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THE MATHIS REPORT
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KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
JACKSONVILLE
Sugarfire Smoke House planned for old Panera
The barbecue concept featured on the Food Network hopes to open at 12959 Atlantic Blvd. within three months of permitting.
Photo by Dede Smith
Hardage-Giddens President Jody Brandenburg said the funeral home is working to provide virtual memorial services through teleconferencing and Facebook along with small graveside services that practice social distancing.
“We have to make sure that we deliver compassion and care,” says Jody Brandenburg, president of Hardage-Giddens Funeral Homes and Cemeteries. BY MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
If there’s a business that depends on people being together, including touching and hugging, it’s that of funerals and other memorial services. “It’s better for people in the grieving process to be surrounded by the people they care about,” said Jody Brandenburg, president of Hardage-Giddens
Funeral Homes and Cemeteries. With social distancing required by COVID-19, that’s difficult to make happen. Affiliated with the Dignity Memorial network, the Hardage-Giddens company has 11 funeral homes, six cemeteries and a cremation facility in Northeast Florida. Mortuaries and funeral homes are designated essential businesses under the latest order from the city, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t changing how they provide services. Funeral arrangements may be made by phone or email. Certain documents have to be signed, but that can be done remotely, Brandenburg said. Hardage-Giddens is working to provide virtu-
KEEPING CLOSE – FROM A DISTANCE Since March 13, city event venues, stores, restaurants, malls, entertainment centers, churches and businesses shut down and laid off workers or sent them home to telecommute to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Daily Record will report how local small business owners are dealing with the imposed social isolation.
A St. Louis-based barbecue chain wants to open in the former Panera Bread restaurant at 12959 Atlantic Blvd., east of Girvin Road. Shy Patel, one of four members of the franchise ownership group, said April 3 the state’s first Sugarfire Smoke House could open within three months of permitting. The Sugarfire website said the Jacksonville restaurant “brings a new locally owned and operated location straight to the faces of our friends and neighbors.” It will offer dine-in, carryout and delivery as well as event catering, including event design and custom menu creation. Patel is unsure of the timeline because he is waiting on final architectural drawings. Also, Jacksonville is reviewing plans filed remotely. Given city- and state-mandated closures, Sugarfire might open with to-go orders. “We want to open as soon
SEE BRANDENBURG, PAGE 2
SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
Memorial seeks permit for $15.5 million expansion Memorial Hospital Jacksonville applied to the city for a permit to expand the surgery department at its University Boulevard campus at a construction cost of $15.5 million. Robins & Morton of Birmingham, Alabama, is listed as the contractor. Memorial, part of HCA Healthcare, intends to expand the existing surgery department with five operating rooms, with two for cardiovascular procedures, plans show. In January, Memorial Hospital said it would expand its surgery services with a $25 million, 10,000-square-foot addition to its main campus at 3625 University Blvd. S.
VOLUME 107, NO. 100 • ONE SECTION