Is Downtown Jacksonville Worth Investing In Right Now? Here's What's Changing

If you haven't driven through downtown Jacksonville in a few months, you might not recognize it soon. Northeast Florida is in the middle of one of its busiest development stretches in decades, and a lot of it is happening right along the St. Johns River. Here's a plain-language recap of what's coming to downtown and the surrounding area, based on local news reporting and the latest Thursday Night Live show.

1. A Culinary School Is Coming to Downtown Jacksonville

The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) has picked Jacksonville for its new Southeast hub. A downtown city council member confirmed the news to News4Jax after the CIA's board made the decision. The deal isn't final yet — the city and the CIA still need to work out incentives and help the school find a temporary campus while its permanent building goes up.

This matters because the CIA is choosy about where it opens campuses. Its only other locations are in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore, so a Jacksonville campus would put the city in some pretty exclusive company. Early plans call for non-degree classes to start by the end of the first quarter of 2027, with more course offerings added through 2029 while the permanent campus is designed and built.

2. The Bigger Riverfront Project Behind the Culinary School

The CIA wouldn't be a standalone building. It's set to anchor a much larger riverfront project downtown that includes a 14-story tower, a 160-room hotel, a three-story conference center, and ground-level retail and dining. A separate four-story building nearby is planned for additional food and beverage space, including what's described as riverfront dining destinations.

In short: this is a multi-million-dollar project, not a single building, and it's aimed at turning a stretch of the downtown waterfront into a walkable dining and hospitality corridor. City funding and budget priorities for projects like this are getting more public scrutiny too — see Mayor Deegan's latest budget proposal, which touches on UF Health and stadium-related spending.

3. The Four Seasons Downtown Is Almost Done

A few blocks away in the Shipyards area, the 10-story Four Seasons Jacksonville hotel is getting close to the finish line, with construction sitting right in front of the stadium. Current reporting points to a late 2026 completion, which would make it one of the first major hospitality openings tied to downtown's riverfront push.

4. Pearl Square Brings New Apartments, Restaurants, and Shops

Pearl Square is a separate downtown project at 515 North Pearl Street, and phase one centers on a 205-unit apartment building called the Vendiver Apartments. The retail and restaurant lineup announced so far includes:

Buckner's Beer Hall and Jetset are currently expected to open in early 2027, with other tenant timelines still to be announced.

5. A Longtime Local Favorite Is Opening on the Riverfront

European Street Cafe was picked for the Riverfront Plaza Cafe inside the new Riverfront Park downtown. It's a Jacksonville staple that's been around for more than 35 years, with existing locations in San Marco, Riverside, and Jacksonville Beach. The menu leans on sandwiches, soups, salads, and baked goods, and the new riverfront location will sit beneath a rooftop playground, making it an easy family stop along the water.

6. Chick-fil-A Is Testing a Downtown Lunch Counter

Chick-fil-A has opened a temporary lunch counter inside the former Bank of America Tower downtown, running weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's a test run rather than a full restaurant, which is a pretty typical, cautious move for the brand before committing to a permanent downtown location. As always, it's closed on Sundays.

7. Seven Pines Retail Is Growing Fast in St. Johns County

Outside downtown, the Seven Pines community near Nocatee is adding a long list of national retailers as home sales there continue to climb. The lineup includes Publix, Williams Sonoma, West Elm, and Pottery Barn Kids for shopping; Yoga Joint, Respa, Solidcore, and Lifetime Fitness for health and wellness; and Ember & Iron, Hawkers Asian Street Food, Lenora's, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and 1928 Cuban Bistro for dining. Specialty tenants Shy and Sean (a boutique with an existing Jacksonville Beach location), Bow Outfitters, Toytopia, and Imperial Nail Salon round out the mix.

For St. Johns County residents, this kind of retail growth typically follows rooftops — meaning it shows up once a community has enough residents to support national brands. And there are a lot of new rooftops: St. Johns County's population grew 25.8% between 2020 and 2025, adding about 71,585 residents to reach roughly 348,690, and it currently leads all of Florida's counties in percentage growth at around 4.4% a year, according to county economic development data.

