for downtown redevelopment. It's one thing for locals to try to make a restaurant or coffee shop work, but Starbucks returning is huge. Now bring on Publix!

[sean27]

Glad to see Starbucks returning downtown—definitely a big boost for revitalizing Laura Street. Looking forward to it!

[Steve]

This is a big get. But bigger than Starbucks is activating the corner. Even if Starbucks doesn't make it, they won't "deactivate" the corner lol.

Huge win for Laura Street.

This is where the owners of One Independent need to take note. That double sidewalk on Laura street they have screams Restaurant with outdoor dining. It's the perfect setup.

[thelakelander]

What's the plan for Ground Level Coffee, the current space inside the BOA lobby? They don't seem to be so happy on IG.

With that said, it's exciting to see the basics long advocated here, like better street level activation of existing retail spaces along Laura, finally coming to fruition.

[landfall]

Not a huge fan of Starbucks personally, but its good news, the presence of those is often a good indicator of the health of a CBD and for any visitors its a known quantity. We were one of the biggest markets without a Starbucks Downtown and even the next in line without were mainly North East markets with other big names like Dunkin or Tim Hortons instead if I remember correctly.

[fieldafm]

Crazy that it will take 20 years for this plan to begin to hash out

https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2006-may-updated-laura-street-lighting-and-parking-plan

https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-aug-lighting-laura-street-plan-moves-forward

https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-oct-laura-street-before-and-after

Remember when Downtown Vision committed to provide facade grants and work with brokers to activate these hidden spaces? Still waiting for that... 

[heights unknown]

It's about time and great news. Being that downtown Jax and the Urban Core/CBD is trudging towards 10k plus in population, slightly short of the whole population of Lake City Florida, more restaurants, dry cleaners, convenience stores/gas stations, and other commercial supporting businesses to support the population, is greatly needed and must be built as soon as practicable. Super great news for downtown Jacksonville Florida.

[Zac T]

Starbucks is in permit review...

Starbucks Coffee Co. is in permitting review for a shop in Bank of America Tower, which would bring the national retailer back Downtown.

The city is reviewing a permit for an estimated $175,000 renovation of 2,225 square feet of space on the ground floor of the southeast corner of the tower at 50 N. Laura St.

The tenant improvement in Unit 150 comprises construction of a Starbucks Coffee cafe on the first floor within an existing business shell. It will include electrical, plumbing and mechanical modifications; interior partitions and equipment; and modification of the existing storefront for new steps with a railing.

Plans indicate an interior entrance from the 42-story tower's lobby as well as an exterior entrance into Starbucks from the south-facing side of the tower.

...

Clark said July 14 the shop would likely open this fall.

Along with an update on Ariete's restaurant plans which seem very exciting

Clark said July 14 that Ariete Hospitality Group of Miami continues working toward plans to renovate the closed Bank of America branch office space on the ground floor of the tower.

He expects it would open in summer or fall of 2026.

The size has yet to be determined, Clark said, but it could be from 4,500 to 14,000 square feet.

Ariete has several concepts that it can combine "and they never replicate a concept or a brand name," he said.

It would be "a custom concept to the building."

Clark said Ariete could use the entire branch side of the building, which is the western side of the structure, facing Bay Street to the south and Forsyth Street to the north.

He said it could accommodate multiple concepts, perhaps with one facing Bay, another facing Forsyth with a bar in the lobby.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/jul/14/starbucks-in-permit-review-for-downtown-jacksonville-shop/

[thelakelander]

This is a pretty exciting project. Not as sexy to the general public as seeing new cranes in the skyline but just as important, in my opinion.

[Steve]

This might be better actually, if it's a catalyst for other towers to do the same.

It being street level vibrancy to a desolate area. It makes people more comfortable to walk around, which is badly needed.

[thelakelander]

Amen! I agree!

[Steve]

Permits for Starbucks in BofA Building:

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/dec/29/starbucks-issued-permit-for-bank-of-america-tower-in-downtown-jacksonville/

Side note...6 months to get a permit?