Sbraga & Company Creates Communal Dining Experiences to Attract Visitors, Local Business Traffic and Residents to an Inspiring New Model of Mixed Use Development – and Helps Drives Pre-Leasing
Jacksonville, December 2, 2015 – The world’s best restaurants have always been great places to dine, and they’ve also been the vehicles of choice for guests to “see and be seen.” Now, those same restaurants are also considered to be critical strategic assets for mixed use developers, serving as communal gathering spaces and drivers of retail and real estate sales, both commercial and residential.
On top of the trend is Colicchio Consulting, a leading strategic management firm bringing together developers and internationally-renowned culinary talent. The group exclusively advised Jacksonville-based developer Hallmark Partners on its selection and engagement of renowned Chef Kevin Sbraga’s Sbraga & Company to lead the food and beverage charge at the new Unity Plaza mixed-use development in downtown Jacksonville.
A chef of rising international acclaim, Sbraga is the winner of Bravo TV’s ‘Top Chef: Season 7,” and owner of the decorated Sbraga and The Fat Ham restaurants in Philadelphia. Hallmark Partners is a full-service commercial real estate company that has developed more 1.2 million square feet of commercial property, totaling $410 million. 220 Riverside and Unity Plaza is a mix used development that includes 294 rental apartments, 20,000 square feet retail and restaurant spaces and a 2.5 acres urban park. This exciting new project serves as a catalyst to revitalize Jacksonville’s downtown core through enhanced access to options in housing, cuisine entertainment, transportation, in a live-work-play environment.
As a result of the buzz and traffic surrounding the opening of Sbraga & Company the property leased up well ahead of schedule.
“We’re delighted to welcome Chef Sbraga to Unity Plaza, thanks to the efforts of Colicchio Consulting, ” said Alex Coley, Principal and Co-Founder of Hallmark Partners. “With his arrival, Jacksonville joins the ranks of ‘hot cities’ like Atlanta, Nashville, Miami and Philadelphia, which have tapped top culinary talent to program restaurant spaces in ways that are compelling not just for residents, but for local businesses and business travelers as well. The culinary inspiration is palpable, and it makes its home in a public gathering space that is inspired by the unity and distinct feeling of fellowship that is part and parcel of Jacksonville. Thanks in part to Kevin’s commitment, our Riverside development and Unity Plaza are performing well ahead of expectations.”
Speaking about the partnership, CC’s Phil Colicchio said, “In this instance, we were able to unite two true visionaries that share core values. Kevin’s philosophy of food and service merged seamlessly with Hallmark’s distinctive community minded development. We were honored to be trusted by Hallmark with the assignment.”
With a combined total of more than four decades of commercial real estate, hospitality and food and beverage deal making at the highest levels, Colicchio Consulting brings top developers, retail projects, hotel owners, and asset managers together with award-winning chefs and restaurant operators, creating unique, on-brand dining destinations which generate attractive revenue opportunities.
Kevin Sbraga, said, “I’m thrilled to be involved in this partnership, which brings a new dimension of living and dining to Jacksonville. The combination of a sophisticated, downtown, urban location and a distinctly Southern feel and flavor has inspired me, I want to present a unique culinary destination that reflects its environment. I’m proud to be joining with Hallmark in bringing life to that vision.”
At Sbraga & Company, Kevin Sbraga is serving a contemporary approach to the cultural influences of Northeast Florida. Tables are filled with the bounty of the South: grilled meats and seafood, modern ceviches, house-made breads, and craveable cocktails. The 200?-seat restaurant, which features local crops, a raw bar and wood-fired grill, also has its own bakery, where all its bread is made fresh, including one made with local beer from Jacksonville’s vibrant brewing scene.
The restaurant opened to the public on November 14th.
For more information on the Unity Plaza and Riverside developments, visit www.naihallmarkpartners.com.
For more on Colicchio Consulting, visit www.colicchioconsulting.com.
