Jollibee’s first Florida fast-food restaurant should open in about three weeks at 11884 Atlantic Blvd.
The city on Friday approved a banner sign that says “Opening on March 18.”
A Jollibee representative said in December it will be its first location in Florida with more to come.
The Philippines-based chain renovated a former Kentucky Fried Chicken and A&W Restaurants building at southwest Atlantic and Kernan boulevards. It is almost 3,500 square feet and is next to The Potter’s House Soul Food Bistro in Kernan Village.
If the grand opening is anything like one in December in Winnipeg, hundreds of people will line up for it, except the weather in Jacksonville is expected to be much more moderate than the subzero temperatures at Jollibee’s first Canadian location.
The BBC News site said Jollibee set up heated trailers outside the restaurant for hungry patrons.
Jollibee said previously the Jacksonville location will be the forerunner for expansion of the largest fast-food chain based in the Philippines. It has 35 U.S. locations, with nearly half in California, and 1,111 stores worldwide.
The restaurant’s menu features Chickenjoy, which is fried chicken, as well as Jolly Spaghetti and a sandwich collection that includes Spam and corned beef.
Some media refer to it as the McDonald’s of the Philippines.
Jollibee started in 1975 as an ice cream parlor in the Philippines and began its U.S. expansion in 1998.
It opened its first U.S. restaurant in 1998 in Daly City, Calif., near San Francisco, to cater to the Filipino and Filipino-American families living in the area.
The Jacksonville metro area also has been attractive to the Filipino community.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Filipino community of an estimated 17,200 people comprised about 35 percent of the Asian population in the Jacksonville metro area as of 2014.
Wawa to break ground April 6 on two sites
Wawa will break ground April 6 on one site in Duval County and one in Clay County, but has not announced the addresses.
The company issued “Save the Date” announcements for 10 a.m. in Duval County and 1:30 p.m. in Clay County.
The Pennsylvania-based gas station and convenience store chain has said it will open three locations in Northeast Florida this year, 10 more next year and then two to four each year annually until it reaches capacity.
He said Wawa thinks Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties can support 40 stores.
The three this year would comprise two in Duval and one in Clay, said Brian Duke, Wawa regional real estate manager.
Duke would not confirm the sites that will open this year. The city is reviewing building permits for five Wawa stores in Duval County, including one at The Crossing at Town Center.
Many of the retail stores and restaurants announced for The Crossing and the adjacent Strand at Town Center developments have said they will open by year-end.
The four other Wawa stores in for permitting are along Old Middleburg Road in Oakleaf Corner; in West Jacksonville at 6787 Wilson Blvd.; in EastPark at Beach Boulevard and Central Parkway; and at 9731 Beach Blvd., at Beach and Southside boulevards.
Wawa applied for a construction permit last week for the latest location in Duval County. The proposed 6,119-square-foot store at 9731 Beach Blvd. carries construction costs totaling almost $1.1 million for the building, canopy and dumpster enclosure.
In Clay County, two Wawa sites are in review along Blanding Boulevard — one at Filmore Street and another at Henley Road.
Duke said last week that Wawa has 10-12 sites under contract in the region.
The Daily Record has identified 11 locations. Last week Duke confirmed an additional site along Baymeadows Road, east of Interstate 95, also is under consideration.
He also said Wawa was working “on a number of locations” in St. Johns County.
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