About a year and a half after announcing its plans to enter the Northeast Florida market, Christian Brothers Automotive is preparing to open a second location in the region.
The proposed site in Middleburg is under review in Clay County.
The car repair and maintenance company’s first area location opens Oct. 7 in Bartram Village Florida at 13918 Village Lake Circle, off Old St. Augustine Road west of Interstate 95.
The Clay County shop is planned between Royal Pines Drive and Canaveral Trace, just south of the Daybreak Market gas station west of the First Coast Expressway and south of Oakleaf Plantation Parkway.
The location will feature a nine-bay, 5,500-square-foot automotive repair shop with 21 parking spaces on-site and nine more off-site.
The land is owned by Virginia-based East West Communities through Armstrong Development Inc.
Kimley-Horn of Jacksonville is the civil engineer.
In 2023, Christian Brothers Automotive announced its move into Northeast Florida, citing the region’s demographics as a great fit.
“We’ve been looking to enter Jacksonville for a while,” said Chief Growth Officer Brad Fink in July 2023.
Founded in 1982, Christian Brothers Automotive operates more than 270 locations nationwide, including 18 in Florida. According to Fink, new shops typically open with about six employees and expand to nine or 10 within a year. Most locations eventually employ 12 to 15 people.
The shops are open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Friday, allowing employees and owners weekends off for family time and community involvement. Many Christian Brothers locations support local nonprofits, churches and food banks.
Fink said 90% of Christian Brothers Automotive’s franchisees have no automotive experience, but they do have sales experience, community interest and the desire to own a business.
He said the company has veterans who bought franchises and in turn recommend the business to others. Christian Brothers Automotive is a partner of the VetFran program, which provides franchise opportunities to veterans. Approved candidates receive 10% off of the total franchise fee.
“The auto repair business is as strong as it’s ever been,” Fink said.
The Clay County Development Review Committee is scheduled to review the project plans for the Middleburg location at 10 a.m. Oct. 17 at 477 Houston St. in Green Cove Springs.