ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- The buildings where Carrabba's and LA Fitness used to occupy on Wells Road now sit vacant.
Both Clay County businesses moved to Duval County last month within weeks of each other.
But what may seem like a loss to some residents, the Clay County Chamber of Commerce sees as an opportunity.
The move still disappointed frequent Carrabba's patron Roy Clark.
"I think it's gonna take away some of the Clay County residents not wanting to go all the way over there to Youngerman," said Roy Clark, a Clay County resident.
Both businesses moved a few miles down the road to Blanding Blvd and Youngerman Circle.
Technically, that's just outside the Clay County line and into Duval.
Although they are no longer in the county, both are members of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce.
According to the president of the chamber, the recent change in location only means more job opportunities for Clay County residents.
"It's really not a loss, it's just that now we have potential. We have an empty space with economic development that we can bring another business and potential partner and member in," said Doug Conkey, President of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce.
According to Conkey, it's common to have chamber members outside of Clay County.
He says Duval and Clay have more of a partnership.
"It no longer is a competition, it's how do we support one another," said Conkey.
The Clay County Chamber of Commerce is now working to find new businesses to fill the vacant spaces left by Carrabba's and LA Fitness.
We reached out to Carrabba's and LA Fitness for comment but our calls were not returned.
