The city issued permits Oct. 11 to prepare shell space for Donatos Pizza and Conie’s Ice Cream side-by-side at College Park, the rebranded Town & Country Shopping Center in Arlington.
ShayCore LLC is the contractor for the two 2,500-square-foot projects at $156,850 for Donatos in space 937 and $120,498 for Conie’s in space 935 at University Boulevard North.
The permits are for landlord improvements to bring the space to code for tenant work.
Thomas Duke Architect is the architect for both.
Jacksonville-based JWB Real Estate Capital bought and is redeveloping the 70-year-old retail plaza at northeast Arlington Expressway and University Boulevard.
“The neighborhood said they wanted more and better food options, and that has been our main focus,” said JWB Real Estate Capital President Alex Sifakis on July 5.
“Donatos and Conie’s are only the first couple.”
Since then, new tenants have emerged.
A franchise for the Philippines-based Max’s Restaurant, which became known as “The House That Fried Chicken Built,” is taking 4,537 square feet at 907 University Blvd. N., near Legacy Ministries.
First Gear Coffee is shown on the College Park site plan at 975 University Blvd. N. in the corner plaza near the Winn-Dixie grocery store that Southeastern Grocers opened Sept. 20.
The Winn-Dixie banner returned to the 999 University Blvd. N. center where the Jacksonville-based supermarket chain operated from 1997-2007.
Dollar General, Advance Auto Parts, dialysis center DaVita Inc. and Legacy Ministries are among the tenants that continue leasing in College Park.
Sifakis said the Arlington Bait & Tackle shop lease was extended, and his group has a letter of intent from a national bank for an in-line space.
The Urban Division at Colliers commercial real estate represents the landlord in tenant leases. The Colliers team comprises Senior Vice President Matthew Clark and associates Sam Middlekauff and Olivia Steinemann.
Property records show Town & Country was built between 1953 and 1979. It comprises about 189,000 square feet of space.
The property is part of the Renew Arlington Community Redevelopment Area, which the city hopes to assist with rejuvenation.
Through 903 University Blvd LLC, JWB Real Estate Capital paid almost $5.1 million for the 18.27-acre property in August 2019.
JWB did not buy the McDonald’s or the gas station, which are separately owned.
DonatosPizzaFranchise.com says Ohio-based Donatos, with headquarters near Columbus, has more than 450 locations in 27 states.
It sells pizza, subs, calzones, wings, salads, appetizers, desserts and beverages. A signature item is its Edge to Edge topped thin crust pizzas.
The site says Donatos and its franchise partners operate more than 170 traditional restaurants in Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Florida.
Its products also are served in more than 200 nontraditional locations through partnerships with Red Robin, sports and entertainment venues, and REEF Kitchens.
Its six Florida locations include two in Northeast Florida: Mandarin and Jacksonville Beach.
Donatos, founded in 1963, opened its first franchise location in 1991.
Conie’s Ice Cream has a shop in Bartram Oaks Walk at Race Track Road and Florida 13 in Saint Johns.
It has more than 33 shake and sundae flavors.
It sells cones, dipped cones, sundaes, freezes, floats, slushes, shakes, waffle bowls, ice cream cookie sandwiches, cookies, and ice cream pies and cakes. It also sells seasonal treats and more.