ELM TRANSFORMS NEPTUNE PLAZA INTO A VIBRANT RETAIL AND ENTERTAINMENT DESTINATION
Neptune Plaza, the once vacant retail center in Jacksonville's 'Beaches' community, has undergone a dynamic renovation led by award-winning design firm Ervin Lovett Miller (ELM). Commissioned by national redeveloper TLM Realty Group, the project has revitalized approximately 18 acres of prime commercial frontage, transforming it into a vibrant retail and entertainment destination that significantly enhances the beachfront community.
The first phase of the comprehensive renovation began in 2020 and was celebrated with a grand opening ceremony on May 17, 2023. ELM's multidisciplinary approach included site planning, building façade enhancements, landscape and hardscape design, and construction coordination. The result is a renewed plaza that boasts an impressive lineup of retail spaces, with Publix supermarket serving as the anchor tenant, along with Beall’s Outlet and other complementary establishments. Notably, Publix now features a new concept called POURS, a bar that seamlessly caters to both coffee and cocktail enthusiasts, uniquely enhancing the shopping experience.
The design engages with the existing context, strategically incorporating elements aimed at attracting new consumers and adding long-term value for the client. The centerpiece of the plaza is the new "Lemon Fountain," paying homage to the project’s extension of Lemon Street, which now connects Neptune Plaza with the beach. The fountain's striking design and playful water feature provide a new amenity tailored to families with young children, a key demographic for the plaza's anchor tenant.
“We were thrilled by the opportunity to continue our decades-long relationship with Jacksonville’s coastal community and help express its identity in a concrete, tangible way.”
— RUSS ERVIN, ELM PARTNER
Thoughtfully scattered palm trees punctuate the expansive parking lot and walkways, inviting patrons to slow down and appreciate the shopping experience. Furthermore, to enhance pedestrian safety, a brick road has been strategically incorporated into the entrance, discouraging drivers from rushing in and out of the center.
ELM has a successful record of transforming underperforming commercial retail and entertainment centers over the past two decades, including Third Street Village, Pablo Plaza, Sawgrass Village, Bartram Walk, and College Park.
Already surpassing anticipated usage, the revitalized Neptune Plaza has firmly established itself as a defining presence in daily residential life and a welcomed addition to the Jacksonville ‘Beaches’ retail landscape.