It's also part of a bigger wave of growth pressure on formerly rural land in the county; a new state law on agricultural enclaves (SB 686) is expected to open more of that land to development — JAXToday has a good rundown of how it works.

8. New Asian Grocery and Gift Shops Have Opened

Two newer specialty markets have opened in Jacksonville over roughly the past year. Tesso Life, near the Arlington Expressway, is an Asian-inspired shop with trinkets, toys, and treats. Latte Plaza Market is a Korean grocery and gift shop that opened around the same general timeframe. Both add options for residents looking for ingredients or products that are harder to find at typical grocery chains.

9. Harris Teeter's Florida Expansion Got Much Smaller

Kroger, which owns Harris Teeter, has scrapped plans for roughly 80 Harris Teeter stores across Florida — including ones that had been rumored for St. Johns County. Only one Florida location is still moving forward, and it's already under construction in Jacksonville near Atlantic Boulevard. For buyers who were hoping a Harris Teeter would land near Nocatee or Silverleaf, that isn't currently part of the plan.

10. JAXPORT Cruise Growth and Jaguars Training Camp

A couple of quick lifestyle notes worth knowing if you're new to the area: Norwegian Cruise Line reported more than 100% occupancy (meaning more than two guests per room, on average) during its first six months sailing out of JAXPORT, and Carnival had a record year in 2024. Several travel rankings have named Jacksonville one of the top cruise markets for ease of travel.

On land, Jacksonville Jaguars training camp is opening its practice sessions to fans starting July 29, with free tickets available for select dates. Some dates, including August 2, have already sold out, so it's worth checking availability early if you want to bring the kids.

What's Coming, At a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is the Culinary Institute of America really coming to Jacksonville?

A downtown city council member confirmed to News4Jax that the Culinary Institute of America's board selected Jacksonville as its Southeast hub. The deal isn't finalized — the city and the CIA are still negotiating incentives and a temporary campus while a permanent one is built.

When will the Four Seasons downtown open?

The 10-story Four Seasons Jacksonville, located in the Shipyards area near the stadium, is expected to be completed by late 2026.

What is Pearl Square, and where is it located?

Pearl Square is a downtown development at 515 North Pearl Street. Phase one includes a 205-unit apartment building called the Vendiver Apartments, along with new restaurants and shops such as Bar Citra, Buckner's Beer Hall, Popup Bagels, and Go Greek Yogurt.

Is Harris Teeter still opening a store in St. Johns County?

No. Kroger scrapped plans for roughly 80 Harris Teeter stores across Florida. Only one location is still moving forward, and it's under construction in Jacksonville near Atlantic Boulevard, not in St. Johns County.

When does Jacksonville Jaguars training camp start?

Jaguars training camp practice sessions open to fans starting July 29, with free tickets available for select dates. Some dates, including August 2, have already sold out.

Where can I find new Asian grocery stores in Jacksonville?

Two newer specialty markets have opened in the past year: Tesso Life near the Arlington Expressway, an Asian-inspired gift and toy shop, and Latte Plaza Market, a Korean grocery and gift shop.

Thinking About a Move to Northeast Florida?

Downtown Jacksonville's growth is part of a bigger story about where Northeast Florida is headed — and it's changing what's available in nearby communities too. If you're weighing a move, an upgrade, or a relocation to the area, it never hurts to start the conversation early.

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LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR MOVE

Call/Text: (904) 599-2125

Email: greg@livinginjacksonvillefl.com

Website: https://www.livinginjacksonvillefl.com/


Want more real estate insight like this? Follow and Subscribe to the Living in Jacksonville FL Team on YouTube (@LIVINGINJACKSONVILLEFL) for neighborhood tours, market updates, and buyer tips you won't find anywhere else.

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Note: This recap reflects details shared on the July 2026 episode of Thursday Night Live and current local news reporting. Project timelines, tenants, and pricing can change — confirm current details before making plans.

Sources

About the Author


Greg DeTullio is the Broker and Owner of the Living in Jacksonville FL Team, specializing in new construction and relocation across Northeast Florida, including St. Johns County, Ponte Vedra, Ponte Vedra Beach, and Nocatee. He co-hosts Thursday Night Live, a weekly local news and lifestyle show covering development and growth across the area.

 


Posted by Greg DeTullio on

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