Bahama Breeze is blows into Jacksonville Town Center.

10205 River Coast Drive
Jacksonville, FL 32246
(904) 646-1031

A Bahama Breeze is blowing into Jacksonville.

The Caribbean-inspired restaurant operated by Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: (DRI) will open its first Florida location north of Orlando in the St. Johns Town Center in spring 2010.

“We’ve had our eyes on the Jacksonville market for quite some time, waiting for the right location to become available, and we fully believe St. Johns Town Center is it,” said Bahama Breeze spokesman Mike Bernstein in an e-mailed response. “We believe Bahama Breeze will fit in well with the other retailers and restaurants there.”

Retail development might have slowed significantly around the nation and in Jacksonville, but it hasn’t stopped completely at the 1.2 million-square-foot St. Johns Town Center. The second phase of the center, where the Bahama Breeze will be built, includes dining newcomers to Jacksonville such as Mitchell’s Fish Market; Cantina Laredo; Darden’s high-end steakhouse The Capital Grille; and J. Alexander’s, which opened in December.
Two more restaurants will open at the town center in October — Studio 09, a wine and tapas bar that is also new to the market, and Dick’s Wings and Grill — according to a representative of the owner, Simon Property Group Inc. (NYSE: SPG).
Orlando-based Darden Restaurants, like many others in the industry, saw its net income decline in the fiscal year that ended in May, dropping from $377.2 million, or $2.69 per share, to $372.2 million.
The company also saw same-restaurant sales decline in four out of five of its reporting brands in fiscal 2008: The Capital Grille, down 15.5 percent; Bahama Breeze, down 6 percent; LongHorn Steakhouse, down 5.6 percent; and Red Lobster, down 2.2 percent. Olive Garden same-store sales grew 0.3 percent.
Darden Restaurants also owns, but does not publicly report on, Seasons 52, which has no restaurants in Northeast Florida.

The Bahama Breeze menu includes seafood, chicken and steak entrées ranging in price from about $8 to $22, and averaging just under $12.

Twenty-four Bahama Breeze restaurants have opened in 12 states since 1996, eight of which are in Florida. The Jacksonville Bahama Breeze is the only one the company expects to open during fiscal 2010, but Bernstein said the company expects to open one to three restaurants a year in the near term.
Haley Construction Inc. of Daytona Beach will build the Jacksonville restaurant. The contractor’s building permit listed the construction cost as $1.1 million. The 7,000-square-foot restaurant will seat about 200 diners and employ 100 people.
cconte@bizjournals.com | 265-2227

Read more: Bahama Breeze to bring a taste of the islands | Jacksonville Business Journal

Book Some Out of Town Family Fun With New Low Fares From AirTran Airways!

Book Some Out of Town Family Fun With New Low Fares From AirTran Airways!

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct 19, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (AAI 7.37, -0.01, -0.13%) , launched a sale today for travel to all of the airline’s destinations with special low fares. Travelers may purchase these sale fares at http://www.airtran.com, from their local travel agent or via AirTran Airways’ reservations system at 1-800-AIR-TRAN. For Spanish, call 1-877-581-9842.

These special fares are available for purchase through October 21, 2010, and are good for travel from October 29, 2010, through February 9, 2011. Super-off-peak sale fares are valid for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Off-peak sale fares are valid for travel on Monday and Thursday and peak sale fares are available daily. Like all AirTran Airways fares, prices included in this sale are available for one-way travel and do not require a roundtrip purchase or an overnight stay. These sale fares require a 10-day advance purchase.

Following is a sample of one-way sale fares*. All fares are valid in either direction:

