Construction begins for Cheney Brothers distribution center

Photo ID: From left, Cheney Brothers COO Shane Simmons, Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin, Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis; Cheney Brothers CEO Byron Russell, Laura Russell, Port St. Lucie Councilwoman Stephanie Morgan, Port St. Lucie Councilman David Pickett, Port St. Lucie City Manager Russ Blackburn, St. Lucie EDC President Pete Tesch

Cheney Brothers, Inc. broke ground April 20 on its distribution center and food service warehouse in Legacy Park at Tradition.

The first phase of the family-owned Florida broadline food distributor’s facility will be a 367,427-square-foot warehouse with refrigeration and freezer space, test kitchen, ancillary offices, 46 loading docks and a fueling station. At completion in mid-2023, the $65 million project’s first phase will bring at least 275 jobs to Port St. Lucie with wages that are 145% of the average earnings per worker in St. Lucie County.

Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis opened the event with remarks about the growth and success of Cheney Brothers and the vitality of Florida’s economy. Patronis has a longstanding connection to Cheney Brothers through the hospitality industry; he is a partner in Captain Anderson’s, a family-owned seafood restaurant that opened in Panama City in 1967.

“The city has been looking forward to this groundbreaking for a long time,” said Port St. Lucie Mayor Shannon Martin. “We were working with Project Bullet before the pandemic slowed things down, so today is a special celebration of the future as we welcome this family-run South Florida institution to Port St. Lucie. The Cheney Brothers groundbreaking is another win for our Southern Grove jobs corridor that will further the city’s strategic goal of building a diverse local economy.”

“The city of Port St. Lucie has provided Cheney Brothers with a warm welcome to the Treasure Coast. The city, county and state have been exceptional to work with, along with the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County,” said Cheney Brothers CEO and Chairman of the Board Byron Russell. “We look forward to completing the new facility in 2023 and we look forward to a very long relationship with the city of Port St Lucie and St. Lucie County. We are glad to be here.”

The new distribution center will be constructed on 53 acres fronting Interstate 95, joining FedEx Ground and an Amazon delivery station in the industrial park. When completed, the facility will service the restaurants, clubs and hotels in the region, and provide a safety net for supplies, if needed, when hurricanes strike. The facility is expected to expand by another 155,100 square feet with a future phase and the company owns 9.28 adjacent acres for additional expansion when needed.

“In opening a new distribution and warehouse facility in St. Lucie County, Cheney Brothers will ultimately be investing more than $65 million in our county. Not only will more than 275 of our residents have the opportunity to secure jobs that pay close to 150% of our county’s average wage, this investment will provide almost $200,000 a year to fund our fire district, more than $400,000 a year to educate our children, and so much more,” said St. Lucie County Commission Chair Sean Mitchell. “As great economic development projects like Cheney Brothers come online, the county’s tax rates can decrease without a reduction in services.”

“Cheney Brothers is thrilled to be expanding to St. Lucie County. The Treasure Coast and Space Coast are growing areas and building a state-of-the-art distribution facility in Port St. Lucie will allow us to better serve our customers,” said Cheney Brothers President John Reisigl.

A South Florida success story, Cheney Brothers was founded in West Palm Beach in 1925, has since expanded its footprint to Georgia and North Carolina and is in its fourth generation of family operation. The company exports to 110 countries and has added divisions such as CBI Kitchen Designs and affiliate business lines such as Simply Nuts, Crazy Fish International, and Grand Western Beef.

After the new facility opens, local businesses and residents will have easy access to Cheney Express, the company’s express pick-up service. Open to the public, Cheney Express offers an option to pick up frozen, refrigerated and dry items directly from the facility.

“Our work with businesses interested in locating here in St. Lucie County is exceptionally gratifying when the company is already in the South Florida region and is coming here to grow its footprint rather than relocate existing jobs,” said Pete Tesch, Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County (EDC) president. “Having the opportunity to help bring more than 275 great jobs to Port St. Lucie and to Florida is a huge win for the city, the county and the state.”

About the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County

The EDC is a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to promoting economic vitality in St. Lucie County through the attraction, retention and expansion of businesses in the community. The EDC works in partnership with local governments and the private sector to advance its goals of creating more and better-paying jobs for residents, broadening the tax base and improving St. Lucie County’s economic quality of life. Contact the EDC at 772.336.6250 or www.youredc.com.

About Cheney Brothers, Inc.

Founded in West Palm Beach in 1925, Cheney Brothers is a Florida-based, family-owned and operated food service company. Cheney Brothers is one of the fastest growing broadline food distributors in the U.S. The company operates various facilities across Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, and also distributes internationally to more than 100 countries. For more information and available positions, visit www.cheneybrothers.com.

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email [email protected]

Apr. 25, 2022|

Interstate Commerce Center receives site plan approval

Interstate Commerce Center Receives Site Plan Approval

The Interstate Commerce Center will have more than 1,300 feet of frontage on Interstate 95.

The Fort Pierce City Commission on Feb. 7 unanimously approved the site plan for Interstate Commerce Center (ICC), a 207,458-gross-square-foot Class-A warehouse building that will front Interstate 95 south of Okeechobee Road on 12.7 acres.

This milestone represents the final land use approval required for JBL Asset Management’s (JBL) development. Groundbreaking is anticipated in the second quarter with occupancy planned for the fourth quarter 2022.

