 By Regina Lynch-Hudson
Editor’s note: Doing Biz In features continuously updated coverage of a full spectrum of top cities where readers conduct business. Publicist and travel writer Regina Lynch-Hudson has penned destination catalogs and articles for companies such as Vacation Express, AirTran Airways and North American Airlines.
City Smarts: Jacksonville is the place to do business in the Southeast! Recently voted one of the top 10 cities for African Americans by Black Enterprise Magazine, Jacksonville is also consistently rated as one of the top “Hottest Cities in America” for business expansion and relocation by site consultants in an annual poll for Expansion Management magazine.
While the main business corridor is located downtown, many companies call the Southpoint area just south of downtown home. Corporate headquarters located throughout Jacksonville include Stein Mart, Winn-Dixie, Fidelity National Financial, PSS World Medical, Landstar, CSX Corporation, The Haskell Company, and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Florida. Northeast Florida is largely gaining status as a medical hub, as well.
The Jacksonville MSA population is 1.2 million, which includes Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns counties. Duval County, which comprises Jacksonville and Jacksonville, Atlantic and Neptune beaches, alone has a population of 838,841. The military employs over 30,000 active-duty personnel and nearly 20,000 civilians in the area.
Jetsetter: Suiting up for business comes easily for Tim Rose, the owner of The Rose Agency Personal Image Consulting & Custom Clothier. In business seven years, the Jacksonville native is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University.
“The face of Jacksonville is changing daily, there are more people moving here from all over the U.S. that are bringing their knowledge and skill set to help make the city better,” Rose says.
A custom image consulting firm, the agency works with men and women on their “entire persona” – from body language to etiquette, hygiene, dress, and personal training.
“The wardrobe is the last piece – we don’t actually tailor, but we teach skills to create a signature look that carries clients into their professional life,” he notes.
Clients have included everyone from the quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars to attorneys, architects, and professionals all over the country.
“We do hope for a major retailer or anchor store to come downtown to help enhance the shopping experience,” he adds.
(904-358-6288, www.timrose.us)
Getting’ Around: While Jacksonville offers the traditional options of buses, taxis, and rental cars to get around, some of the city’s quirkier modes of transportation are found downtown. The St. Johns River flows through Downtown Jacksonville, dividing the Northbank from the Southbank and, in addition to three bridges connecting the two districts, river taxis and the low-cost, elevated Skyway (35 cents) also connect both sides of the river. Downtown trolley service on the Northbank stretches from historic La Villa to the west, to the football and baseball stadiums on the east on three designated trolley lines. Best of all, this service is free! SS Marine Taxi: 3189 Old Port Circle East, www.jaxwatertaxi.com; Jacksonville Transportation Authority (Skyway, Trolley service) 100 North Myrtle Ave., www.jtaonthemove.com.
Survival Kit: If golf is your game, be sure to remember your golf clubs! Northeast Florida is home to 72 golf courses. One of the few African-American-owned and operated golf courses, the Mill Cove Golf Club, is located in Jacksonville, as well.
Catching ZZZ’s: Located just north of Jacksonville, The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island is a AAA Five Diamond resort offering 444 guest rooms, 32,000 square feet of functional meeting space, a spa, and a fully functional executive business center. With 18 holes of golf at its front door, the property is a must for the business traveler. The Grill at the hotel is one of only six restaurants in Florida to be awarded the AAA Five Diamond. (904-277-1100, 4750 Amelia Island Parkway, Amelia Island, www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/ AmeliaIsland).
The Power Lunch: River City Brewing Co. is the premiere riverfront restaurant in Downtown Jacksonville, offering gorgeous views of the St. Johns River and the Northbank business district. Power players in Jacksonville often conduct business over the restaurant’s fresh seafood, tender steaks, and creative pasta dishes. When dining at River City, don’t miss out on their signature dish, the locally farmed Mayport shrimp stuffed with crab meat, cheese, herbs, and bread crumbs. It’s delicious! (904-398-2299, 835 Museum Circle, www.rivercitybrew.com.)
Cultural Chow: Soul food and home cooking has always been a mainstay in the River City, and soul food at its best comes from the small local spot, Hughes Southern Cooking & Catering, located near Downtown in the Springfield neighborhood. Southern cuisine includes hearty breakfasts with fried fish, pork chops or smoked sausage, and traditional lunch items like chicken, shrimp, wings, beef stew, and more than a dozen sides. (904-634-1239, 3118 N. Pearl St.)
Cyber Site: Business travelers and locals can surf the Internet along the St. Johns River at Downtown’s Jacksonville Landing, which is a fully loaded Wi-Fi hotspot. The Landing is within walking distance of many top businesses in Jacksonville and provides beautiful river views, a variety of food choices, shopping, and weekend entertainment. (904-353-1188, 2 Independent Dr., www.jacksonvillelanding.com.)
Networkin’: A hot Jacksonville supper club, Arielle’s Fine Dining offers the perfect opportunity to network with some of Jacksonville’s premium professionals, while listening to live jazz and enjoying delicious menu entrees. The hottest HBO and BET comics take the stage to perform in the Thursday Night Live Comedy Jam. (904-721-4271, 7707 Arlington Expressway, www.ariellesjax.com.)
To De-Stress: One of the best places in the area to de-stress after a long day of business meetings is the Meobachi Salon & Spa. Opened in a unique space reflective of the owner’s Jamaican heritage, services for men and women include hair, nails, facials, massage, and yoga. (904-739-7256, 6850 Saint Augustine Rd., www.meobachi.com.)
Footloose & Fancy-free: Located less than 30 minutes north of the Jacksonville International Airport is Amelia Island and Fernandina Beach. Amelia Island is a golf and spa haven for the business traveler, with resorts encompassing large numbers of meeting space facilities. Amelia Island also flaunts the prettiest stretch of beach to horseback ride. Fernandina Beach, to the north, is a quaint historic town with artwork, antiques, and boutiques. American Beach, founded in 1935 by Florida’s first African-American millionaire A.L. Lewis, is a must-see. It served as the only beach open to African Americans until the late 60s. (www.aifby.com)
Flight Time: Jacksonville International Airport is located just 15 minutes from Downtown Jacksonville and links Jacksonville and northeast Florida with cities across the United States. (www.jaa.aero) AirTran Airways offers daily low-fare flights to Jacksonville and over 50 major US. Cities - www.airtran.com -1-800-AIR-TRAN
Someone helpful: Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau, (904- 798-9100, www.visitjacksonville.com. First Coast African-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc., 904-652-1500, www.fcaacc.org).
Thanks to our friends at Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau and other tourist venues for providing us with facts, figures, and fun information for this article.
Editor’s note: Publicist and travel writer Regina Lynch-Hudson has penned destination catalogs and articles for companies such as Vacation Express, AirTran Airways and North American Airlines. She also organizes cultural press trips, and handles destination marketing for resorts, bed and breakfasts, and tourism boards. More information on The Write Publicist and Co. can be found at www.thewritepublicist.com.
Return To Top |