Super Off-
Sample Fares: Peak Off-Peak Peak

Akron/Canton – Orlando $74 $84 $99
Allentown/Bethlehem – Orlando $64 $74 $84
Atlanta – Denver $109 $119 $144
Atlanta – Las Vegas $124 $134 $159
Atlanta – Montego Bay $114 $124 $149
Atlanta – New Orleans $59 $69 $84
Atlanta – Raleigh/Durham $44 $54 $69
Atlanta – Tampa $59 $69 $79
Baltimore/Washington (BWI) -
Charlotte $49 $59 $74
Baltimore/Washington (BWI) -Ft.
Myers $64 $74 $89
Baltimore/Washington (BWI) -
Indianapolis $49 $59 $74
Baltimore/Washington (BWI) -
Nassau/Paradise Island $99 $109 $134
Baltimore/Washington (BWI) -
Sarasota/Bradenton $64 $74 $89
Boston – Baltimore/Washington (BWI) $49 $59 $69
Boston – Milwaukee $64 $74 $84
Boston – Orlando $79 $89 $99
Charleston, WV – Orlando $59 $69 $89
Charlotte – Orlando $69 $79 $89
Chicago (Midway) – Ft. Myers $69 $79 $94
Des Moines – Orlando $79 $89 $99
Detroit – Orlando $69 $79 $89
Grand Rapids – Ft. Myers $74 $84 $94
Grand Rapids – Tampa $74 $84 $94
Harrisburg – Ft. Lauderdale $74 $84 $99
Huntsville/Decatur – Orlando $69 $79 $89
Indianapolis – New York (LaGuardia) $69 $79 $94
Jacksonville -Baltimore/Washington
(BWI) $64 $74 $89
Kansas City – Atlanta $64 $74 $89
Milwaukee – Atlanta $64 $74 $89
Milwaukee – Dallas/Ft. Worth $69 $79 $99
Milwaukee – Denver $84 $94 $109
Milwaukee – Ft. Myers $74 $84 $94
Milwaukee – Las Vegas $104 $114 $134
Milwaukee – Minneapolis/St. Paul $44 $54 $69
Milwaukee – New Orleans $64 $74 $94
New Orleans -Baltimore/Washington
(BWI) $64 $74 $89
Newport News – New York (LaGuardia) $69 $79 $89
Newport News – Orlando $69 $79 $89
Orlando – Asheville $59 $69 $89
Orlando – Chicago (Midway) $74 $84 $99
Orlando – Key West $69 $79 $99
Orlando – Montego Bay $69 $79 $89
Orlando – Richmond $69 $79 $89
Orlando -Washington D.C. (Dulles or
Reagan National) $69 $79 $94
Washington D.C. (Reagan National) -
Ft. Myers $84 $94 $109
White Plains – Orlando $69 $79 $99

AirTran Airways is a Fortune 1000 company and has been ranked the number one low cost carrier in the Airline Quality Rating study for the past three years. AirTran Airways is the only major airline with Gogo Inflight Internet on every flight and offers coast-to-coast service on North America’s newest all-Boeing fleet. Our low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating, Business Class and complimentary XM Satellite Radio on every flight. To book a flight, visit www.airtran.com

*All fares are one-way. All fares are non-refundable and a $75 fee per person applies to any change made after purchase, plus any applicable increase in airfare. Ten-day advance purchase required. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights. Tickets must be purchased by October 21, 2010. Sale fares are valid for travel through February 9, 2011. Super off-peak sale fares are valid for travel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Off-peak sale fares are valid for travel on Mondays and Thursdays and peak sale fares are valid for travel daily. Blackout dates are as follows: November 23-24, 2010, November 27-29, 2010, and December 17, 2010 through January 4, 2011. Service on some itineraries may be provided by our partner SkyWest Airlines. A first bag may be checked for a fee of $20 each way and a second bag may be checked for a fee of $25 each way. Reservations may be made via AirTran Airways Telephone Reservations Center for a fee of $15. Reservations may also be changed via AirTran Airways Telephone Reservations Center for a $15 fee plus any applicable change fees and fare differences. Fares, routes, and schedules are subject to change without notice. Fares shown do not include Airport Passenger Facility Charges of up to $18. The September 11th security fee of up to $10 is not included. Fares do not include segment taxes of $3.70 per segment. A segment is defined as a takeoff and a landing. Fares to/from Puerto Rico do not include additional government taxes of up to $32.20. Fares to/from Mexico and the Caribbean do not include additional government taxes of up to $100.

Fortegra Financial moves to Jacksonville’s Southside

Fortegra Financial has inked an 11-year, 58,000-square-foot lease that will relocate the company’s corporate headquarters to Flagler’s Deerwood South business park at 10151 Deerwood Park Blvd. in Jacksonville’s Southside area.

Flagler’s Senior Director of Leasing, Ross Carrier, represented Flagler in the transaction. Craig McCaw and Andy Davidson of MB Real Estate and Brad Chrischilles of CNL Commercial Real Estate represented Fortegra Financial.

Jacksonville-based Fortegra Financial is one of the nation’s leading financial insurance services companies serving the most recognized banks, financial institutions and retailers across the country.

Fortegra’s President and CEO, Richard Kahlbaugh, said the park’s location and corporate setting were among the reasons for its selection.

Deerwood South, a two-time TOBY winner for Best Suburban Office Park, features stone exterior and advanced communications systems. The park contains four Class-A buildings totaling 521,971 square feet of total office space and parking space. The business park is located at the intersection of Southside Boulevard and J. Turner Butler Boulevard with access to Interstate 95, other major roadways and the neighboring St. Johns Town Center. Other tenants at Deerwood South include JP Morgan Chase and Adecco Group North America.

Downtown Jax Loses Another Headquarters

JACKSONVILLE, FL-In what amounts to another drain on Downtown Jacksonville’s office market, Fortegra Financial inked an 11-year, 58,000-square-foot lease at Flagler’s Deerwood South. The financial insurance services firm will relocate its corporate headquarters to Jacksonville’s suburbs.

