Winn-Dixie deal that almost wasn\u2019t<\/p>\n
Northside residents said it was unfair to give the Jacksonville-based grocer $12 million from the taxpayers if the company closed the store at 48th and Main streets, which they said would create a food desert and also remove a pharmacy from the neighborhood.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Council member Ju\u2019Coby Pittman, whose district includes Brentwood, held a public meeting last week where Winn-Dixie agreed to keep the store open until 2029 and give the city an 18-month notice if it decides to close the store after its three-year lease is up.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThis should be a pretty easy choice,\u201d Council Vice President Nick Howland said before the vote Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we approve this amendment and the bill as amended, there\u2019s a 100% chance that 500 employees stay here, the West 48th Street store stays open, we hire 200 new employees in Jacksonville and Winn-Dixie invests $65 million in capital investment. Otherwise \u2026 we get our money back,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we don\u2019t approve this tonight, the only thing we\u2019re 100% sure of is more uncertainty and that the West 48th Street store will close.\u201d<\/p>\n
The agreement with the city also requires Winn-Dixie to operate 13 stores total in Jacksonville. The company announced Thursday it will cut ribbons on May 16 for two new stores in Jacksonville, at 5909 University Blvd. W. and 5250 Moncrief Road W. It\u2019s also opening a store this weekend in Folkston, Georgia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The company says $48 million of its $65 million investment pledged in its agreement with the city will be store renovations, with $17 million going into its headquarters. The 200 new corporate jobs will have an average salary of $100,000, according to the agreement.<\/p>\n
Council President Kevin Carrico and member Rory Diamond voted against the bill.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Winn-Dixie-Incentives-vote-1024x474.webp\")
<\/p>\n
Diamond, who has a history of voting against public incentives for private companies, argued that the agreement may not save the 48th and Main streets store past 2029.<\/p>\n
He called the deal \u201ccorporate welfare.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is extortion,\u201d Diamond said. \u201cAll the uncertainty we\u2019re trying to put to bed is because Winn-Dixie is giving us the uncertainty. They\u2019re the ones shutting down the stores. They\u2019re the ones saying, \u2018We love Jacksonville. We grew up our entire company here. We are the history of Jacksonville. But we\u2019re going to leave if you don\u2019t give us cash.\u2019\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
Pittman said Tuesday she was taken back by Diamond\u2019s comments.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you haven\u2019t lived in a community that\u2019s distressed or have issues, you can\u2019t relate to that,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Council member Jimmy Peluso, who ultimately voted in favor of the bill, said he feared that it would set a precedent for other companies that want public money to remain in Jacksonville.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He said he hopes the debate over giving Winn-Dixie city dollars leads to a debate on fully funding the city\u2019s food desert program.<\/p>\n