The not-for-profit plans to build a new store, donation and careers center in Epic Village in St. Johns County as it converts the Timuquana Shopping Center in West Jacksonville for its HQ.
Goodwill Industries has multiple stores in Northeast Florida.Photo by Monty Zickuhr
By Karen Brune Mathis | 12:05 a.m. December 1, 2023
Goodwill Industries of North Florida intends to build a 22,000-square-foot St. Augustine store, donation drive-thru and career center next year.
The not-for-profit bought the Epic Village property in December 2020.
The project comes as Goodwill Industries is converting a former shopping center in West Jacksonville for its headquarters.
Goodwill uses the proceeds raised at the thrift stores and from other programs to fund training, education and career opportunities for those in need.
Goodwill Chief Real Estate Officer Karen Phillips said Nov. 20 that Goodwill is in design for the St. Augustine project, which is at Florida 207 and Epic Boulevard.
The site is east of Interstate 95 and west of U.S. 1.
Goodwill Industries is working with civil engineers Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. and architect Doherty Sommers Architects Engineers Inc. The structure is in design.
Phillips said Goodwill would issue a request for proposals for the store contractor in the second quarter of 2024.
She expects construction to start in the third quarter of 2024 with completion a year later.
In addition to the retail store, the project will have a donation drive-thru with a canopy cover and a GoodCareers Center.
The free full-service career center serves people who want to find the skills they need to be successful in their job search.
“With a positive and supportive environment, anyone looking for work can access resources and learn skills to conduct an independent job search,” says the goodwillnorthfl.org site.
Phillips said Goodwill had been canvassing the St. Johns County area with its real estate broker, Newmark Phoenix Realty Group, for years.
“We strategically selected Epic Village as it sits in the midst of nine new residential communities with over 2,200 single family and multifamily townhomes currently under construction,” she said by email.
“Goodwill’s new and improved footprint will simultaneously enhance the Goodwill Brand, employ more people, generate additional revenues and increase donor support, while also allowing us to showcase our mission services and workforce community partners,” she said.
Phillips said the existing 13,940-square-foot St. Augustine store at 2005 U.S. 1 was one of the first stores that Goodwill built more than 20 years ago.
She said Goodwill intends to sell that 1.81-acre property when the new store opens.
Goodwill Industries of North Florida operates 20 stores, 20 donation centers, one outlet/pound store, the online shopgoodwill.com/jacksonville site and five GoodCareers Centers throughout its 14-county North Florida territory.
Goodwill’s new 17,500-square-foot corporate headquarters is under construction at 5150 Timuquana Road in West Jacksonville. Eason Development LLC is the contractor at the Timuquana Shopping Center.
Phillips said it would be move-in ready by late February 2024.
The city issued a permit Aug. 17 for the $3.63 million renovation of 34,000 square feet to convert the shopping center for the Goodwill headquarters and a GoodCareers Center.
Other than the headquarters, Phillips said the remaining space will be used for Goodwill’s programs. Specific plans are under review.
Through GW Timuquana LLC, Goodwill Industries of North Florida paid $4 million for the property in March 2022.
When Goodwill moves to that office, renovations will begin at the current 62,000-square-foot headquarters at 4527 Lenox Ave. to triple the size of the Outlet/Pound Store.
The store will increase from 3,291 to 10,000 square feet, and the rest of the building will be used for warehousing, salvage and transportation.