Pizza Palace closes Riverside store

By Susanna P. Barton

The Pizza Palace on Margaret Street quickly and quietly closed last month following news that a national retailer would be taking over the space.

Pizza Palace owner Elias Demetree said he is grateful to the Riverside/Avondale area for supporting his store over the years and is “actively looking” for another neighborhood site.

“This happened so quickly — hopefully something will come up in the future,” said Demetree, a San Jose resident who bought his first Pizza Palace more than 19 years ago in Riverside on King Street. “We’ll let the dust settle and keep looking — we really love the area, it has been so good to us.”

The store closed May 4. Remaining Pizza Palace stores in Jacksonville include the San Marco, Baymeadows and Julington Creek locations.

Citing confidentiality issues, Demetree did not disclose which tenant would be occupying the popular site on Margaret Street near the 5 Points roundabout.

While there has been local buzz that 7-Eleven was interested in the space, officials with the national convenience store chain said no firm plans are in place.

“We are looking in that area but have no deals or contracts yet,” said 7-Eleven spokeswoman Margaret Chabris.

7-Eleven made a big marketing splash two months ago, announcing their resurgence into the Northeast Florida market. Store officials had considered a space in the Shoppes of Avondale, but did not commit to the site.

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