A big wholesale club for Middleburg, Mayo Clinic turns 40, and a JEA board renomination advances

A BJ’s sized wholesale club is planned in MiddleburgA conceptual site plan under review with Clay County shows a 106,371 square foot wholesale club on Blanding Boulevard near Gregory B. Clary Way, with 486 parking spaces, three outparcels and a proposed traffic signal. That matches the size of a BJ’s Wholesale Club planned in Pasco County, but no retailer, lease, cost or timeline has been named. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 19, 2026

Mayo Clinic marks 40 years in JacksonvilleThe San Pablo Road campus opened in October 1986 and now employs about 12,000 people, making Mayo one of the region’s largest private employers. The campus has grown from 140 acres to more than 600, and Mayo plans to start proton therapy in 2027 and carbon ion therapy in 2028 in its Duan Family Building. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 19, 2026

DiSalvo’s JEA board renomination clears committeeThe City Council Rules Committee voted 6 to 1 on Oct. 19 to keep Joseph DiSalvo, a retired Army general and former JEA board chair, on the utility’s board, with Ron Salem voting no. The full Council will likely take it up Oct. 27, and Randy Wyse’s nomination is still pending. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 19, 2026

European Street Cafe enters permitting at Riverfront PlazaThe city is reviewing a permit for an estimated $200,000 build out of the cafe at 2 Independent Drive W., about a month after the DIA approved a $71,310 forgivable loan for it. It would be the fourth European Street in Duval County. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 19, 2026

Zunzibar brings coastal cuisine to Brooklyn StationThe Savannah restaurant plans its fifth location in about 6,025 square feet at 90 Riverside Ave., the former Burrito Gallery space, with indoor and outdoor dining and a bar. It is aiming for a fall 2026 opening. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 19, 2026

City weighs a $2.8 million loan for 180 affordable apartmentsVestcor’s planned complex near San Diego Road and Spring Park Road would serve residents earning 60% of area median income or less, with rents capped at about $1,200 a month or lower. The city’s affordable housing director says Jacksonville is 47,000 affordable units short. The loan cleared committee and still needs full Council approval. Source: First Coast News, Oct. 19, 2026

Keke’s Breakfast Cafe opens near the airport ThursdayThe fifth Jacksonville Keke’s, at 840 Nautica Drive in River City Marketplace, has a 7 a.m. grand opening Oct. 22 and a 9 a.m. JAX Chamber ribbon cutting. Franchisees Vic Cuda and John Metz own it. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 19, 2026

Florida Blue’s Aleizha Batson moves toward the Planning CommissionThe Rules Committee voted 7 to 0 for Batson, a senior communications lead at Florida Blue, to fill the District 5 seat held by Moné Holder. The full Council votes Oct. 27. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 19, 2026

Sunny skies, rough water at the beachesA High Surf Advisory runs through 2 a.m. Wednesday and a Coastal Flood Advisory through 4 a.m. Thursday, with minor tidal flooding expected along the St. Johns River around high tide. Stronger winds and coastal impacts are expected again this weekend. Source: News4JAX, Oct. 20, 2026

Early voting starts in Duval todayDuval’s 24 early voting sites are open 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 23, and early voting runs through Nov. 1. St. Johns starts Oct. 21 and Clay starts Oct. 23. Source: First Coast News, Oct. 18, 2026