JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Regency Square Mall’s food court is now reduced to debris as demolition begins on the 47‑acre property. Jacksonville leaders say the work marks the start of a new era for a mall many residents grew up visiting.
Under the rubble are memories for people like Jacksonville resident Myia McLaughlin.
“Mom and pop would give us money. We would go out, go to Coastal Cookie, ride the train around the mall, get uniforms,” McLaughlin said.
She says watching the demolition begin was emotional.
“It was just kind of emotional to see it go. Hopefully they do something different with it. Give Jacksonville some more life, give the youth something else to do around here,” McLaughlin said.
Jacksonville District 1 City Councilman Ken Amaro says he has been in contact with developers.
“The demolition should take about six to eight months, and it might be the second quarter of twenty-seven before we start seeing things come out,” Amaro said.
Blackwater Development bought the property for 19.1 million dollars. Much of the interior will become the Nexus at Regency, a mixed‑use development with apartments, retail, restaurants, offices and new internal streets.
“Unfortunately, over the years it went into demise and hopefully this is the big comeback that we’ve all been waiting on,” Amaro said.
McLaughlin says she hopes the redevelopment brings excitement back to the area.
“Give it life again,” McLaughlin said.
Amaro says Impact Church, which is connected to the mall and operates a school, will remain because the building is its property.
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