According to recent reporting in The Business Journal, Akel’s Delicatessen downtown, a ground floor establishment in the Bank of America Tower at 50 N. Laura St. since 2015, is reportedly evaluating the possibility of relocating after renovations were announced on Feb. 12. The local establishment’s contract ends in April.
“We’re weighing our options, but the people at the Bank of America building really don’t seem like they want us there, to be honest,” Bateh said to The Business Journal. “Our customers and everyone in downtown seem to love us, so we’re looking at other spots.”
Fortunately, the Akel family will continue operating the Riverside and Southside locations. The crux of the matter is that the Downtown location could face rent more or less “three times today’s rent after the renovation.”
“It’s set up to be a successful business. You’re not going to become uber wealthy off of running a deli, but it pays the bills, and we keep it in business,” Bateh said. “We have a good price point. We’re probably still one of the better deals in the downtown area for the quality of food that you’re getting, and I’m not going to create a new business.”
The loss should be particularly disruptive for downtown workers as well. As the business operates from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, the business sees a lot of traffic from neighboring offices.
“We get people that come in two times a day, four or five days a week,” Bateh said. “They’re in and out within five minutes. Most people get their food and go back to the office.”
In closing his interview with the Journal, Bateh strikes a pessimistic tone.
“I love downtown. I’ve been in Jacksonville all my life. But we’re open for business people,” Bateh said. “Hopefully one day downtown will be a place you want to go, but right now, that’s just not the case.”
No potential new addresses have been announced.
