APRIL 24 TO APRIL 30, 2025 | JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
BUSINESS & LEGAL NEWS IN BAKER, CLAY, DUVAL, NASSAU AND ST. JOHNS COUNTIES
Plans brewing for old Sears at Orange Park Mall WHAT COULD SPROUT
INSIDE
THE BASCH REPORT
FIS in $13.5B billion deal with Global Payments PAGE 6
This rendering shows big-box stores replacing the closed Sears at the Orange Park Mall. The rest of the mall would remain the same. Sears, which closed in 2020, has different ownership than the mall.
Transformcoproperties.com rendering
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JU cuts programs, staff to save $10 million
The 189,796-square-foot closed department store and associated parking are being marketed as Orange Park Plaza with five outparcels.
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BY J. BROOKS TERRY STAFF WRITER
T
here are major plans for the former Sears site at Orange Park Mall. The store closed in 2020, and its 189,796-square-foot shell and associated parking are being marketed as a multitenant building along with five outparcels by commercial real estate services firm The Shopping Center Group. The St. Johns River Water Management District began reviewing an environmental resource permit application for the project March 26. Such review often signals development progress. Jacksonville-based Kimley-Horn is the civil engineer. As of April 21, the application was incomplete. The district has 30 days from the application submission to request additional information. Kimley-Horn then has 90 days to reply. Sears was among the original stores when the mall opened Sept. 24, 1975. “This is going to change our front. Right now, it’s empty,” mall General Manager Randy Bowman said. “Being that it’s our 50th anniversary,
THE MATHIS REPORT Photo by J. Brooks Terry
Orange Park Mall General Manager Randy Bowman said plans to redevelop the Sears property would change the front of the shopping center, which he calls a “melting pot.”
MORE INSIDE
to have an announcement like that is huge. It’s 18 acres of our front porch.” The mall sits on about 77 acres. The Sears property is separately owned. Sears’ parent company, Transformco Properties, through TF Orange Pk LLC, bought its 18 acres at the mall for about $7.7 million in 2019 from Sears Roebuck and Co. Bowman confirmed the Sears store and its
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Orange Park Mall turning 50 Celebrating its 50th birthday this year, Orange Park Mall is operating at 97% leasing capacity, bucking the national indoor mall closure trend. PAGE 8
SEE SEARS, PAGE 9
CITY GOVERNMENT
Measuring up tree ordinance Jacksonville City Council member Joe Carluci’s plan would trim developer costs and unlock funding for arboreal work. PAGE 10
‘Lighthouse’ garage progress The city is reviewing a permit application for work to begin on retail space on the ground floor of the five-story Pearl Street parking garage Downtown. PAGE 4 RETAIL
Aldi coming to Grand Cypress Sign permit points to the German grocer replacing the closed Winn-Dixie in the St. Johns County center. PAGE 3 REAL ESTATE
Home prices show a dip As inventories increased, area home prices fell in March. PAGE 12
VOLUME 112, NO. 24 | TWO SECTIONS | PUBLISHED SINCE 1912