WEDNESDAY March 31, 2021
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
DOWNTOWN
Olio owner: Restaurant space listed for sale
Daily Record
Doro demolition begins
JACKSONVILLE
Greg DeSanto cites the pandemic for considering options that include selling the business or opening elsewhere.
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
BY KATIE GARWOOD STAFF WRITER
JACKSONVILLE
Photos by Katie Garwood
A Realco Recycling Co. Inc. crew began taking down the George Doro Fixture Co. buildings March 29. The 1.77-acre Doro block is bounded by A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and Adams, Lafayette and Forsyth streets.
The project is making way for a mixeduse development with apartments. BY KATIE GARWOOD STAFF WRITER
A demolition crew took down the first pieces of the George Doro Fixture Co. block March 29, clearing the way for Rise: A Real Estate Company’s residential and mixed-use project, The Doro. The first buildings on the Doro block in the Downtown Sports and Entertainment District date to 1914 and more structures were added through 1954. Realco Recycling Co. Inc. is the demolition contractor. City-issued permits show a job cost of $225,015 for demolition of structures at 128 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.; 102 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.; the main George Doro building; and 951 Forsyth St. SEE DORO, PAGE 2
Workers are starting at the back of the structure and will work toward the front. Neighboring VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena is north of the site.
Olio owner Greg DeSanto is contemplating several options for the future of his Downtown restaurant, including a possible sale. He listed the restaurant space for sale several weeks ago but said if business turns around, it may not be necessary to sell. Given the financial losses the restaurant has seen in the past year and DeSanto’s need for a hip replacement, his plan is to sell the space and reopen Olio, or another concept, elsewhere. “If things turn around t o m o r r o w, will I stay DeSanto open, there’s a chance, sure,” DeSanto said. “But the logistics of the situation, it’s long days. I’m starting to get a little older and there’s some different paths I could be taking. Given the current economic situation and world outlook situation, I don’t want to say I’m doing something but then not follow through with it.” DeSanto said it has been a tough financial year for the restaurant as many Downtown workers, his primary customers, have been working from home. Sales are down 60% to 75% from prepandemic levels. The restaurant serves breakfast and lunch. He employs three. With the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront fully booked by the U.S. Marine Corps for SEE OLIO, PAGE 2
Culver’s franchisee buys land along Gate Parkway A Culver’s restaurant franchisee paid $1.3 million for almost 1.54 acres along Gate Parkway across from Ikea. GateLite3 LLC bought the land March 22 from First Coast Energy L.L.P. The city is reviewing permits for a 3,820-square-foot restaurant on the property at 7818 Gate Parkway at construction costs of almost $1.46 million. McCon Building Corp. of Highland, Wisconsin, is the contractor. Franchisee Don Lichte said previously that GateLite3 would start development upon buying the land. The city issued a site-clearing permit March 16.
VOLUME 108, NO. 95 • ONE SECTION