JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. — It’s the end of an era in historic Jekyll Island.
A half dozen shops had to close their doors for good to make way for a revitalization effort.
The last business owner holding out closed up last week, but if it were up to him, he’d still be selling ice cream.
“I always liked owning my own little shop," said Island Sweets Owner Doc Dougherty. "My own little businesses.”
Dougherty saw an opportunity for that own little business while putzing around a candy shop on Jekyll Island in 1999, so he decided to purchase Island Sweets.
“I told my wife, 'Look, you know how to make chocolate?' She said, 'Well I don’t know,'" said Dougherty. "I said, 'Well, you’re a great cook, so you better figure out how to make chocolate too.' She helped me a great deal.”
Dougherty is still getting used to seeing his shop empty, after the Jekyll Island Authority decided not to renew his lease.
“These partners were good for years, but coming off a revitalization, my job, as the new executive director is to make our experiences better," said Jekyll Island Authority Executive Director Mark Williams.
Williams said a slew of new businesses are on the docket to move in over the next few months.
The District Shops will include a beer garden, Christmas store, candy shop, Georgia Grown store, performance stage and new lighting.
“We have about 3.5 million guests per year, and we wanted this road to be as good of an experience as the rest of this island," Williams said.
Island Sweets was one of six businesses that had to close up to make way for the new vision.
The Jekyll Island Authority gave the businesses the chance to apply to stay, however, Dougherty says it would’ve required him moving buildings, renovating and paying more in rent.
“It’s a hard pill to swallow when you’ve built up a business, and put equity into it," said Dougherty. "They saw the opportunity that they could take it for nothing, and that’s exactly what they did.”
The District Shops is set to open in the Spring.
The new stores will go into the old storefronts, and the JIA says it won’t impact their historic designations.