Is Avondale Ready For A 7-Eleven?

[Metro Jacksonville]

Is Avondale Ready For A 7-Eleven?



A new 7-Eleven store opens for business somewhere in the world approximately every six and a half hours.  One may soon be headed to Jacksonville's Shoppes of Avondale.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-jul-is-avondale-ready-for-a-7-eleven

[dougskiles]

My acceptance of a 7-Eleven would be based on the location of the building and parking.  If they operate in the existing building and park in front then it wouldn't be such a good fit.  Better would be a new building along the street with parking in the back.  Are they planning to also sell gas?

[acme54321]

There would be no gas.

[dougskiles]

What would be cool, is if they had some plug-in stations for electric cars.

[JeffreyS]

Context sensitive is the key and RAP should be involved.(I'm sure they will be.)

[CG7]

If integrated with the surrounding shops correctly, I would walk there for a newspaper and Slurpee.

[jaxlore]

yeah, there are 7-elevens and then there are 7-ELEVENS, if this is a flagship store then sure it could be nice. I like the idea of the open air seating, and there coffee is quite good. I remember there used to be a fake 7-11 on the corner of McDuff and Post.

[copperfiend]

I think it has potential to be a very good addition. Looking at some of the other "urban" 7-11's, I can't help but be impressed.

[iluvolives]

I think it would be great- especially if it had more of a NYC bodega feel than a convient store feel. based on the pics in this article it looks like thats what they have been going for in urban areas.

[ChriswUfGator]

I wish it would have gas. We only have a couple gas stations in all of Riverside, and they are always mobbed.

[ubben]

There's a convenience store four blocks away at Dancy and Park, one block from a gas station. We need another one? Surely we can do better.

If this were done exceptionally well--a new building in the character of the area, no parking lot, no gas-- maybe.... But when is the last time you saw one done well in the state of Florida? When I drive by convenience stores in the area (Springfield, Park/Oak Street in Avondale or Riverside), they seem to be dedicated magnets for dealers, street walkers and late night booze hounds. No matter how nice the signage is, this will not bode well for the neighborhood. Again, we can do better. I hope RAP steps up.

That said, I'd never go there and I live a few blocks away. Go away 7-11.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Really, Ubben - There are 3 in that same block from Dancy to Ingleside.  The one next to the Dry Cleaners, the one next to the laundry mat & the AP (the one with the gas).  They seem to do just fine and they each have their 'own' customer base.  I go to the one across the street from Orsay when I want red-bull and I go to the AP for beer (although they both have a decent selection).  I really don't go to the one at Dancy.

Would I go to a 7-11?  You betcha!  Would I stop going to the others?  Nope.

I don't see how we can lose, as customers, with more options available.  I think a properly planned store would do very well at that corner - although you might have to park around the block on a weekend instead of filling up a vacant lot.  But since there's also a trolley stop in front of the brick, you could probably use that as well or catch the P-4 depending on where you're coming from.  And look at the other bright side - they don't have to remove any trees to build a new building!

[fsujax]

^^oh Ubben you have done it now! haha

Avondale should be happy they are getting any kind of retail. That's what us Springfield residents are told. So what's good for one is good for the other! I am kind of jealous actually. Wish it were opening on Main St!

[thelakelander]

I'd love to have 7-Eleven come to Springfield and downtown.  I'm on Adams Street and it would be great to have more of a variety down here.

The shoppes already had more than one restaurant in the district when MoJo and Town came along.  Do they need more?  I think we take a slippery slope when we try to decide what the market should be and accept.  The community would be better off making sure whatever comes in does so in a manner that strengthens the character of the area.  If parking is a concern, perhaps there is a way to layout a new structure that promotes walkability and adds additional public parking in the rear of the site.  If architecture is a concern, then work with the company to make sure a quality product is created that adds to walkability.  If character is concerned, 7-Eleven has already proven that they can operate successfully in neighborhoods across the country with more sound demographics than anything that exists in Jacksonville, including Avondale. 

Imo, there is little reason to believe that RAP or 7-Eleven don't have the leadership in place to make sure a quality product can happen.  Btw, I was emailed several additional images of well designed stores this morning.  I'll add a few of them later today.

[ChriswUfGator]

There's a convenience store four blocks away at Dancy and Park, one block from a gas station. We need another one? Surely we can do better.

If this were done exceptionally well--a new building in the character of the area, no parking lot, no gas-- maybe.... But when is the last time you saw one done well in the state of Florida? When I drive by convenience stores in the area (Springfield, Park/Oak Street in Avondale or Riverside), they seem to be dedicated magnets for dealers, street walkers and late night booze hounds. No matter how nice the signage is, this will not bode well for the neighborhood. Again, we can do better. I hope RAP steps up.

That said, I'd never go there and I live a few blocks away. Go away 7-11.

I don't care about the convenience store, that A&P is the only gas station around there, the next closest one is the Gate at Stockton and I-10, or the Shell in 5 Points. That's all we've got. One more in that location would do very well, and serve a need. Having lived here since the Shell on Saint Johns was open, I wish it were a gas station again. Maybe a nicer one this time, but still, the need exists.