FRIDAY July 19, 2019
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
THE MATHIS REPORT
THINKING INSIDE Daily Record OF THE BOX JACKSONVILLE
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Award-winning young entrepreneur Brandon Stallings created a company based on smart thinking about smart foods. BY KATIE GARWOOD STAFF WRITER
For SmartBox Company CEO Brandon Stallings, starting a business while in college was, at the time, about getting rich and retiring at 35. Seven years later, the vending machine business Stallings ran out of his truck, house and a storage unit has grown into a company that provides health food micromarkets, hightech vending machines and a custom snack box delivery service. It’s on track to break $1.2 million in revenue this year. In May, Stallings was recognized as the U.S. Small Business Administration District Young Entrepreneur of the Year, and he has no plans to stop anytime soon. “Now, I don’t want to (retire),” said the 29-yearold. “I wouldn’t want to do that even if we got ‘really, really rich,’ whatever that meant back then. I love SmartBox. I love what we’ve created.” SmartBox provides a “one-stop shop” for office break rooms. The company fills its vending machines, micromarkets and snack boxes with food and drinks that are free of artificial ingredients, preservatives and SEE STALLINGS, PAGE 2
JACKSONVILLE
BRANDON STALLINGS
Age: 29 Title: CEO and founder Organization: SmartBox Company Education: Florida State University, bachelor’s degree, international business Hometown: Jacksonville Website: smartboxcompany.com
JACKSONVILLE
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
Chase Bank will join the skyline The financial institution is building-out a branch in The Barnett.
File photo
Chase Bank intends to install its name on top of The Barnett at 112 W. Adams St.
Photo by Katie Garwood
Brandon Stallings, 29, was named the SBA District Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He founded SmartBox Company.
Chase Bank will join the Downtown skyline. JPMorgan Chase & Co. is building-out a branch Downtown in the The Barnett, formerly known as the Barnett National Bank Building. Developer Steve Atkins said Thursday that Chase will take the bottom floor at 112 W. Adams St. Signage will be put on top of the 18-story structure, he said. The historic high-rise formerly served as the headquarters of Jacksonville-based Barnett Banks Inc., which was merged into Bank of America through a series of acquisitions. Atkins dropped the “bank” but kept “Barnett” for historical context. “I’m sure a lot of people will refer to it as the Chase building,” he said. SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
Grunthal & Schueth bids for JEA corner Jacksonville-based Grunthal & Schueth Properties Inc. submitted the high bid Tuesday of $3.21 million for JEA property at 9201 Atlantic Blvd. Grunthal & Schueth prinicpals Leonard H. “Buzzy” Grunthal III and William F. “Bill” Schueth would not comment when asked about their plans for the property. The group focuses on retail development. JEA’s next step is to negotiate a contract. Two bids were opened for the 5-acre property at northwest Atlantic and Southside boulevards. City staff reported that Southside Development LLC submitted a bid of $2.5 million.
VOLUME 106, NO. 172 • ONE SECTION