A growing Jacksonville-based fast-food restaurant chain is getting closer to opening at the River City Marketplace.

The Mr. Potato Spread franchise at the 840 Nautica Drive shopping center off Airport Center Drive received permit approval from the city to build out the location.

Owners Lakita and Aaron Spann began the business as a catering service and then grew it into a food truck, food courts and franchises. The couple told the Times-Union in April that they were starting to remodel space in the River City Marketplace.

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The 2,200-square-foot storefront previously was home to King Craw Seafood, Stir Fry & More, which closed in 2020. The permits approved this month cite $141,480 of work to be done by Invision Construction LLC.

The location was considered key to the success of the small business that launched about eight years ago.

"River City is kind of a big deal for us. … We very much wanted a Northside location. It's very exciting for us because we're from the Northside," Lakita Spann said in the Times-Union report.

The restaurant generally focuses on dishes that use potatoes as a base and then add everything from seafood, beef and ethnic foods as toppings.

While the Spanns will operate that Mr. Potato Spread, they have opened other locations to franchisees in Jacksonville. They did have to close one site at the Regency Square mall in September.

Marketplace movies no more

Meanwhile, another River City Marketplace landmark is about to be demolished: the Regal Cinemas at 12884 River Center Blvd.

The Jacksonville Building Inspections Division approved permits for the demolition of the 14-screen movie complex. The demolition will cost $247,000, and Able Construction Inc. is the contractor.

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The Jacksonville Daily Record reported the cinemas closed in August will soon be replaced with a BJ’s Wholesale Club.

Additional building permits

8975 Dave Rawls Blvd., demolition of a car-processing building that used to house WWL Vehicle Services America Inc. The property is owned by the Jacksonville Port Authority. The demolition will cost $478,000. Realco Recycling Co. Inc.

50 N. Laura St., Unit 3625, tenant buildout for Jacksonville Tower Florida Realty, $252,583. Adams Interior Contractors Inc.

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12608 Beach Blvd., remodeling to Fifth Third Bank branch, 3,278 square feet, $232,629. Marand Builders Inc.

5960 Beach Blvd, Unit 4, interior remodeling for Quest Diagnostics, 2,676 square feet, $210,000. Payless Construction LLC.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville mall adds Mr. Potato Spread, scraps Regal Cinemas