A Culver’s restaurant franchisee paid $1.3 million for almost 1.54 acres along Gate Parkway.
GateLite3 LLC bought the land March 22 from First Coast Energy L.L.P.
The city is reviewing permits for a 3,820-square-foot restaurant on the property at 7818 Gate Parkway at construction costs of almost $1.46 million.
McCon Building Corp. of Highland, Wisconsin, is the contractor.
Franchisee Don Lichte said previously that GateLite3 would start development upon buying the land. The city issued a site-clearing permit March 16 at a project cost of $1.5 milllion.
The city is reviewing permits for the building, dumpster enclosure, attached awnings and a pergola on a concrete patio.
Lichte said the Culver’s should seat 104 patrons inside and about 24 outside. There also is a drive-thru.
In December, the city issued a concurrency reservation certificate for the project, which will be across from Ikea.
Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. is the civil engineer. Ollman Associates Architects of Belvidere, Illinois, is the architect.
GateLite3 LLC, led by Don and Lori Lichte and their daughter, Sophie, is the developer.
As dLites3 LLC, they opened the first area Culver’s in July 2019 in Middleburg in Clay County.
Sophie Lichte is the owner-operator of the Middleburg restaurant and will be the same for the Gate Parkway store.
The Lichtes worked with real estate broker Clint Murphy, president of Jacksonville-based Murphy Land and Retail Services Inc., which represents Culver’s in its area site search.
Culver’s is based in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, near Madison. The Lichtes are based in Reedsburg, Wisconsin.
Culver’s specializes in frozen custard, cheese curds and ButterBurgers – named for their butter-toasted buns.
The company works with multiple franchisees to develop within areas.
Jacksonville-based First Coast Energy initially planned to build a gas station and convenience store on the site.
