WEDNESDAY August 26, 2020
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Bean-to-bar chocolate shop coming to Atlantic Beach
THE MATHIS REPORT
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bars, which could include fruits, nuts, herbs and spices. The chocolate bars would range from $6 to $12 each, depending on the ingredients and source of the cacao beans. They expect to be open three to four days a week to customers. The front of the shop will have seating and display cases. The kitchen is in the back behind the counter, but with the shop’s open design, customers can see SEE CHOCOLATE, PAGE 2
SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
Photo by Katie Garwood
BY KATIE GARWOOD STAFF WRITER
While craft beer and coffee already have taken off in Northeast Florida, Jessica Diebel and Tucker Juan are hoping to make bar-to-bean craft chocolate a new trend.
The two are opening Makenu Chocolate at 30 Seminole Road in Atlantic Beach and have a soft opening planned Aug. 28 or Aug. 29. They will make the chocolate in-house from cacao beans sourced from Belize and other countries. Makenu will sell chocolate bars, Topsy Toffee, which Juan owns, and Deep Dive Truffles that Diebel owns. Eventually, they may add hot chocolate or iced chocolate drinks, pastries and chocolate bar creations called inclusion
The Markets at Town Center adding kayak launch, deck Hines, owner of The Markets at Town Center, wants to build an outdoor amenity center and a kayak launch for REI and other tenants that could use the features for products, training, classes and meetings. The St. Johns River Water Management District is reviewing plans for an environmental resource permit to build the project at the existing wet detention pond behind REI – Recreational Equipment Inc. – at 4862 Town Center Parkway. A district letter from Halff Associates Inc. says the project includes a covered outdoor seating area, wooden deck, concrete sidewalk and steps, and a floating dock for launching kayaks at the pond. “It’s an amenity we are offering as a consumer experience,” said Helen Ciesla, Hines general property manager, as well as allowing customers and employees to gather in groups with social distancing during the pandemic. She said Hines is building the dock, kayak launch and the outdoor seating, which can be a teaching area, for use by all tenants at The Markets at Town Center. That includes REI and West Marine for outdoor gear and other tenants, such as Nor-
Tucker Juan and Jessica Diebel are the owners of Makenu Chocolate at 30 Seminole Road in Atlantic Beach. They will make chocolate in-house from cacao beans sourced from Belize and other countries.
Owners Jessica Diebel and Tucker Juan are planning a soft opening this week.
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
The Magnificat Cafe closing Aug. 28 After 17 years in business Downtown, The Magnificat Cafe at 231 N. Laura St. will close permanently Aug. 28. Owners Kathy and Benoit Desclefs announced the decision Aug. 24 on Facebook. “The pandemic and our health made it increasingly difficult to continue any further,” the post read. “We gave it out best try.” According to Daily Record news partner News4Jax, the couple and their 17-year-old son, Luke, were diagnosed with cancer in December. They initially planned to close their restaurant in January, but with help from online donations and media coverage that increased traffic, they continued operating.
VOLUME 107, NO. 199 • ONE SECTION