Enson Market to Open New Location in Jacksonville

News Summary

Enson Market Jax LLC has acquired the old Winn-Dixie site on Old St. Augustine Road for $5 million, aiming to transform it into a vibrant Asian and international grocery store. Spanning 44,000 square feet, this store is set to join two other major international markets in the area. Enson Market, with successful locations in Gainesville and Orlando, promises fresh produce and global ingredients, catering to Jacksonville’s diverse culinary preferences.

Exciting Changes Coming to Jacksonville: Enson Market to Take Over Old Winn-Dixie Site

Jacksonville residents, get ready for some delicious news! Enson Market Jax LLC has just purchased the former Winn-Dixie supermarket located at 11101 Old St. Augustine Road for a cool $5 million. This exciting deal went down on February 6, 2024, and it’s going to bring a whole new flavor to the neighborhood.

Spanning an impressive 4.9 acres at the bustling corner of Northeast Interstate 295 and Old St. Augustine Road, this property is set for some big changes. Old St. Augustine Plaza LLC, led by Haichao Lui, has the plans to transform this site into a vibrant Asian and international foods grocery store. Just think of all the fresh produce, unique ingredients, and tasty snacks you’ll be able to find!

A Little History

The almost 46,000-square-foot supermarket was built back in 1994, and after a renovation in 2008 costing about $937,400, it has served as a local go-to for grocery shopping. The previous owners, Gator Old St. Augustine Jax LLC from Miami Lakes, purchased the property for $3.4 million in 2018. They took good care of it, but it seems they were ready to part ways to make room for something fresher.

Funding the Future

Just a day after the acquisition, Old St. Augustine Plaza LLC obtained two construction mortgages from Stearns Bank of St. Cloud, Minnesota, totaling an impressive $7.28 million. With that funding, the ambitious plans for the new Enson Market are in full swing!

What’s New? What to Expect

Enson Market Jax Inc. is certainly not starting from scratch. The entity filed for a Certificate of Use with the city on November 20, 2024, clearly indicating their plans to operate a grocery store on site. The new store will be approximately 44,000 square feet, making it a substantial addition to the Jacksonville shopping landscape.

For those unfamiliar, Enson Market isn’t a brand new name in Florida. They already operate successful locations in Gainesville, Orlando, and Plantation. They are a part of the Enson Group, based in Cincinnati, Ohio, which operates a variety of international supermarket chains across the United States. The grocery chain is known for offering a broad mix of products, including fresh, frozen, and packaged foods, as well as meats, seafood, produce, and even additional merchandise—a true one-stop shop for all things tasty!

More Choices for Jacksonville

Incredible as it sounds, Enson Market will be the third major Asian and international grocery store opening in Jacksonville, with Lotte Plaza Market and RD International Market already making waves in the area. Lotte Plaza is already gearing up for renovations of a former Best Buy store for $8.99 million, and RD International Market just opened its doors in February 2024 in a renovated 52,600-square-foot Winn-Dixie.

As for the former Winn-Dixie location on Old St. Augustine Road, it was still operational as of February 14, 2024, but Southeastern Grocers, the parent company, has yet to confirm any closure details. Recently, Aldi acquired Southeastern Grocers, which has the community wondering what will happen next as the company transitions to the Aldi brand while keeping some stores under the Winn-Dixie and Harveys names.

The Big Picture

While the Jacksonville location isn’t listed among the upcoming openings across various states like Florida, Minnesota, Ohio, and Texas, the community can expect Enson Market to not only breathe new life into the former Winn-Dixie site but also cater to the diverse cultural tastes of its customers. The promise of unique foods from various parts of the world is on the way!

As this new venture unfolds, residents can anticipate a delightful mix of flavor and community connection through the upcoming Enson Market. Who’s ready for some shopping bliss?

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Additional Resources

• Jax Daily Record: Enson Market Registers Business Name
• Wikipedia: Grocery Store
• Jax Daily Record: Enson Market Applies for Certificate of Use
• Google Search: Asian grocery store Jacksonville
• Jax Daily Record: Sign Permit Issued for Lotte Plaza Market
• Google Scholar: International Grocery Stores
• Jax Daily Record: Enson Market Registers Business Name
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Grocery Stores