SPOTLIGHT
Who says brick-and-mortar bookstores are dead? Not in Jacksonville, where places like The Literary Lounge in the Murray Hill neighborhood are opening up. The Literary Lounge is run by elementary school teacher Mariah Jones along with her sister, Janelle Collier.
The bookstore originally opened last fall, but Jones purchased it in the spring, with an official grand opening in July. Jones lives in the neighborhood where the bookstore is located and hated the idea of it closing. “Instead of complaining about it, I decided to take it over,” she says.
The Literary Lounge distinguishes itself by offering special events like book club brunches, birthday parties, author signings, and even movie screenings. (Barbie was part of a summer movie screening).
Jones taps into her teaching background by offering discounts for teachers as well as tutoring at the bookstore.
Business has been steady. “The community has really embraced us,” Jones says. Plans over the next year include a game night and hosting more authors.
The Literary Lounge isn’t the only in-person bookstore that’s newer to Jacksonville. Others include Cafe Resistance Bookstore & Coffee Shop, which is Black-owned; and Femme Fire Books, specializing in diversity in literature.
SPACE
- The University of Florida, Florida A&M University, Embry- Riddle Aeronautical University, and Florida Institute of Technology have established the Center for Science, Technology, and Advanced Research in Space (C-STARS). Through the group, they will join with industry partners to further the production of medicines, electronics and bioenergy systems in space.
PORTS
- J.E. Dunn Construction has completed the foundation for a 340,000-sq.-ft. facility for Southeast Toyota Distributors under construction at JAXPORT’s Blount Island Marine Terminal. Over the summer, J.E. Dunn also began construction on the concrete walls in preparation for structural steel framing. The $145-million project is slated to be finished next summer.
INSURANCE
- Ryan Specialty Holdings of Chicago plans to acquire US Assure Insurance Services of Florida in Jacksonville for $1.075 billion in cash, with additional payments made for reaching certain performance targets. When the closing completes, US Assure will become a direct subsidiary of Ryan Specialty. The deal is expected to close this third quarter.
SPORTS
- The University of Florida and UF Health brands will be prominently displayed at Jacksonville Jaguars games at both domestic and international venues under a new four-year partnership. UF and the Jags also plan to collaborate for certain marketing campaigns. UF is using private dollars to cover the cost of the partnership.
REAL ESTATE
- Dundas Industrial Park on Jacksonville’s Northside has been sold for $24.8 million. The 138,000-sq.-ft. property was bought by Pat Mullane through NorthBridge Partners. The industrial park includes three buildings.
EDUCATION
- The College of Central Florida has received a nearly $644,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to establish the Central Florida Aquatic Workforce and Research Project, a three-year initiative to prepare associate-level graduates for careers in agricultural, ecological and environmental engineering, and water conservation.
HEALTH CARE
- Isaiah Zirkle is the new CEO at HCA Florida West Marion Hospital, which is an extension of HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. He was previously COO for both hospitals.
WINDING DOWN
- Commercial EV maker Cenntro of Freehold, N.J., says it’s “winding down operations” at its Jacksonville facility, although it didn’t provide any other details. Cenntro had announced in 2021 that it planned to assemble commercial EVs at its Jacksonville location, its first U.S. manufacturing facility.
CONVICTION
- Former JEA CEO Aaron Zahn was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of wire fraud and conspiracy. He was interim CEO of the utility beginning in April 2018 and was CEO from November 2018 to January 2020. “The actions of a former executive do not reflect the core values of our 2,200-plus dedicated employees,” a statement from JEA says.
ENTERTAINMENT
- Live music venue FIVE is slated to open in January in the former site of Sun-Ray Cinema in Jacksonville’s Five Points neighborhood. It’s operated by venue management company Marathon Live.