JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A halal grocery store on Beach Boulevard that drew backlash over two plans to operate a slaughterhouse received Jacksonville City Council approval for a revised proposal to expand its property without an animal processing facility, according to News4JAX partners at the Jacksonville Daily Record.
During its Tuesday night meeting, City Council approved on separate votes Apna Bazar’s amended rezoning and land use amendment requests. The owner of the market on Beach Blvd. sought to create additional space for a shopping center.
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The land use amendment, contained in Ordinance 2025-0487, changes 1.81 acres of the property to Community/General Commercial from Low Density Residential. That measure passed 14-3, with members Rory Diamond, Mike Gay and Will Lahnen voting no. Council President Kevin Carrico, whose District 4 includes the Apna Bazar property, and member Terrance Freeman were absent.
RELATED | Jacksonville Planning Commission endorses proposal for Apna Bazar expansion
Ordinance 2025-0488 rezones 6.82 acres to Planned Unit Development from Residential Low Density-60 and Commercial Community General-2. A PUD allows uses, regulations and standards tailored to a property. That ordinance passed 13-3, with members Ken Amaro, Rory Diamond and Mike Gay voting no. Carrico, Freeman and member Ju’Coby Pittman were not present for the vote.
In November 2025, Apna Bazar owner Mohammed Faisal issued a statement he had withdrawn a request to build a 30,000-square-foot addition and a 23,800-square-foot freestanding structure east of the store where poultry, lambs, goats and cows were to be processed in accordance with Islamic dietary laws.
The withdrawal came after the slaughterhouse drew sharp criticism from animal rights activists and nearby residents, who expressed concerns with potential health risks and noise pollution.
Through the PUD, Apna Bazar is allowed to operate commercial retail sales and service establishments; auto sales; auto repair; service stations; commercial, recreational and entertainment facilities; fruit, vegetable, poultry or fish market; and more.
The PUD does not grant permissions for slaughterhouses, live animal processing, adult arcade amusement centers, racetracks for animals or vehicles, restaurants that serve alcoholic beverages, nightclubs and more. The PUD also limited Apna Bazar’s hours from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.