Latest news with #RegencySquareMall
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Final restaurant at Regency Square Mall closes, raising questions about the mall's future
The last remaining restaurant inside Regency Square Mall will close its doors to customers on Sunday, June 1, according to what employees told Action News Jax. The closure of Tokyo Sakura leaves just one business still operating in the nearly 60-year-old shopping center: Rogers Jewelers. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< Nicholas Brooks with Action News Jax visited the mall to find out what's next for the once-bustling space. A handful of loyal customers are still visiting the food court to grab one final meal at Tokyo Sakura. An employee confirmed that Sunday, June 1, will be the restaurant's last day of operations. Customers say they've been told the same. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] One local family dining at the restaurant said they were also informed of the upcoming closure. 'It's the end of an era. I used to come here as a kid myself,' said customer Carey Polling. 'I want to say goodbye before the store shuts down,' added family member Nicholas Dobbins. 'When I came here last week. I come here a lot. The owner told me they were closing down. Someone bought the building,' said a customer named Brown. Read: 'It's like a wasteland': Regency Square Mall racks up $1.8 million fines, city pushes for sale The new owner, Blackwater Development, purchased Regency Square Mall for $19.1 million on April 9. The mall has struggled for years, facing millions of dollars in code violations and fines. Structural issues such as caved-in roofs, water damage, and mold have contributed to its deterioration. The only other tenant, Rogers Jewelers, declined to comment on its future inside the mall. Action News Jax reached out to Blackwater Development by phone and email, but has not yet received a response. 'It's really sad because this area is dying,' said customer Karen Stein. City Councilman Ken Amaro, who represents the area, has not been informed of any redevelopment plans. According to his spokesman, the new owner has not shared any plans with him. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Transformative opportunity': Jacksonville's Regency Square Mall sold to Blackwater Development
The sale of the Regency Square Mall in Arlington is now finalized. This comes after years of community complaints about the dying mall, according to Jacksonville City Council member Ken Amaro, who represents that area. That's because of the numerous problems inside the once-thriving mall, from a failing A/C system to mold problems and a leaky roof. Action News Jax has been telling you about the deteriorating conditions at the mall for years. We reported in February the mall racked up fines of $1.8 million for code violations. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] At that time, the city sent a settlement agreement to the prospective buyer for the property, giving them the option to reduce the fines based on completing all the repairs and getting back into compliance. Now, Blackwater Development is the new owner of the Regency Square Mall property, with plans in the works to redevelop the space. Amaro said in a statement on Thursday morning that he hopes the new owners' vision is to create opportunities for new businesses, housing, and shared spaces. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Here is Amaro's full statement: 'The recent acquisition of the legendary Regency Square Mall marks an exciting milestone for our community's growth and transformation. This property represents more than just land—it is an investment in our collective future not only for the Arlington area, but Jacksonville as a whole. 'For years this former gem of all shopping centers has been the bane of community complaints. This past summer, my office dealt with the issue of their malfunctioning AC units with the utmost firmness and efficiency, and we were successful in getting what would be considered the only improvement the former owners have ever made to the mall during their tenure as owners completed. This only reinforces the fact this sale was well overdue. 'As the district council member, I aspire for the new owners to cultivate a prosperous and connected community where residents can live, work, and play for generations to come. The principal of Blackwater Development, Mr. Rurmell Mcgee, said they have been in pursuit of this property for six years, and after all this time they have finally secured the sale. My hope is that the new owners' vision is to create opportunities for new businesses, housing, and shared spaces that reflect the needs and aspirations of everyone in the area. It cannot be stressed enough - this is a transformative opportunity that I hope the new owners will take full advantage of. 'Again, congratulations to the new owners of the Regency Square Mall property. This is a new day for Arlington and Jacksonville.' Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘It's like a wasteland': Regency Square Mall racks up $1.8 million fines, city pushes for sale
The City of Jacksonville is offering to erase hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines to encourage a sale of the Regency Square Mall. The dying mall has racked up fines of up to $1.8 million for code violations. The city sent a settlement agreement to the prospective buyer for the property – giving them the option to reduce the fine based on completing all the repairs back into compliance. We've been telling you about the deteriorating conditions at the mall for years. It went from thriving to dying – now sitting empty with only two vendors left standing - a Japanese restaurant and a jewelry store. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] 'Grateful that we're still here, but it's hard,' Roger's Jewelers Lewis Hyderali said. 'It's not the Regency it used to be.' Roger's Jewelers has been housed inside the Regency Square Mall for over two decades. Back then, people would come to shop, eat, and hangout. 'I grew up in this mall – it was packed,' Hyderali said. But after some changes in developers, the mall went from packed to…. 'It is like a wasteland,' Jacksonville resident Michael Lampley said. The reason – holes in the ceiling, leaking roofs, and no air conditioning. 'It was an outlet for kids, and for people to come shopping with their family during the holidays, your Best Buy, your Bath and Body Works and this city let the mall go to the wase,' Lampley said. Two years ago, we told you when the mall owners – Mason Asset Management and Namdar Realty Group LLC -- were slapped with $726,000 dollars in fines. Those fines never stopped racking up. Read: Regency Square Mall owners slapped with $726,000 in new fines for repeated code violations The city cites five cases for the code violations - unsanitary conditions of the ceiling, holes and cracks in the ceiling, leaks coming from ceiling damage, a leaking roof, and damaged floors. The daily fines ranged $250 to $500 over a period of 100 to 1,000 days. All the vendors dropped out except two - Tokyo Sakura and Roger's Jewelers. 'A lot of people don't even know we're here,' Hyderali said. So, the vendors now have to rely on local customers. 'That is the sad part of Jacksonville, it is this mall,' Lampley said. 'But I'm still going to be loyal to because the fried rice, and chicken is real good.' 'Honestly, we're just here on prayers and hope,' Hyderali said. 'We've been here just waiting for a miracle and someone to come and flip this place upside down and bring it back to what it used to be.' Read: 'Wasteful use of space:' Community voices concerns over redevelopment plans for Regency Square Mall But new people still try to come and enjoy a mall atmosphere. 'They kind of lied to me on Google Maps you know,' UNF student Mason Pini said. 'I understand places close down but it should be updated, it should be like – people should know about that ,' Lilu Pini added on. The city tells us they have not heard back from the current owners nor the potential buyer. They also said it's up to the two parties to determine how the fines will be settled. But, the fines will continue to grow until they are paid, or a settlement agreement is signed. Action News Jax has reached out to both parties and have not heard back. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
