THURSDAY September 2, 2021
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
SMALL BUSINESS
Contractor plans Oct. 17 implosion for Berkman
Daily Record JOURNEY TO DOWNTOWN JACKSONVILLE
RUBY BEACH BREWING CO.’s
Safety concerns halted demolition of the Downtown structure.
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
JACKSONVILLE
Photo by Dan Macdonald
Behind the Ruby Beach Brewery Co. taproom is a fully functional brewery complete with a new canning system. Owner Mark Vandeloo is confident that canning in-house will cut production costs.
“Nobody lost more sleep than I did trying to get this place open,” says owner Mark Vandeloo.
BY DAN MACDONALD CONTRIBUTING WRITER
R
uby Beach Brewing Co. opened its new location Aug. 5 at 228 E. Forsyth St. because of the owner’s belief in Downtown Jacksonville’s potential and the continued popularity of craft brewing. While sitting in his new taproom, watching pedestrians walk by, Ruby Beach owner Mark Vandeloo spoke of how the day was a long time coming.
“Nobody lost more sleep than I did trying to get this place open,” he said. The pandemic shutdown in March 2020 affected his plans. Vandeloo and building owner Petra knew it would take time to create a brewery, taproom, event space and patio in the two-story, 3,100-square-foot building that was developed in 1904. It was not easy, but he considers it worth it. In December 2019, Vandeloo signed a 10-year SEE RUBY BEACH, PAGE 6
The unfinished Berkman Plaza II high-rise in Downtown Jacksonville has a tentative date with demolition — 7:30 a.m. Oct. 17. That’s when project contractor Pece of Mind Environmental Inc. wants to implode the 18-story riverfront shell structure, according to documents sent Aug. 27 to the city. Pece of Mind President Steve Pece said it filed an amended demolition permit application with the city the same day. Structural concerns found Aug. 19 halted demolition on the 14-year-old building at 500 E. Bay St. The contractor was using a high-reach excavator to take down the building. After an independent inspection, Pece said Aug. 23 implosion is “the safest way” to complete the demolition. Pece of Mind plans to subcontract Phoenix, Maryland-based Controlled Demolition Inc. to design and install explosive charges for the implosion. Controlled Demolition also imploded the old City Hall Annex in 2019. Pece said crews will need three to four weeks to prepare the Berkman II for implosion after the city approves the amended permit. It will take about two weeks to remove rubble from the site, he said. The contractor plans to complete the job by the end of the year. Jacksonville Riverfront Revitalization paid $5.503 million for the property April 21 and intends to redevelop the site as apartments and retail space.
MMENDENHALL@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
THE BASCH REPORT
Collaboration was the key for GuideWell acquisition Plus: Shoe Carnival earnings soar. PAGE 4 VOLUME 108, NO. 204 • TWO SECTIONS