JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – All tenants of The Jacksonville Landing will be getting their security deposits back and some will have their May rent refunded, according to a spokesperson for the city of Jacksonville.
City leaders have said most of the businesses and restaurants must close by Friday, although tenants were offered a hold-over agreement that would allow them to stay an additional week.
Jacksonville’s riverfront shopping center opened in 1987, but in recent years, the downtown landmark has become the center of controversy.
Earlier this year, the city bought out the lease from Sleiman Enterprises for $15 million.
The City Council's approval of the deal to break the lease included $1.5 million to buy out the long-term leases from businesses operating at the Landing. Another $1.5 million will be used to demolish the building.
Among the businesses, Fionn MacCool's Irish pub will receive $550,000. Hooters will receive $303,000. The amount of money Compass Bank will receive was still being negotiated, but the city said there was no anticipated balance.
The Hooters and Compass Bank in the Landing can stay for now, according to an agreement with the city. But their future days could be numbered.
All tenants of the Landing received free parking in May, which the city says was roughly $3,000 of anticipated revenue. Tenants also received free rent for the month.
Michelle Rhoades-Jones, who owns Hana and Her Sister Fine Jewelry, said her store has been in the Landing for 32 years.
“It’s really sad. I’m just disappointed in the administration for how they’re handling it,” Rhoades-Jones said. “The bathrooms have just been nasty. They’re not opening the doors for people to come in.”
The mayor’s office provided a list of remaining tenants and a history of communications with them about the process.