The city issued a permit on January 3 for internal demolition to renovate the former Blackfinn Ameripub at The Markets at Town Center Market for Ballard Designs.
American Construction Group in Moleka Hill, New Jersey, is the contractor for an $85,000 acreage demolition project, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and selective demolition equipment for exterior finishes and bulkheads.
The project includes both interior and exterior works to convert the building from the use of a restaurant, which means removing all construction related to the kitchen.
Ballard Designs said November 8 that it has signed a lease to renovate the former Blackfinn Ameripub at 4840 Big Island Drive, moving out of an embedded space in nearby St. John’s Town Center.
The demolition permit limits 9,620 square feet of indoor space and a small portion of outdoor space.
Ballard Designs will move from approximately 9,000 square feet it rents at 10275 Buckhead Branch Drive, No. 101, in downtown St. John’s.
The Atlanta-based home décor, design, and accessories store plans to renovate the closed restaurant in 2022 and open in the first quarter of 2023.
“Jacksonville Market has always been a very popular market for our guests. Dominic Milanesi Jr., Senior Director of Retail, Ballard Designs said:
Milanese said November 8 that Ballard Designs will move from its approximately 9,000-square-foot lease at 10275 Buckhead Branch Drive, No. 101.
He said the Blackfinn space will be renovated into a 12,000-square-foot store that will allow Ballard Designs to allocate about 1,000 square feet to display its outdoor furniture and décor.
Milanes declined to reveal the cost of the renovation but said it would be a multi-million dollar project.
Shopping Center Group Partner and Senior Vice President Stephanie McCullough and formerly Vice President Kelly Polignano represented The Markets at Town Center property owner, Heinz, on the lease.
Milanese said the move would coincide with the expiration of the lease at St. John’s Town Center.
“The current store has been in the same location for nearly 15 years,” he said, describing it as a “really great location..”
He said Ballard Designs will work with new design and fixtures “while maintaining relevance and sharing a more sophisticated space, much like our clients do with their homes.”
Milanese said Ballard Designs started out as a catalog company and built an online presence. It began expanding into department stores about 15 years ago, and Jacksonville was one of its first.
In 1997, she joined Cornerstone Brands, which became part of the Home Shopping Network Inc. In 2017, QVC bought Ballard and its sister brands, HSN, and renamed it the Quriyat Retail Group.
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