Daily Record Financial News &
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 142 • One Section
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Downtown wine store grew out of parties
Business expanded from warehouse to retail site By Max Marbut Staff Writer
Vanessa Williams sees her husband’s name engraved on the Veterans Memorial Wall in Jacksonville for the first time Monday. His name was among five added to the memorial.
Navy man’ s family seeking answers
By David Chapman Staff Writer
Memorial Day used to be a time of celebration in the Williams household. Kevin Williams, a U.S. Navy chief petty officer, was the grill master, cooking up chicken, sausages and other mouth-watering delights. His wife, Vanessa, and children, Jamal and Journi, enjoyed the food and family time, whether it was a game of Monopoly (Kevin’s favorite), listening to music or watching a little TV.
“It was always a big deal,” said Vanessa Williams of the holiday family time. They celebrated that way Memorial Day 2013. The next weekend Kevin was going to buy Jamal a car. The Fourth of July holiday would see the family going to Disney World with Kevin’s brother and his children. None of that happened. Kevin Williams disappeared the next day. He left a family behind that struggled to Williams
continued on
Page A-4
Chief Petty Officer Kevin Williams disappeared in 2013 after an argument with his wife. His body was found in a pond two years later.
Photos by Fran Ruchalski
Body found 2 years after disappearing
What started at a dinner party nearly three years ago led to a new wine store and direct-marketing headquarters at The Carling Downtown. Wine Decadence at 31 W. Adams St. sells Foley Family Wines by the bottle and case and it’s the warehouse for a team of about 50 consultants who sell the wines at tasting parties in private homes. Anna Valent, Wine Decadence CEO, said in late 2013 an executive with Fidelity National Financial invited friends over for dinner and served Foley Family Wine from vineyards owned by Bill Foley, Fidelity chairman. “Everybody wanted to know where they could buy the wine, so he started taking orders,” said Valent. Within a year, a marketing plan was developed around wine tasting parties in homes. “Most people serve wine at home-sale parties,” said Valent. “We bring the wine to the party.” Wine Decadence Valent consultants bring four wines, plus glasses and cheese, for a twohour tasting and educational session. Valent said Foley Family owns about 50 vineyards and wineries around the world and has access to another 250 fine wine labels. Bottle prices range from $12 to more than $200. “We offer something for every taste and budget,” she said. After guests sample the wines and learn about their origins and food pairings, the consultant takes orders that may be picked up at the store or delivered by courier a few days after the party. The company moved into the space at The Carling in October 2014 and used it as a warehouse to store the wine. With help from a $33,500 Retail Enhancement Grant to the building’s owner from the Downtown Investment Authority, Wine
continued on
Page A-3
More signals call for Earth Fare in Mandarin
Even more indications are surfacing that organic and natural foods grocer Earth Fare is closing in on a supermarket at the Mandarin South shopping center. Property owner Preferred Growth Properties LLC filed site plans with the city for parking lot improvements that clearly outline a 27,550-square-foot “natural grocer” in the largest space at 11700 San Jose Blvd. One reason it is expected to be an Earth Fare is a former tenant in the building, Wood You Furniture, said so. When the business moved to another Mandarin location in
Public
February, its owners said they were told by a Preferred Growth Properties representative that Earth Fare had signed a lease there. Another reason is when Earth Fare opened its first Jacksonville store in August 2014 at Kernan and Atlantic boulevards, its CFO said the company wanted to open up to four area stores, including in Mandarin. And another link is the size — the Atlantic North store is 24,000 square feet, similar to the Mandarin South size. Store and property representatives have not confirmed the
legal notices begin on page
A-9
Earth Fare lease. The site plans filed last week cover parking-lot improvements. Preferred Growth Properties, through the PGP Jacksonville LLC ownership entity, and Solid Rock Engineering Consultants Inc. submitted the information. A letter from Solid Rock says PGP Jacksonville LLC proposes to improve the parking lot to
meet city design specifications as closely as possible. It says the proposed uses remain the same as existing uses: a retail/grocery/ restaurant building. A Winn-Dixie occupied the grocery space years ago, which appears to be divided now to accommodate other retailers. The Winn-Dixie was at least 45,000 square feet. The internal landscape islands will be built according to the city’s land development code. Details of the changes are in a requested zoning administrative deviation scheduled for review, the letter says.
Published
for
26,942
The letter and the plans show more detail about Preferred Growth Properties’ intentions for the property, which is at San Jose Boulevard and Loretto Road, south of Interstate 295. Now at about 65,000 square feet, a proposed addition will boost the shopping center to almost 74,000 square feet. That addition will help create space for a 17,730-square-foot junior anchor next to the grocery store. Some tenants, including AutoZone, said previously they intend to remain. Mathis continued on Page A-2
consecutive weekdays