Kids Empire is converting part of the closed Office Depot in the Crossroads Square shopping center in Southwest Jacksonville as an indoor children’s playground.
Crossroads Square is at 8102 Blanding Blvd., north of Interstate 295. Office Depot closed its 22,692-square-foot store in early 2023.
It is at the southern end of the shopping center, which is west of Blanding Boulevard.
The city issued a permit April 2 for JMK Miami Contractor Corp. of Miami Beach to build-out 11,500 square feet of space in the closed store at a cost of $303,000. Gazic Group LLC of Jacksonville is the architect.
Kids Empire, based near Los Angeles, has 71 locations in 19 states. The only Florida playground is in Miami.
It has climbing walls, mazes, play structures, spinning, sliding, a block area and a ball pit, among other features, and a snack bar. It offers birthday parties and events.
It also has a tots area.
The Miami website shows costs are $22.90 per child with two adults able to accompany the child for free. A punch card for 10 admissions is $159. Hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday and on holidays.
Office Depot was considered a “junior anchor.” Floor & Decor is the primary anchor.
Crossroads Square was built in 1985 and comprises 174,153 square feet of space.