JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Fresh Market, the urban core's newest grocery store, opened Wednesday at Brooklyn Station, the new 50,000-square-foot shopping center on Riverside Avenue.
"There's not a whole lot of competition right now," Fresh Market store manager Mahir Zelihic said of the location. "There's Publix right up the street, but in the other direction, not a lot until you get all the way to University Boulevard. Also, this is an up-and-coming area with a lot of development."
Mayor Alvin Brown was among the dignitaries who cut the ribbon at 8:15 a.m. The first 1,000 customers received a sample bag of coffee and a reusable shopping bag.
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Fresh Market is the first tenant to open in the space, part of a mixed-use development including 200 Riverside complex and Brooklyn Riverside apartments. Between them, more than 600 housing units will be coming online within the next six months.
"Now people can walk to a grocery store. Those who want to move closer to downtown will have access to a grocery store and that's what people care about," Brown said. "This creates 90 jobs in the neighborhood; it's bringing it back to life."
In addition to Fresh Market, seven other retailers have signed contracts for stores at Brooklyn Station, according to Regency Centers, manager of the property. Talks are progressing with other prospective tenants.