Edgewood Avenue No Longer on the Edge of Development

Mid Block

The area in between First Block and the Murray Hill Theatre represents the greatest opportunity for new business growth. Here are a few of the newest businesses to have found a home along this area of Edgewood Avenue.

Meredith Corey-Disch and Sarah Bogdanovitch started Community Loaves in 2012 as a bike-delivered, subscription bakery, sharing a small kitchen space with Sun Ray Cinemas to service a small collection of subscribers and commercial accounts. Soon, they would begin selling their products directly to customers at Riverside Arts Market and Jaxsons Night Market, and developed a rabid following.

That led the two to turn a non-descript storefront along Edgewood Avenue into a rustic, organic bakery in 2014. By 2016, the retail and kitchen space expanded into an adjoining storefront to accommodate a growing customer base that buys as much sourdough breads, pastries, sandwiches and pizzas as the bakery can produce. Since opening the Murray Hill storefront, Meredith Corey-Disch now calls the neighborhood home, living just a short walk from the outdoor garden space found behind the bakery.

Located two miles from Jacksonville’s only Cambodian temple, this market sells an impressive collection of perishable and non-perishable Asian foods along with cooking utensils and home goods.

Originally built in 1951 with extensive renovations completed in 2014, Murray Hill Plaza has helped usher in the opening of over a half dozen new businesses into the neighborhood. Proprietor Bernie Zitomer previously operated the Wine Warehouse for nearly 20 years on the First Block of Edgewood, before opening Bernie’s Wine Shop in the newly renovated Murray Hill Plaza. Jennifer Harvey opened Grater Goods in 2016- a specialty retailer of artisanal and farmstead cheeses and charcuterie. John Glessner and Brittany Bines opened the dance instruction studio Ballroom Bliss in 2014.The Growing Tree is a specialty retail reseller of children’s clothing opened by Lara McFall in 2013. Dr James Whited opened the Alaric Health Family Practice in 2011, offering massage therapy, highlights, haircuts and styles, skin care, dietary supplements and a fitness center.