Brooklyn's Corner Bakery Opens: What Do You Think?

One of the most controversial infill development projects near downtown Jacksonville is nearing completion. Is it a positive or negative for downtown walkability?

Today, Corner Bakery Café becomes the latest tenant to open up shop at Jacksonville-based Regency Centers' $14.7 million Brooklyn Station shopping center on Riverside Avenue. Anchored by Fresh Market, the design of the 49,948-square-foot project was heavily criticized as being too suburban for downtown, due to it's large surface parking lot.

Corner Bakery Café occupies a 4,000-square-foot building at the corner of Riverside Avenue and Jackson Street. It's the first of three outparcel buildings lining Riverside Avenue to open. Unlike the typical Jacksonville strip mall outparcel, the only thing between the restaurant and Riverside Avenue is an outdoor seating area for the restaurant.

Soon, it will be joined by two additional outparcel buildings featuring BurgerFi, Zoes Kitchen, Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops, and Burrito Gallery. There's also space available for three additional tenants along the roadway tying downtown with Riverside. Like Corner Bakery Café, all will feature outdoor seating, bringing a sidewalk café style setting to Riverside Avenue.


Brooklyn Station site plan.

Despite the shopping center featuring a large surface parking lot between the street and Fresh Market, is this enough to promote the establishment of a walkable, pedestrian friendly atmosphere along Riverside Avenue? Take a look.

Next Page: Brooklyn Station At Street Level




Corner Bakery Café is one of three buildings at Brooklyn Riverside adjacent to the sidewalks of Riverside Avenue in Brooklyn. In 2015, 220 Riverside will expand with a second mixed-use mid-rise apartment development immediately across the street from Corner Bakery Café.



So this is how it will look with retail and dining facing Riverside Avenue?



Heavy landscaping in the preserved JTA Skyway Right-of-Way serves as an attempt by the developer to buffer the shopping center's main parking lot from Riverside Avenue.



A second structure is being built at the intersection of Riverside Avenue and Stonewall Street. When complete, this space will include a large outdoor seating area for BurgerFi.



BurgerFi's building under construction with Corner Bakery Café in the background. Soon a third building will rise across the street from BurgerFi. It's tenants include Zoes Kitchen, Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops, and Burrito Gallery. Burrito Gallery will include a 1,200 square foot rooftop dining area.

Is the presence of Brooklyn Station's street front restaurants enough to enhance the walkability of Riverside Avenue, despite the shopping center's large surface parking lot?

Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com