The Plaza at Town Center Entertainment Complex

January 18, 2010 82 comments Open printer friendly version of this article Print Article

Featuring as much as 300,000 square feet of restaurants, bars, an open air concert area and retail, the Plaza at Town Center is scheduled to open in Spring 2010. This project involves the combination of existing vacant retail space and new construction to create a centralized entertainment complex in the middle of Jacksonville's rapidly growing Southside.



Markets at Town Center Site Plan



Developed by Pinehill Development Company, the 52.5 acre Markets at Town Center shopping center opened in late 2008, at the corner of Town Center and Gate Parkways. Over a year later, the east section of this 350,000 square foot strip center is still dominated by vacant retail bays. This section of the center will become the Plaza at Town Center.


The Plaza at Town Center



Announced anchors include Dale Earnhardt, Jr's Whisky River (yellow) and BlackFinn American Saloon (red).


Whisky River

Owned by Dale Earnhardt, Jr, Whisky River, a country themed nightclub and music venue, is scheduled to open in March, in an existing retail building.  This location will be the first outside of Uptown Charlotte to open.

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Welcome to Whisky River

With a unique blend of rock and country music, VIP tables and mechanical bull riding, live music and electrifying DJs, Whisky River is unlike any party you've seen before. Situated in the EpiCentre with breathtaking views of Uptown Charlotte and Bobcats Arena, Whisky River really is in the center of it all.

Are you looking for a casual drink after work or a rockin' late night party; maybe a drink before the game, or the spot to celebrate the big win; or maybe you're looking to show off your bull ridin' skills or you just want to sit back and listen to the music - this is the spot. This is what Charlotte's been waiting for.

Whisky River - we'll see you there.
http://www.whiskyrivercharlotte.com/index.php











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"We had a great opportunity to open the first Whisky River in Charlotte and the response was amazing.  We're taking that good growth and expanding it to some other locations, nationally, now," said Earnhardt Jr. "I think Jacksonville is a prime market for this kind of establishment."
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/news-article.aspx?provider=rss&storyid=149687



BlackFinn American Saloon

BlackFinn is a casual environment offering a contemporary American menu complete with a large selection of starters, soups, salads and entrees.  Jacksonville's BlackFinn will become the chain's 10th location.  Other locations include Addison and Arlington,TX, Bethesda,MD, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Naperville,IL, Richmond, Royal Oak,MI and Washington, DC.

Currently under construction, BlackFinn is scheduled to open late Spring 2010.





BlackFinn Lunch/Dinner
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BlackFinn is perfectly suited for those looking for a casual “bite” or a more complete dining experience.  On the casual side, the Finn offers its carefully chosen selection of premium quality “Saloon Favorites.”  We’ve taken the best items from those that you’d expect to find on a traditional pub menu and recreated them the way that only BlackFinn can.  Saloon Favorites also include signature items that you will find only at BlackFinn.  

For a more complete dining experience, BlackFinn offers a contemporary American menu complete with a large selection of starters, soups, salads and entrees.





BlackFinn Late Night
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No one throws a party like BlackFinn.

As the After Work hours roll into the evening hours, the Finn gradually transforms into a world class party bar. No party is complete without music. What electrifies the night at BlackFinn is the best party music of all time, from all decades. We pride ourselves on providing a lively, casual, safe and fun late night atmosphere that attracts the town's best looking crowd. The BlackFinn party experience is guaranteed to unfold and sweep you up as the night progresses. Every night at BlackFinn is a night that you don't want to miss.

See menu here: http://www.blackfinncharlotte.com/menu.php


More to Come

While Whisky River and BlackFinn American Saloon have been identified as two anchors, a significant amount of existing retail space remains available for additional venues.

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A spokeswoman for the developers, Landmark Leisure Group and Ben Carter Properties, said that a high-end martini bar, currently unnamed, would be the third venue at the complex. An old-world style Italian eatery is planned, and he developers are talking to seven or eight more restaurants and nightclubs, she said. Retail stores are also planned for the venue which will include outdoor festivals and concerts in the mix that invites patrons to “stay and play,” according to a release..
http://jacksonville.com/business/2009-12-18/story/new_entertainment_complex_set_for_st_johns_town_center






















The Plaza at Town Center will be a joint venue between Landmark Leisure Group (Charlotte) and Ben Carter Properties (Atlanta).


Article by Ennis Davis