Gateway Jax Announces Nearly 10,000 Square Feet of New Retail Leases at Pearl Square, Set to be Downtown Jacksonville’s Most Prominent Mixed-Use Destination 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - July 22, 2026 - Gateway Jax, the developer behind Pearl Square, the $1 billion project spanning nine city blocks and 2 million square feet of high-quality mixed-use development in Downtown Jacksonville's Urban Core, has revealed the initial retail lineup for Vandeveer, the first mixed-use residential building within the district.

Designed by renowned architects including Morris Adjmi, SK+I, Elkus Manfredi and Cecconi Simone, Pearl Square will introduce more than 1,250 new residential units across four residential buildings, including 205 units at Vandeveer, 100,000 square feet of Class A office space, the boutique Hotel Merrydelle, and over 200,000 square feet of retail and dining, including over 20 shops and 15 signature restaurants.

A curated mix of celebrated dining, national wellness, and lifestyle tenants will define the street-level experience at Vandeveer, set to welcome residents in late summer 2026. Retailers will open onto a network of pedestrian-oriented streetscapes and public green spaces surrounding the historic Thomas V Porter Mansion, designed to create a walkable retail and dining destination within Pearl Square.

“Downtown Jacksonville is emerging as one of the Southeast's most closely watched urban markets," said Bryan Moll, CEO of Gateway Jax. "It’s our vision that this growing ecosystem of retail, hospitality, new offices, residences, and public green space will drive new life into Downtown Jacksonville, giving people new reasons to live, visit, and do business downtown where the neighborhood itself is the amenity. Vandeveer’s retail mix has been intentionally designed to bring daily life to the Urban Core, encourage all-day activation, and support the kind of walkable, connected environment essential to the city’s continued evolution.”

Newly announced tenants at Vandeveer’s ground floor include:

Bar Citra (2,000 square feet)

The St. Augustine restaurant — recognized in the 2026 Florida Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand distinction — brings its coffee program, house-baked pastries, seasonal plates and natural wine list to Pearl Square. Led by husband-and-wife team Rachel Gant and Andrew Deming, Bar Citra’s Jacksonville location marks the entrepreneurs’ first expansion outside of their home market.

Buchner’s Biergarten

The beloved Murray Hill institution Buchner’s Bierhalle will bring its vibrant outdoor beer garden experience to Porter House Lawn starting in October 2026. Guests will enjoy signature German beers served from a vintage-inspired Citroën truck alongside shareable small plates, sausages, sandwiches, cheese and charcuterie.

PopUp Bagels (1,443 square feet)

Founded in 2020 in Westport, CT, the “Not Famous but Known®” bagel brand offers a fresh take on a category long rooted in tradition. PopUp Bagels serves bagels hot from the oven–never sliced, never toasted–designed to be torn apart and dipped into schmear, creating a communal and distinctly modern bagel experience. Florida partner, Kal Gullapali of Built Different Brands, is opening its second Jacksonville location at Pearl Square, following a successful debut at the St. Johns Town Center in late 2025.

Go Greek Yogurt (1,141 square feet)

Go Greek Yogurt is a Mediterranean lifestyle brand rooted in Greek tradition that celebrates intentional living and the joy of slowing down. Go Greek Yogurt offers options from authentic Greek yogurt to Greek Bowls, designed to be both delicious and nutritious, promoting a balanced and mindful approach to eating. With more than 25 global locations across the United States, Europe and the Middle East, the upcoming Pearl Square location marks the third Florida location and first in Northeast Florida.

JETSET Pilates® (2,495 square feet)

The premium pilates studio franchise offers a high-intensity, low-impact, full-body workout performed on custom-designed reformers. The experience blends precision-based movement, modern music and elevated studio design to deliver an immersive class that builds strength, balance and confidence, with classes designed for all fitness levels.‍

‍Pearl Street Nails (2,032 square feet)

A modern, professional nail salon featuring organic treatment options will provide a high-end experience to residents and visitors alike. Featuring manicures, pedicures, nail enhancements, waxing and more, Pearl Street Nails is the newest concept from a regional nail salon operator with more than 20 years of experience in the industry and over 135 salons across the Southeast.

The tenants join Publix, which will be the first new construction grocery store in the area in more than a decade, and Colletta, an upcoming from-scratch Italian restaurant set to open within the newly restored Hotel Merrydelle. Together, these concepts contribute to the build-out of a neighborhood designed to support walkable, everyday urban living.

Gateway Jax has pursued a deliberate curation strategy for Pearl Square's retail program centered around full-service dining and shopping. "Our leadership team brings direct experience from Water Street Tampa and National Landing in Arlington, Virginia, where we created vibrant 18-hour environments where none had existed before," said Moll. "We've applied those same lessons to Pearl Square, engaging The Urban Division at Colliers and Of Place to build a retail lineup that balances local identity with national brand credibility, ensuring Vandeveer’s ground floor reflects both the character of Jacksonville and the standards of the nation's leading urban districts."

“Jacksonville’s retail landscape is evolving at an incredible pace. The curated mix at Vandeveer is a testament to the growing national appeal of the city’s urban core,” said Kelly Pulignano, Senior Vice President of The Shopping Center Group who represented PopUp Bagels in its lease negotiations. "This transformational project introduces a new standard for urban living and shopping in Jacksonville. Gateway Jax’s vision for Pearl Square is coming to life as a unique, premier destination that will help define the city’s future.”

Buchner’s Biergarten and JETSET Pilates® will open in fall 2026, with additional tenant openings anticipated to continue through early 2027. Pearl Square’s full nine-block buildout is ongoing, with additional residential, office, hospitality and retail phases in development.

For leasing inquiries, contact The Urban Division at Colliers. For more information about Pearl Square, visit pearlsquare.com and follow @pearlsquarejax.

About Gateway Jax

Gateway Jax is a Jacksonville-based investment and development firm specializing in large-scale, mixed-use urban projects. Founded in 2022, the firm’s leadership brings decades of experience across North America, including landmark projects in Tampa, Arlington, and Washington, D.C. Pearl Square, its inaugural development, spans nine blocks and more than 2 million square feet in Jacksonville’s Urban Core. Learn more at gatewayjax.com.

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