MONDAY November 8, 2021
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
THE MATHIS REPORT
Croes Cellar LLC JACKSONVILLE buys Wine Cellar property on the Southbank
ArdentX: New home, booming sales Daily Record
The New York company led by investor Ronald Rettner has an office in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
Father and son Chuck and Connor Miller own and operate the transportation and logistics company.
Jacksonville-based transportation and logistics company ArdentX LLC relocated its headquarters and opened a warehouse at Freebird Commerce Center in North Jacksonville on its way to 2021 sales of $130 million. “Which is way more than we expected,” Chief Operating Officer Connor Miller said during an Oct. 19 tour of the location, days after the team moved in Oct. 14. Miller, 28, and his father, founder and CEO Chuck Miller, 58, thought ArdentX would reach $110 million. “What we can get up to in this building is probably $200 million in revenue,” Miller said. “And then we’re going to have to expand.” ArdentX designed the building so it can expand office space into the warehouse. Since the company’s leadership change and rebranding almost four years ago to ArdentX from United Transport Services, it has relocated from offices in the Southpoint area and added a warehouse for new business lines. “The warehousing is another SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
JACKSONVILLE
Photos by Karen Brune Mathis
ArdentX COO Connor Miller and his father, company founder and CEO Chuck Miller, at the company’s new offices and warehouse in Freebird Commerce Center near Jacksonville International Airport.
The racks inside the 40,000-square-foot ArdentX warehouse can hold 75 full truckloads.
ArdentX COO Connor Miller in the company’s gym, available to workers 24/7.
Croes Cellar LLC, associated with real estate investor Ronald Rettner, paid $1.04 million for the Wine Cellar restaurant property on the Downtown Southbank. Rettner registered Croes Cellar, based in Ponte Vedra Beach, with the state Oct. 4. The limited liability company bought the property Oct. 22. The Wine Cellar closed Oct. 16 at 1314 Prudential Drive after 47 years in operation. The Wine Cellar of Jacksonville LLC, led by Vicki Dugan, sold the property. The sale comprises three parcels totaling about a half-acre. The parcels are two parking lots along Home Street and the 3,909-square-foot restaurant building and property on Prudential Drive. Rettner could not be reached for comment. He has invested in other retail properties including in San Marco and in Gateway Village near St. Johns Town Center. Rettner Realty is based in New Rochelle, New York, with a Ponte Vedra Beach office. In announcing it would close, the restaurant posted on its website that it had received offers throughout the years for its restaurant and property. “The right offer has now come at the right time,” it said. “We have treasured our time of sharing fine dining, wine and culture with our little corner of North Florida, but now it is time for the next generation to take up the mantle as we walk into retirement.” General Manager Wayne Shipley, who had been with the resSEE WINE CELLAR, PAGE 2
KIPP Schools building in West Jacksonville KIPP Jacksonville Public Schools will build an Impact Academy at 7000 103rd St. in West Jacksonville. The city issued a permit Nov. 2 for construction of a two-story, 73,800-square-foot educational building on 16 acres at a job cost of $9 million. Summit Construction Management Group LLC of Orlando is the contractor. The city issued a site-clearing permit Oct. 29 at a cost of $500,000. The K-8 charter school can accommodate 900 students, plans show. Kasper Architects + Associates Inc. of Jacksonville is the architect.
VOLUME 108, NO. 250 • ONE SECTION