JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It has been over a year since Cinemark theater opened in Jacksonville's Atlantic North shopping center and several businesses have since followed. The East Arlington location, owned by Jacksonville-based Sleiman Enterprises, is bustling with activity.
With hundreds of residential apartment units under development behind the theater, work continues on new shops in the shopping center currently anchored by Academy Sports, Belk's and L.A. Fitness.
The new shops include a Chick-fil-A and a Starbucks. Construction was completed weeks ago on a Whataburger, but it has not opened yet.
Tony Sleiman told First Coast News that the construction located next door to the center is a Tesla Showroom and next door to that, work is being done on an AutoNation.
Other openings in the shopping center that followed Cinemark's arrival include Another Broken Egg Café, Fancy Sushi and The Baker’s Son by Valerio’s, a Filipino bakeshop.
A vacancy remains in the former Earth Fare grocery store which closed in 2019. Sleiman said he's fielding many offers to fill the spot, "but I'm holding out for a grocery store," he said.
Crews appear to be nearing completion on construction of more eateries that include Chick-fil-A and a Starbucks.
