JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Construction soon will begin on Jax Beach Town Center in the heart of the Jacksonville Beach business district.
The planned multi-million dollar restaurant, retail and event facility by veteran developer and investor Marc Angelo will be at the site of the former Campeche Bay Cantina and Ruby Beach Brewing Co. buildings.
Construction was expected to begin by the end of July, Angelo told the Times-Union.
Angelo estimates the project will be completed in July 2022.
As proposed, the two-story 19,000-square-foot building is designed to accommodate at least one restaurant, a rooftop lounge, event space and possibly retail stores, Angelo previously said.
It will be about a block from the Atlantic Ocean at 127 and 131 1st Ave. N. Jax Beach Town Center will front Latham Plaza — considered the heart of the community popular with residents and visitors alike.
Campeche Bay Cantina closed its doors permanently on Aug. 7, 2019, after 33 years in business, including 21 years at the Jacksonville Beach site. The closure came as two of the restaurant’s three owners retired.
The popular New Mexican-style restaurant was known for its stacked enchiladas, chicken poblano Rojas and enchilada stuffed with blue crab and shrimp.
The original cantina opened in 1986 in the Arlington neighborhood of Jacksonville but closed in 2007. Considered the second location, the Jacksonville Beach restaurant opened in 1998 and operated for 21 years.
Ruby Beach Brewing Co. relocated to 228 E. Forsyth St. in downtown Jacksonville after five years at Jacksonville Beach.
Angelo and his wife, Beth, via their company — Jax Beach Town Center LLC — paid a combined total of $3.8 million for the land and two buildings now being torn down, Duval County property and court records show.
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