Ross Carrier, Flagler’s senior director of leasing, represented Miami-based Flagler in the transaction. Craig McCaw and Andy Davidson of Chicago-based MB Real Estate and Brad Chrischilles of Jacksonville-based CNL Commercial Real Estate represented Fortegra Financial. Emerson Lotzia, a partner with Foley & Lardner, represented the tenant.

“We chose to relocate our corporate headquarters to Flagler’s Deerwood South business park because of its convenient location, quality space offerings and world class corporate setting,” says Richard Kahlbaugh, president and CEO of Fortegra Financial. Earlier this month, Fortegra filed a registration statement with the Security and Exchange Commission to sell up to $125 million in stock to the public.

Located at 10151 Deerwood Park Blvd. in the Southside area, Deerwood South has grabbed two sizeable tenants from Downtown Jacksonville’s office market this year. The first was Adecco Group North America. Adecco signed a 78,292-square-foot lease at Deerwood Park in July. That’s bad news for a Jacksonville Economic Development Commission that’s actively working to revitalize the downtown area.

“There’s been some press here in Jacksonville about the issues surrounding the decline in downtown occupancies,” Karl Hanson, Flagler vice president and market officer of the firm’s North Florida operations, tells Globe.St.com. “I don’t think our winning these two tenants is an indictment on downtown. Vacancy is up everywhere. These relocations were just business as usual.”

The business park is located at the intersection of Southside Boulevard and J. Turner Butler Boulevard with easy access to Interstate 95, other major roadways and the neighboring St. Johns Town Center. Deerwood South is the location of choice for many businesses, including JP Morgan Chase.

The Jacksonville office market continued to remain relatively flat in the third quarter, with only 2,149 square feet of negative absorption for the year, according to CB Richard Ellis’ Third Quarter 2010 MarketView for the Jacksonville office sector. Although terms of the Fortegra deal were not disclosed, landlords are generally offering strong concessions.

“The suburban market has been fairly active,” Chrischilles tells GlobeSt.com. “Besides Adecco, Availity is taking down 50,000 square feet. PNC Bank inked a lease for 60,000 square feet. Our suburbs are absorbing space. It’s a shame to see tenants moving out of downtown, but many times that can create opportunities for new tenants.”

Halloween Costumes in Jacksonville Town Center

This year, two Halloween store chains have six temporary stores operating in the Jacksonville area. Spirit Halloween, a subsidiary of mall retailer Spencer Gifts, has four, and the Halloween City chain has two. The Associated Press reported that temporary Halloween retailers last year claimed bigger and better spaces, increasing visibility and ringing registers to $3.8 billion.

The stores open every year around Labor Day to already pent-up demand, Eric Mercado, Spirit Halloween district manager said.

“There is a very, very big following in the Jacksonville area,” he said.

Spirit Halloween ramped up its presence this year with 850 stores in the lower 48 United States and in Canada, he said. Last year, the chain had 725 stores nationwide. In its annual search for new locations, the company looks for street visibility and foot traffic – much the same things that traditional retailers look for, Mercado said.

Halloween isn’t the only holiday draw for these “pop-up” stores. Big-box toy retailer Toys ‘R’ Us Inc. is back this year with Toys ‘R’ Us Express stores, ready to catch the annual wave of Christmas shopping. Last year, the toy seller had a Toys ‘R’ Us Express near Regency Square mall. This year, it has three around town – including one in the Regency Square mall itself. The chain had a Babies ‘R’ Us and a Toys ‘R’ Us store near that mall, but closed them to consolidate into a new combined store near the St. Johns Town Center.

Halloween City
7628 103rd St., Suite 20
River City Marketplace, 13141 City Station Drive

Spirit Halloween
Mandarin Landing Shopping Center, 10601 San Jose Blvd.
CB Square, 9317 Atlantic Blvd.
1919 Wells Road, Orange Park
- Fleming Island Shopping Center, 5000 U.S. 17

Toys ‘R’ Us Express
- River City Marketplace, 13221 City Station Drive
- Regency Square, 9501 Arlington Expressway
- St. Augustine Premium Outlets, 2700 Florida 16, St. Augustine

http://jacksonville.com/business/2010-10-04/story/its-invasion-spooky-stores

Maggiano’s at Jacksonville Town Center offers Kids Cooking Classes

Maggiano’s Little Italy
St. Johns Town Center
10367 Midtown Parkway
Jacksonville, Florida 32246

Kids can learn to cook at Maggiano’s on Saturday

This Saturday for kids ages 6 to 12, Maggiano’s Little Italy in Jacksonville Town Center is offering kids cooking class at 10 am.

Executive Chef James Muller will teach kids to make Maggiano’s favorite, Mom’s Lasagna. Each child will receive instruction, chef’s hat, and a apron, one parent will eat free. A small $15 fee will apply for for additional guests.