New business update in San Marco

Posted on September 4, 2013 By Editor Neighborhood News

Finance
A high profile Chase bank, under construction since mid-June at the corner of San Jose and University boulevards, is tentatively scheduled to be completed in early October, according to a site supervisor for Ecker Construction out of Atlanta.

Chase has earlier announced that it was continuing its Florida expansion, with plans for more than a dozen branches in the area.
The new branches will feature the most innovative technology from the bank, offering convenience, efficiency and access for customers around the region, according to a news release.
Chase is already one of Jacksonville’s largest employers. Approximately 4,000 work for Chase at its Deerwood Park and Baymeadows campuses, supporting its national mortgage company.

Meanwhile, First Citizens Bank expects to open its two-story, 7,200-square-foot regional headquarters, at the intersection of San Marco Boulevard and Cedar Street, in late June 2014. A groundbreaking is planned for this month.

Food
Residents will be in for an early holiday treat when a new, authentically Napoleon pizzeria opens in December. Ridge Sink, owner and builder, is planning to convert a former Duron Paint store on Hendricks Avenue at Nira Street into a pizza bakery with communal seating.

“It will be a good place for people to interact with each other again, instead of with their iPhones,” said Sink. The former joint venture partner of 14 area Outback Steakhouse restaurants had three 6600-pound wood-fired brick ovens made in Italy by a fifth generation company and they are currently being shipped to Jacksonville. Veloce Pizzeria Napoletana will be open for lunch and dinner, seven days a week, serving pizza, salads, cannolis and a limited selection of Italian wines.

Taverna expands its location
Down in San Marco Square, the buzz is all about the planned 1,500 square foot expansion to Taverna into the space next door. The space was formerly Mimi Kersun’s antiques and kitchenware shop, which closed the end of February after 28 years.

Taverna’s owners, Sam and Kiley Efron, also plan to renovate the existing dining room while they build out their new space.