Daily Record Financial News &
Thursday, August 18, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 199 • One Section
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Businesses show support for Hemming Neighboring Downtown retailers see impact from lack of programming
Business hasn’t been as good for retailers around Hemming Park in recent months. Sales have been down for several businesses. Families that often came in to nearby restaurants and retailers have largely disappeared. Sure, it’s been oppressively hot at times, but the timing also coincides with another occurrence: When the Friends of Hemming
Park cut back on events at the Downtown venue. The group that’s managed Hemming Park for nearly two years did so because it was running out of money. But the ancillary effect was felt by some surrounding retailers. Jennifer O’Donnell, manager of Chamblin’s Uptown, told a City Council committee Wednesday that when owner Ron Chamblin purchased the building in 2006 the park was “pretty scary.”
But after Friends starting programming the park, sales picked up. More families and children are frequenting, too. Next door at Magnificat Café, co-owner Kathy Desclefs saw similar trends. But they’ve largely disappeared in recent months. She and her husband, Benoit, have owned the spot for close to 13 years. They’d like to see the park get back to the changes made just after Friends took it over in September 2014.
“Whatever they did, worked,” she said Wednesday afternoon. A couple parcels away, the owners of Mochi Misk’i brownie shop also said they’ve seen a dramatic dip in traffic since May. “If you don’t have as many events, you don’t have as much traffic,” said Pilar Langthon, who opened the shop with her sister, Helga, in January. The talk of the business impact arose Wednesday during the council Finance Committee, which
Reaching high to make the grab Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Rashad Greene goes up high for a catch in front of cornerback Javien Elliott of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The teams practiced together Wednesday at the Florida Blue Health and Wellness Practice Facility. They will practice again today in preparation for their preseason game Saturday at EverBank Field. See more photos on Page A-3.
Boyer lays out 12-month plan for tourism New agency contract and future attractions on her agenda
By Max Marbut Staff Writer City Council President Lori Boyer, in her role as chair of the Duval County Tourist Development Council, laid out Wednesday a tourism development plan for the next year. The proposal includes updating the tourist development plan, issuing a request for proposals for a convention and tourism marketing agency and identifying new tourism opportunities and possible attractions. Boyer will introduce legislation this month to establish a framework for how TDC will appropriate its share of the local
Public
option tourist development tax — often referred to as the “bed tax.” Of the 6 percent tax collected on hotel rooms, 2 percent is allocated for the Sports Complex Upkeep Fund, 2 percent to EverBank Field and 2 percent to the tourism council. Seventy percent of the TDC’s share goes to Visit Jacksonville, which markets the city to convention planners and tourists. Visit Jacksonville’s five-year contract expires Sept. 30, 2017. Boyer said an RFP will be issued early next year. The bill to be introduced to council would authorize the TDC to spend 71 percent of its bed tax revenue for marketing and public relations efforts in Flori-
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voted 4-1 to provide Friends with $58,000 to continue operations until October. It was the final hurdle before a Tuesday full council vote and comes weeks after increased scrutiny on how the nonprofit has managed a $1 million contract it received to turn the park around. Now, restrictions have been put in place by council as to how Friends can use the money. Programming dollars will have to be Hemming continued on Page A-4
Soccer store to open in Southside
Photo by Bobby King
By David Chapman Staff Writer
da, nationally and internationally to attract tourism business. The plan proposes 24 percent would be used to fund events that attract tourists. The remaining 5 percent would pay for tourist information cen- Boyer ters and a convention and tourism bureau, either as a county agency or through contract, as is currently the case. “This is your recommendations as the TDC continued on Page A-4
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WeGotSoccer, an official partner and sponsor of the Jacksonville Armada FC, will open a retail store in Jacksonville by year-end, pending construction. The store will include a dedicated Armada shop to sell officially licensed gear and apparel. “Jacksonville is a very active community and we see this as a great opportunity for us to better serve a fantastic soccer area to which we already have ties and a personal connection,” said Josh Ryder, marketing director for WeGotSoccer. Jacksonville will be the Foxboro, Mass.based company’s first location outside of headquarters, where it opened its first store. WeGotSoccer is building out an almost 11,000-square-foot store at Philips Plaza at 8570 Philips Highway, south of Baymeadows Road. Racine Construction Co. is the contractor for the $89,408 project, although the full renovations and completed location will be a higher investment, Ryder said. He said the store will employ about 30 full- and part-time staff. The company works with many of the area soccer clubs, providing uniforms, kits and fan wear, Ryder said, in addition to providing the Armada’s team uniforms. It also powers the Armada’s official Pro Shop at wegotsoccer.com/armadafc. The Armada is a member of the North American Soccer League. Eric Scott, Armada director of public relations, said WeGotSoccer has done “a tremendous job” offering fans an online solution to get Armada gear. “This new venture will give our regional fan base a hands-on shopping experience that is unique to the area,” Scott said. On the community side, Ryder said the company partners with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Jacksonville. It will host the “Breast Cancer Awareness Match” for the Armada on Oct. 8 to raise
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