The Daily Record (Jacksonville, FL)

2 days ago | jaxdailyrecord.com | Mark Basch

A monthly survey of Jacksonville area manufacturing companies by the University of North Florida found a big dip in confidence about conditions in the months ahead. Meanwhile, a quarterly survey of global businesses by Jacksonville-based Dun & Bradstreet also found a decline in optimism. A Purchasing Managers Index’ derived from the survey by UNF’s Local Economic Indicators Project registered 49 in March, indicating a contraction in the local economy.

5 days ago | jaxdailyrecord.com | Dan MacDonald |Dan Macdonald

Salvatore’s Old Fashioned Pizzeria at 4820 Deer Lake W. in Tapestry Park has closed. The Rochester, New York-based chain has 37 restaurants opened or planned throughout New York State and one planned in North Carolina, according to its website. The Jacksonville restaurant is not listed on the website. It announced its expansion to Jacksonville in July 2023 and opened in February 2024. In addition to pizza the restaurant served calzones, Italian subs, wings, burgers, fish, pasta dinners and desserts.

6 days ago | jaxdailyrecord.com | Mark Basch

Jacksonville’s unemployment rate edged lower in March, with modest growth in jobs across most industry sectors. The jobless rate in the Jacksonville metropolitan area of Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties fell from 3.8% in February to 3.6% last month, the Florida Department of Commerce reported April 18. All five counties in the metro area registered 0.2 percentage point declines last month.

6 days ago | jaxdailyrecord.com | Dan MacDonald |Dan Macdonald

The Bateh family can continue to operate Akel’s Deli in the Bank of America Tower at 50 Laura St. Downtown through Nov. 30. Jonathan Bateh said April 16 the lease, which was to expire April 30, has been extended. The family also operates Ground Level Coffee in the tower lobby. In February, Colliers Urban Division, which leases building amenities, announced that Starbucks Coffee Co. will take 2,364 square feet of space at the corner of Laura and Bay streets that at one time had been a gift shop.

6 days ago | jaxdailyrecord.com | Monty Zickuhr

Starting with the singing of the national anthem, followed by an employee cheer, Walmart celebrated the grand opening of its 1-million-square-foot Sam’s Club distribution center April 17 in North Jacksonville. The $61 million facility is at 1511 Zoo Parkway, Building 300, in Imeson Park South. Frank Herrera, director of operations for the warehouse, said the 23-acre facility is the equivalent of 17.5 football fields. He said it became fully operational in February and is staffed with 250 workers.