Is San Marco going to go up in flames? (economically speaking)

[stephendare]

Grim news is flooding in from the charming genteel district south of downtown.

San Marco, which went through rapid and sustained gentrification beginning with the Davis Family investments in the early 90s and the Lori Boyer led renovation of the Fountain of Lions seems to be the first of the historic districts to be feeling the pain of the Depression.

The Square is dominated by Jacksonville local original business concepts.

Peterbrooke's, Pizza Palace, and the Loop are only a few of the local chains made good that were birthed and housed in the Square.

For now they seem to be doing well, but later in the 90s and in this decade, these staple businesses were joined by the efforts of Matthew Medure and Pom, who opened Matthew's, Pom's Thai Restaurant at Square One, and Matthews Market.  They followed suit in Ponte Vedra with Medure's and Old Siam.

Last week, the Ponte Vedra locations were empty and shuttered, and according to sources in San Marco, the employees at Matthews discovered that their checks were being withheld.

Uncommon Grounds is on the list of closings to coincide with the new year.

Closings by this group of people would take out four San Marco landmark restaurants and leave huge holes in the fabric of the retail district.

Also rumored to be faltering is the Corner Brasserie, and 5 more of the smaller retail shops (which I will not name for fear of creating self fulfilling prophecies.)

Then news this morning that last night, the rash of smash and grabs has spread to San Marco.

Dianne Whitten reports that her coffeeshop was broken into and the register, with the previous days receipts inside, was stolen.

Grim news.

[stephElf]

Uncommon grounds?

how is that possible... they always seem packed.

I was just in there a few days ago.

Man that would bum me out.

[vicupstate]

regarding the break-in

Don't retailers make a nightly drop ??

[UglyBilly]

I've heard rumors that Uncommon Ground is planning on moving to the Springfield area.

[BridgeTroll]

Would'nt purporting a depression be a self fulfilling prophecy?

[Ocklawaha]

"Some will come, and some will go, this will surely pass, we are but a moments sunlight, fading in the grass..."

I'm not negative on San Marco - Riverside - Avondale - Fairfax - Ortega or San Jose or even St. Nicholas. Each of these business centers offer a unique eperience not unlike Worth Avenue, Hollywood Blvd, Coral Gables or Rodeo Drive. This is not to say the shopping is on par with Worth or Rodeo, but the atmosphere is certainly there. These places ARE Jacksonville's signature neighborhoods, they are already what we think Springfield aspires to be.

Art shops, crafts, small botiques and cafes are not CSX or Fidelity Financial, and they will always have a fragile bottom line, making them very prone to economic woes. Old ones will fold and we'll get a whole new crop, perhaps new blood with ideas imported from New Orleans, San Francisco, Portland, and the Florida Keys.
Our own unique melting pot of Jersey City Industrial - meets Lynard Skynard and Jimmy Buffet. No where else but JACKSONVILLE.

Once upon a time in 5-points it was THE THEATER, Petersons 5 and 10, Ben Franklin, News Stand, and Barber. Today the neighborhood is even richer, Petersons was a huge loss, but no where does the spirit march on like the urban collection of 5-Points. San Marco is the Southsides 5-Points and it will likewise soldier on, too unique, too cool, too sweet to die.

OCKLAWAHA

[BridgeTroll]

Is Starbucks downtown still closing?  Perhaps Uncommon Grounds could move there?

[The Compound]

Is Starbucks downtown still closing?  Perhaps Uncommon Grounds could move there?

Im sure the rent on that space is a small fortune.

[thelakelander]

The owner of Uncommon Grounds wants to move the business to Springfield.  Unfortunately, she has not been able to locate a space for the business.  So far, she told me about two locations she was interested in that has not worked out.  Those were the Main Street Bakery (a restaurant is already going in here) and the old Epicurean Cafe (leasing rate disagreement).  In the meantime, she's going to move to Springfield and continue her search.  This is something I plan to bring up with SAMBA.  Uncommon Grounds would be the perfect complement for the existing businesses in Springfield.

[The Compound]

The owner of Uncommon Grounds wants to move the business to Springfield.  Unfortunately, she has not been able to locate a space for the business.  So far, she told me about two locations she was interested in that has not worked out.  Those were the Main Street Bakery (a restaurant is already going in here) and the old Epicurean Cafe (leasing rate disagreement).  In the meantime, she's going to move to Springfield and continue her search.  This is something I plan to bring up with SAMBA.  Uncommon Grounds would be the perfect complement for the existing businesses in Springfield.

Even with 3 Layers already there?

[uptowngirl]

So is it a case of too hihg rent, or wanting to pay too little? We here a lot about greedy landlords here, but I always wonder if that is really the case...

[reednavy]

Matthew's in Ponte Vedra is supposedly not economically related, but a business and/or personal relationship issues with the owners. That's what I heard this weekend.

[thelakelander]

The owner of Uncommon Grounds wants to move the business to Springfield.  Unfortunately, she has not been able to locate a space for the business.  So far, she told me about two locations she was interested in that has not worked out.  Those were the Main Street Bakery (a restaurant is already going in here) and the old Epicurean Cafe (leasing rate disagreement).  In the meantime, she's going to move to Springfield and continue her search.  This is something I plan to bring up with SAMBA.  Uncommon Grounds would be the perfect complement for the existing businesses in Springfield.

Even with 3 Layers already there?

Sure.  They appeal to a different demographic.

[alta]

Glad to hear that Uncommon Grounds is wanting to move to Springfield.  I'm sure she will find a suitable space. 

[Bewler]

I hope Laylas can pull through. Kasbah hookahs make me sick and The Sahara has too much UNF "brah" fest going on.