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CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC: YOUR INSIGHT
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THE MATHIS REPORT
‘As much positive action as we can’ Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
Ulta’s delay won’t affect incentives
JACKSONVILLE
Photo by Karen Brune Mathis
Steve Thompson opened Sand Dollar Cleaners in 1996 at 2160 University Blvd. N. His business has four employees.
Sand Dollar Cleaners owner Steve Thompson boosts marketing as revenue falls. BY SCOTT SAILER STAFF WRITER
Steve Thompson, owner of Sand Dollar Cleaners in Arlington, is facing challenges and creating opportunities, like most business owners dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are not going to sit back and whine
about what is. We are going to take as much positive action as we can and be aggressive in our marketing and try to do what we can to help folks through this time and in the process help ourselves,” Thompson said of his business and four employees. Thompson opened Sand Dollar Cleaners at 2160 University Blvd. N. in June 1996. He took over the old Derby House restaurant property that had fallen into use
KEEPING CLOSE – FROM A DISTANCE Since March 13, city event venues, stores, restaurants, malls, entertainment centers, churches and businesses shut down and laid off workers or sent them home to telecommute to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Daily Record will report how local small business owners are dealing with the imposed social isolation.
The city approved $1.425M in 2019 for the distribution center to open by year-end 2021. Ulta Beauty Inc.’s delay in opening its Jacksonville e-commerce fast fulfillment center won’t affect its economic incentives agreement with the city. Ulta Beauty notified the city Office of Economic Development in January about its intent to delay the opening from summer 2020 until 2021. James Croft, assistant director of public affairs, said April 8 that Ulta Beauty remains within the terms of its economic development agreement. The agreement says the company had to start construction by the end of 2019, which it did, and complete the project by the end of 2021. Ulta has until the end of 2021 to have at least 30 jobs at the facility. “In short, this delay does not affect the approved incentives,” Croft said. Ulta Beauty announced Dec. 5 that it will delay opening its North Jacksonville fast fulfillment center until 2021, a decision made before the COVID-19 pandemic. The beauty supplies company announced the decision as it reprioritized its spending plans.
SEE THOMPSON, PAGE 2
SEE MATHIS, PAGE 3
Permit issued for Coastal Moving & Storage The city issued a permit April 7 for Haskew Company & Associates Inc. to build a 41,200-square-foot project for Savannah-based Coastal Moving & Storage Jax LLC in South Imeson Industrial Park. The $2.2 million job is planned on 5.63 acres at 2625 Imeson Road in the West Jacksonville business park. Coastal Moving now leases a 22,000-square-foot warehouse on about 2.3 acres at 3740 Pampas Drive off Interstate 95 and Emerson Street. The city issued a sign permit Feb. 28 for Coastal Moving & Storage at the new address. Coastal paid $295,360 for the property in March.
VOLUME 107, NO. 104 • ONE SECTION