Daily Record Financial News &
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 083 • Two Sections
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
‘Project Star’ to bring 100 new jobs
Company seeks $353,000; could be City Refrigeration
Photos by David Chapman
By David Chapman and Karen Brune Mathis Staff Writer
The 9th & Main building in Springfield once housed Henrietta’s restaurant along with a club and small theatre. It’s been owned by the city and vacant for years, but there’s movement that could put the building back in private hands.
Selling a piece of Main Street
City-owned site on market for new start By David Chapman Staff Writer In the mid-2000s, Springfield’s 9th & Main building was a hotspot. Henrietta’s restaurant attracted people from all over the city. Attached was a lounge and entertainment venue featuring a small stage and theater. “It was a gathering place for the whole community,” said Christina Parrish, executive director of the Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council. More than a decade later, only remnants remain of its short-lived past. Kitchen equipment that hasn’t been used in years, waiter wallets strewn about and fliers for
events come and gone. That is mixed with piles of trash and the occasional piece of clothing or pair of shoes, blight and grime that often collect in a building that’s been vacant for years. However, there are now signs of life. On Tuesday, several people walked through the place thinking of what they could turn it into during an open house of sorts held by the city. The building has been publicly owned since the former developer defaulted on a city loan resulting in foreclosure. “It’s a diamond in the rough,” said Shanna Carter, founder and CEO of the Krumpin 4 Success nonprofit. “You can 9th & Main continued on Page A-4
The building has a gated patio area in the back, with access to the small theater and open space in the main hall.
Legislation was filed Tuesday for the unidentified “Project Star,” whose details match a Scotland-based company, City Refrigeration, which wants to open in Southside. The unidentified international company proposes to open a North America corporate headquarters in Jacksonville with plans to create about 100 jobs by the end of 2017. Of that, 51 jobs would be covered by economic incentives provided by the city and state. The incentivized jobs would pay an average $67,000 and be created by Dec. 31, 2017. In all, the company requests $353,000 in city and state incentives. Of that, $122,400 would come from the state through its share of a Qualified Target Industry Tax Refund grant for the 51 jobs. The city would provide $30,600 as its share of the grant along with $200,000 for a Recaptured Enhanced Value grant. That would be paid over 10 years for purchases of tangible personal property. In addition to the jobs, the company is expected to invest a minimum of $5.7 million in information technology, equipment, furniture and real estate improvements. No location was identified. Resolution 2016-197, which was introduced to City Council last night, said Jacksonville is in competition with another large city for the headquarters. The company, according to project details, has more than 25 years of experience in retail, residential and commercial markets and has a global presence with offices on three continents. It has 5,000 employees worldwide. Those details match City Refrigeration, which is considering an office operation in Cypress Point Business Park. The JAX Chamber would not comment Project Star
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Local coffee-bean roaster Pura Bean Coffee Co. is moving into a storefront to sell its brews. Pura Bean Holdings Inc. President Chris Diedrich intends to open a coffee shop in early April in the Beach Boulevard center anchored by The Church of Eleven22. Diedrich said the 1,000-squarefoot shop will sell his coffees by the bag or by the cup. He also will offer pastries made by his staff. Diedrich, who is a member of the church, said he had been looking for a shop location for more than a year. He had three serious prospective locations in Five Points, Downtown and
Public
San Marco, but those sites didn’t work out. Then came opportunity. “We saw a space that opened up and the terms are really favorable,” he said. The space in the center, at 14286 Beach Blvd., also is convenient to his customer base. “We have a following in the church,” he said. Diedrich expects a staff of at
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least five employees. To start, the hours will be 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. The shop will be closed on Monday. He said those hours could change. Food will include pastries, yogurt parfaits and he’s working on developing a breakfast-in-acup. In addition to hot brewed coffee and tea, beverages will include iced coffee and tea, bottled water and probably bottled sodas. Pura Bean coffee will be roasted and ground on the premises. Mathis
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File photo
Pura Bean to open coffee shop on Beach
One-man coffee roaster Chris Diedrich started Pura Bean Coffee Co. in January 2014 and left his job a year ago to run it full-time.
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