Daily Record Financial News &
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 078 • Three Sections
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Photos by David Chapman
Brooklyn Gate is heading to DDRB
Gary Polletta spent 24 years working at Edgewood Bakery with his parents until they sold the Murray Hill institution in 2014 to a group backed by Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan. Stache Investments, owned by Khan, has sold the business to restaurateur John Valentino, who will turn it into The French Pantry.
Neighborhood losing institution
French Pantry replacing Edgewood Bakery By David Chapman Staff Writer Gary Polletta describes the past few days as bittersweet. He isn’t referring to the type of chocolate that goes into baked goods like those found at Edgewood Bakery. Instead, it’s the emotions that come with the end of an era for the Murray Hill institution his family has been a part of for 27 years. He’s known for a few days, but the public became aware Tuesday the bakery was closing March 12.
It’s been sold to restaurateur John Valentino, who has helped grow Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers and Burrito Gallery as even more popular dining spots in Jacksonville. Valentino will turn it into a French Pantry. “I think French Pantry coming in is good for the neighborhood,” said Polletta. “I think Edgewood not being here is not that great.” Bittersweet. The same sentiment many customers who strolled in early Tuesday afternoon had as they picked up their confections. Edgewood continued on Page A-3
Polletta’s parents, Gary and Sandy, bought the bakery 24 years ago Tuesday. They purchased it from the original owners, who founded it in 1947.
Gate Petroleum Co.’s proposed Brooklyn store is tentatively scheduled for review next week at the Downtown Development Review Board. Jacksonville-based Gate wants to buy the property at Park and Forest streets for development of a 6,401-square-foot Gate convenience store and gas station, along with a car wash. The conceptual approval hearing is scheduled March 10. Downtown Development Coordinator Jim Klement said Downtown Investment Authority staff is reviewing the application this week and will discuss the project in context with Downtown design guidelines. The review board operates under the Downtown Investment Authority with authority staff support. The application says the Gate store would take six months to build once construction starts. Plans show the store, on 1.87 acres, would face Park Street, with 20 fueling positions and a canopy in the front. The addresses are 436 and 444 Park St. A car wash would be on the north side of the property, along Forest Street. The store would feature outdoor seating, air and vacuum stations and 26 parking spaces. A rendering shows it will include a Yobe frozen yogurt shop. Gate Vice President Becky Hamilton said the company is moving toward completing the property purchase but expects to request an extension of its approval period from the seller. That would push the closing to May 9, later than the initially expected April timeframe. After the DDRB approves conceptual Mathis continued on Page A-2
Former Girl Scout helping new generation
Londyn Dickens, an 8-year-old Brownie, and Mary Anne Jacobs, Girl Scouts of Gateway Council CEO. Jacobs tries to meet every young visitor who comes to the Riverside office.
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Photo by David Chapman
By David Chapman Staff Writer Many people associate Girl Scouts with the annual cookie drive. Thin Mints in the green box, Samoas in the purple, Tagalongs in the red. Yet, the organization is much more than that. Girl Scouts is the largest leadership development program for girls in the United States. Duval County is part of the Gateway Council — 16 counties, nearly 9,000 girls, 3,500 volunteers along with countless lessons learned. Jacksonville also is where Mary Anne Jacobs, the region’s “head” Girl Scout as CEO, has spent nearly the past three years shaping the organization and the
girls it serves. “I want them to be confident,” said Jacobs. Being more likely to graduate high school. Earning more money as an adult. Becoming civic leaders. Jacobs said data shows being in the group even a year leads to higher rates of all of those and more. “Every girl that wants to be a Girl Scout, should be a Girl Scout,” said Jacobs. The western Pennsylvania native was one growing up and the experience made her see the world differently after a bus ride. Tragedy as a mother later shaped her resolve and affirmation to children’s causes. And in retirement from the corporate world, she was able to make the
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difference she’s always wanted.
Getting off the bus
You don’t become the top Girl Scout without starting at the bottom. Jacobs, 58, was a Girl Scout growing up in a small town called Homer City a couple of hours outside Pittsburgh. She was a good camper during the day. At night, not so much — the dark, bumps in the night and scary stories all spooked her. She learned to sew, a skill that came in handy later when she needed to make curtains for her first apartment. She learned archery and how to shoot a gun. Overall, it took her out of her Jacobs continued on Page A-7
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