A Zaxby’s, the chicken-finger chain, was under construction on Alabama 59 in Gulf Shores, on a lot in front of the Winn-Dixie Shopping Center, according to Tim Herrington of Herrington Realty, who handled the land lease. Next door, Merchant & Marine Bank was undergoing a major renovation; the Mississippi-based bank had bought the former Heritage First Bank building in 2011.
Orange Beach Rezoning
The owners of six beachfront lots on Perdido Beach Boulevard, southwest of Alabama 182 and 161 in Orange Beach, sought to rezone the property from multifamily residential to beach-resort high density, according to city records. The zoning would allow hotels and resort-related businesses. The Gulf Coast Opportunity Fund LP owned those lots and two adjacent ones, paying more than $12 million the previous year for 10.5 acres with 1,005 feet of Gulf frontage, part of the former Mandalay Beach condominium site.
Mobile Deals
A local investor paid $45,000 for a 6,400-square-foot former post office building on Caroline Avenue in Midtown Mobile, according to Pratt Thomas of the Merrill P. Thomas Company. German Automotive leased 2,250 square feet at 3747 Government St., near Interstate 65, according to Angela McArthur of the Prudential Cooper & Co. commercial division.
Acme’s Parking Solution
Construction was expected to begin soon on the 12,179-square-foot Acme Oyster House at 216 E. 24th St. in Gulf Shores. To satisfy zoning requirements for a 408-seat restaurant, the owners agreed to pay the city $3,000 per space to use 120 spaces in a public parking area on East 24th Street. The site itself was not large enough to accommodate both the restaurant and its required parking, so the $360,000 payment allowed Acme to count the public spaces toward its allotment and conform with city zoning laws. Elsewhere in Gulf Shores, GooRoo’s Grill planned to open in the former Bella Luna building at 1209 Gulf Shores Parkway, city records showed.