Work continues to convert the former San Marco Theatre for tenant use.
Building Dynamics Inc. of Jacksonville Beach will add two storefront openings on the east side of the building and replace the entryway with a storefront at project cost of $75,000.
The city issued a permit Sept. 14 for the project at 1992 San Marco Blvd. on San Marco Square.
The total 10,000-square-foot property has three tenant spaces, with Stellers Gallery already leasing at 1900 San Marco Blvd.
The theater and an adjacent retail space at 1992-1996 San Marco Blvd. is being prepared for use.
The two storefront openings will be for the 6,906-square-foot total space for two tenants – Iguana San Marco and Missy Riley Art & Pieces.
Plans show the restaurant space is 4,939 square feet, which was the theater, and the retail side is 1,967 square feet.
Al’s Pizza founder Al Mansur expects to open a 150-seat Iguana San Marco restaurant in the first quarter of 2024 in the renovated main theater.
Mansur said Aug. 9 he signed a lease to open the restaurant in the 85-year-old closed theater for his Flying Iguana concept, which operates locations in Atlantic Beach and Avondale.
Iguana San Marco will have a bar on the first level and Mansur will create a secondary bar and seating on a mezzanine level where the projection room and an office had been. It will cantilever over the ground floor.
Mansur said the theater’s 21-foot-high ceiling will dominate the main dining room hall.
Outside, “we will keep the marquee up,” he said, and the restaurant signage will be incorporated into that.
Mansur said the exterior will keep the theater architecture and nothing will change other than some color.
Missy Riley Art & Pieces intends to move within San Marco Square after the holidays into the storefront between Stellers Gallery and Iguana San Marco.
Jacksonville-based TSG Realty announced Sept. 8, 2022, that it bought the San Marco Theatre and adjacent spaces, including that leased to Stellers Gallery, for $3.35 million.
TSG Realty bought the properties from San Marco Real Estate Partnership LLC.
The buildings were developed in 1938 and together sit on 0.28-acre.
TSG quickly began interior removal work of walls and flooring. The theater seating already had been removed.
The Colliers Urban Division team of Matthew Clark, Sam Middlekauff and Olivia Steinemann represent the landlord in lease transactions for what is marketed as the San Marco Theatre Building.
The previous owners of the two-screen theater announced Dec. 28, 2022, that the venue would close Jan. 1 because of a changing industry.
Pam Howard, property manager and agent for Jacksonville-based TSG Realty, said upon the purchase that the historic building and facade will remain.
“We would never demolish this building. It’s structurally sound and looks fantastic,” Howard said.