Retail shops finding a new market in city
Jacksonville has an eclectic mix of stores, restaurants and lodging in a variety of areas throughout town, but mostly on Morton Avenue and downtown.
Despite turbulent retail sales nationally, the Jacksonville market continues to remain steady and, in some cases, has seen growth during the past few years.
National chains recognize this. Several new retailers opened in the past year, including Slumberland Furniture and Goody’s. Before that, Walmart built a new Supercenter, The Home Depot opened a new outlet and CVS opened a new pharmacy, with The Medicine Shoppe opening an expanded location.
Morton Avenue is the main commercial strip in town, with national chains, local and chain specialty stores, and a wide variety of services. People can get everything they need and most of what they want either on Morton Avenue or downtown.
Lincoln Square Shopping Center on Morton Avenue offers a variety of specialty and national shops. From May to October, a vibrant farmers market sets up Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, offering fresh produce and treats trucked in from the surrounding area.
The downtown district surrounding the original town square, called Central Park Plaza, is a mixed business environment of shops, services and entertainment. As you might expect, the shops tend toward the special and the creative — a stained glass shop, art galleries, an engraving firm,
specialty outlets, a variety of eating and drinking establishments — and offers its own farmers market during the warm weather.
Well-known restaurants dot Morton Avenue, and local favorites congregate in the downtown area and in South Jacksonville, offering a wide range of American, Mexican, Italian, Asian and modern cuisine. Homemade family fare, a comfortable bistro, creative cooking and well-known chains cater to just about every taste.
Along Morton Avenue and in South Jacksonville are a range of hotels and motels to fit most budgets.
For more information:
www.jacksonvilleareachamber.org
For lodging, the visitors bureau can help at www.jacksonvilleil.org
