Several new restaurants, businesses and major construction projects are moving forward across Jacksonville, with visible progress happening along Western Boulevard, Gum Branch Road and Carolina Forest.
City officials confirmed Harris Teeter has officially signed on to build a new grocery store in the open field next to Academy Sports on Western Boulevard. While no construction start date has been announced, officials said the deal is finalized.
City officials tell me that Harris Teeter will be built in the open field next to Academy Sports. No word on when construction will begin.
Construction is already underway for a Guthrie’s Chicken restaurant on Western Boulevard next to Publix and Jersey Mike’s. Guthrie’s is a restaurant chain known for serving chicken fingers only.
A Guthrie’s Chicken is being built on Western right next to Jersey Mikes and Publix. A Guthrie‘s is a restaurant chain that serves only chicken fingers.
Across the street from Wawa, crews have demolished the former Hardee’s building. A Raising Cane’s restaurant is planned for the site, and officials said concrete footers are expected to be poured next week. The Raising Cane’s sign is already up behind the Walmart on Western.
The Raising Cane‘s sign is officially up across from Wawa, where the old Hardee’s building used to be.
Another new restaurant, Brassa Tacos & Taps, is nearing its opening in the former Old Chicago location. Owner Juan Gonzalez, who also owns El Cerro in Jacksonville and Swansboro, said the restaurant is waiting on final inspections and could open within the next week. Brassa features upgraded décor, deep booths and a full menu available on its social media pages.
Brassa Tacos and Taps is now in the old Old Chicago location and could be open in the next week, they are waiting on final inspections
Juan upped his decor game with this restaurant. Check out the light fixtures
Brassa has deep booths and a deep menu you can find on their FB page
Major progress is also visible near Carolina Forest Road, where trees are being cleared for a new $61 million state-of-the-art VA outpatient clinic. Once logging is complete, crews will begin clearing the land in preparation for construction.
This is the view from the Walmart Neighborhood market on Western looking west over Carolina Forest Road, where they are the logging the trees where the new $61 million state of the art VA outpatient clinic will be built. Once the logging is done, they will start clearing the land in preparation for the construction process
On Gum Branch Road, the new Express Oil building next to Dunkin’ is now standing, with infrastructure work underway. Nearby, the YMCA aquatic center project continues, with crews removing the old entrance canopy and preparing to pour the foundation for new pool walls.
The new Express Oil Building next to Dunkin on Gum Branch is up! They are putting infrastructure in now
The former Red Lobster on Western Boulevard is being transformed into Mizu, a new restaurant that is still about a month away from opening. While exterior work is complete, crews are continuing interior construction. One of the restaurant’s features will include heated tables designed to keep food warm.
The old Red Lobster building on Western is now Mizu, but it’s not ready to open yet. Crews tell me it will be at least a month
All the exterior is ready, but they are still working on a lot of the interior infrastructure
The second Wawa location at Corbin, N.C. 24 and Liberty Drive remains in the site preparation phase. Officials said some locations require extended prep work, including possible soil remediation, before construction can begin.
The second WaWa location at Corbin, 24 and Liberty is still being prepped. I’m told sometimes these sight preps take a few years before they can build
In the business community, Ready To RC opened in December at 2005 Lejeune Boulevard, offering indoor tracks for remote-controlled vehicles, including off-road and micro RC courses. The shop is run by Amy and Ryne Snooks, who also own Ready to Ride Motorcycle Shop nearby.
If you’re looking for a place to run remote controlled cars, 2005 Lejeune Blvd. is the place to go. Ready to RC opened in December.
Next door, The Board Store, which opened in 2020, continues producing custom woodworking projects ranging from furniture to signage. The Bower family, who operates the shop, also owns the neighboring shoe repair business, one of the few remaining in the area.
Right next-door to Ready to RC is The Board Store. They opened in 2020.
The Bowers also own the shoe repair store next-door, one of the very few places you can still get your shoes repaired
More development updates are expected as projects continue to move forward across Jacksonville