Dreamette, the 68-year Murray Hill ice-cream destination, will branch out to the Beaches this spring.
Kyle Jones has the trade name license agreement to open a Dreamette in Neptune Beach at 309 Atlantic Blvd. in a former Yobe Frozen Yogurt location.
“I think there is a definite need for ice cream there,” said Jones, a property manager and a family friend of the Dreamette owner.
Jones said there are nearby yogurt and custard shops, but no soft-serve ice cream like the kind customers crave from Dreamette.
It will serve soft-serve cones and cups, dipped cones, shakes, sundaes, banana splits, floats, slushes and freezes.
The location should open between March 1 and April 1. It will offer walk-up and walk-in service as well as indoor and deck seating.
Being a block from the beach, the Dreamette “will have a real beachy feel to it,” he said.
The original Dreamette is at 3646 Post St. There are Dreamettes with license agreements in Mandarin and Macclenny.
Katy Figg, associate of retail leasing with Franklin Street real estate services, represented the landlord, Ansbacher Realty, in the lease negotiation with Jones.
Johnny Nettles has owned the landmark business for seven and a half years and is the fifth Dreamette owner since it opened in October 1948.
“We keep it the way they did it back in the ‘40s, ‘50s and ‘60s,” Nettles said of the menu’s ingredients and attraction.
Nettles said the Neptune Beach location should do well, considering it’s in a busy area and also will be led by a motivated business owner.
The timing should work well, too. Nettles said the business is affected by the weather as well as the clock. After daylight saving time resumes March 13 and the temperature rises, customers are more inclined to partake.
“It’s like turning a switch,” he said of the time change.
People at home finish dinner and see it’s still daylight and think, “Hey, let’s go to Dreamette and get some ice cream,” he said.
Businessinsider.com reported in June that Dreamette was the best ice-cream shop in Florida, based on Foursquare users’ likes, saves, shares and other sentiments. The Foursquare app lets users find popular places.
“Ice cream dreams come true at Dreamette,” said businessinsider.com.
Rimrock Devlin buys Southside acreage
Rimrock Devlin Development LLC bought about 7.3 acres in Southside for development of up to 260 apartments, although there are no immediate plans for a project.
“We just saw a good opportunity,” said investor Wally Devlin.
Rimrock Devlin Development paid $2 million for the vacant property, which is at southeast A.C. Skinner Parkway and Salisbury Road. It bought the land from Second Pioneer Corp. of Boca Raton
Second Pioneer is led by Jeffrey Beck, a bankruptcy trustee. Beck said Second Pioneer is a subsidiary of First Pioneer Corp., which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Southeast Banking Corp.
Southeast Banking Corp. is a Chapter 7 debtor. Beck said Second Pioneer and First Pioneer are not debtors in bankruptcy.
Second Pioneer rezoned the property from commercial use to Planned Unit Development to allow multifamily development. City Council enacted the rezoning ordinance Nov. 10.
The ordinance lists the development team as Rimrock Devlin Development, planners and engineers Taylor & White Inc. and architects Humphreys & Partners Architects.
A site layout plan shows there could be 124 one-bedroom units, 112 two-bedroom units and 24 three-bedroom units.
The site is next to the Dave & Buster’s restaurant and arcade center.
Rimrock Devlin also developed the new Jacksonville University student residential hall.
Sunrise investor buys Deerwood warehouse
A Sunrise investor that owns Masters Building Products bought a Deerwood Center distribution warehouse Friday for $1.4 million.
Charleston Enterprises LLC paid $1.4 million for the 43,404-square-foot structure on 2.12 acres at 8051 Bayberry Road. It bought the 39-year-old structure from Browne Management LLC.
Mark Scott, senior director of Graham & Co., represented Browne Management in the transaction. He said half of the facility was leased for storage to Celebration Church.
Scott said Masters Building Products would use the remaining portion and would take the rest upon the expiration of Celebration Church’s lease.
Scott said the structure was originally used by Perdue Office Interiors. Its assessed value is $1.04 million, according to the Duval County Property Appraiser’s office.
Browne Management is owned by Richard and Debra Browne. The Browne group bought the structure from Perdue Inc. in 2004 for almost $1.45 million.
Baker sells land for Ocean Blue Apartments
Plans proceed for the more than $12 million, 156-unit gated Ocean Blue Apartments planned at 2701 Mayport Road.
Ocean Blue LLC bought about 15.55 vacant acres from JDB LLC in late December. JDC LLC is led by Jacksonville businessman John D. Baker II.
Ocean Blue is led by Muhamed Becovic of Indiana. He owns Becovic Management Group.
Becovic said in early December he wanted to start construction early this year. He said pending approvals, he wanted the first building open for leasing this summer and the entire project completed by May 2017.
Amenities will include a clubhouse, pool, cyber café and espresso bar, outdoor movie theater, on-site car wash and a walking trail.
Brad Coe, director of multifamily services at Colliers International Northeast Florida, facilitated the transaction.
Hanania buys Atlantic Boulevard property
Scottjack LLC, led by Scott Crabtree and Jack Hanania of the Hanania Automotive Group, bought property at Atlantic Boulevard, near Kernan Boulevard.
Atlantic North LLC, led by Sleiman Enterprises Inc., sold the property for $3.4 million. The deed was executed Monday and recorded by the Duval County Clerk of Court on Tuesday. The land is next to Sleiman’s Atlantic North retail development, anchored by Belk and LA Fitness.
Hanania Automotive Group operates 12 dealerships and a collision center in Jacksonville, Orange Park, Estero and Miami.
(904) 356-2466