Sited at the northernmost point with close proximity to both of Florida’s main north-south highways – Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike – ICC is located within one mile of both Exit 129 on I-95 and Exit 152 on the turnpike. The facility’s location provides for access to Orlando, Fort Myers and Miami within two hours. The property will have more than 1,300 feet of frontage and direct sight lines to the well-traveled I-95 corridor.

“These distinctive and desirable qualities are driving interest from efficiency-minded businesses seeking brand exposure and quick access to Florida’s most densely populated hubs,” said Michael Rem with JBL. “There is currently quite a bit of product being developed for large users, so we are very excited to be able to offer attractive Class-A facilities for mid-size users with I-95 frontage and excellent access to both the interstate and Florida’s Turnpike.”

When complete, the institutional-grade facility will have 32-foot interior clear heights, a 60-foot speed bay, 60 dock-high loading bays, and four at-grade ramps. The property has been designed to flexibly accommodate tenants ranging from 25,000 to 200,000-plus square feet. Separate parking areas and entrances for employees will prioritize safety and visitor experience.

“Fort Pierce is looking forward to welcoming new businesses to the Interstate Commerce Center. This warehouse space will be ideal for mid-size industrial and manufacturing uses,” said Fort Pierce Mayor Linda Hudson. “Close by is the Treasure Coast International Airport, the Port of Fort Pierce and the Florida East Coast and Brightline Railroads. Fort Pierce, the county seat of St. Lucie County, is known for its safe inlet, connecting the Indian River Lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean, and beautiful, pristine, uncrowded beaches. Employees of any new business locating here will live and work in paradise.”

The property, located at 3800 Crossroads Parkway within the Crossroads Park of Commerce, is being marketed by Cushman & Wakefield, for more information visit www.icommercecenter.com.

“St. Lucie County is well located, with 70% of Florida’s population within a short three-hour drive. Walmart, Amazon, FedEx and others have sited significant distribution operations here and facilities like JBL’s Interstate Commerce Center now make locating in St. Lucie County a fantastic option for companies needing a smaller footprint for their distribution, warehousing and manufacturing operations,” said Jill Marasa, vice president business retention and expansion for the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County (EDC). “Plus, our fast-paced residential growth and the fact that more than 60% of our workforce currently commutes outside the county means we have workers ready, able and willing to build careers in logistics and manufacturing.”

About the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County

About JBL Asset Management

JBL Asset Management is a fully integrated commercial real estate investment firm specializing in the acquisition, development and management of commercial properties in major markets across the country. JBL’s current portfolio spans over 3M square feet and is diversified between retail, multi-family, and industrial properties. JBL’s current development projects include 1,000 multi-family units in various stages of development and 500,000+ SF of ground-up commercial product. For more information: www.jblmgmt.com.

Interstate Commerce Center Leasing Inquiries

Leasing inquiries can be directed to Cushman & Wakefield -- Christopher Thomson, SIOR, executive managing director, [email protected]com, 561.227.2019; Chris Metzger, SIOR, executive managing director, [email protected] 954-415-9155; or Merritt Etner, senior associate, [email protected], 561-990-9706.

Rendering of Interstate Commerce Center as seen from the southbound lanes of I-95.

Treasure Coast Business is a news service and magazine published in print, via e-newsletter and online at https://tcbusiness.com tcbusiness.com by Indian River Media Group. For more information or to report news email mailto:[email protected] [email protected]

Feb. 28, 2022|

Legacy Park/FedEx Ground project receiving national attention

The Sansone Group’s 425-acre development in Port St. Lucie, Legacy Park at Tradition, is receiving national and regional recognition.

The Class-A industrial park is currently home to a FedEx Ground 245,000-square-foot regional sortation center, a 220,000-square-foot Amazon delivery station is anticipated to open this fall, a 327,427-square-foot warehouse and distribution center for Cheney Brothers recently received site plan approval and two speculative facilities available for lease are also under construction.

In January, Business Facilities, a full-service media group that publishes site selection news from around the world, selected Legacy Park from entries throughout the country as its first Industrial Commercial Park Impact Award winner.

“We’re honored to have been awarded the 2021 Impact Award for the Industrial/Commercial Park category by Business Facilities magazine. We understand they had a record number of submissions this year, so it further validates the institutional quality of Legacy Park at Tradition, along with its unmatched location in a very competitive market like South Florida,” said Sansone Group Principal Nick Sansone. “This project is particularly special for us as the park is named after our founder, Anthony F Sansone Sr., and is continuing the legacy he left.”

In addition, nationally circulated Expansion Solutions magazine featured the park along with other county industrial developments in an article headlined “St. Lucie County -- South Florida’s hottest new industrial development market.”

In October 2021, the Florida Economic Development Council named the FedEx project its Urban Deal of the Year Award winner. NAIOP South Florida, the regional commercial real estate development association, selected Legacy Park as a finalist for its Economic Development Deal of the Year award, with winners to be announced in March.

“Legacy Park at Tradition is an exceptional industrial development anchoring the southern end of the city of Port St. Lucie’s jobs corridor along I-95. The Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County (EDC) is very fortunate to have prominent partners like the Sansone Group investing in our community for the long term,” said EDC President Peter Tesch.

The park is located at exit 114 on Interstate 95. At full build-out, Legacy Park will be home to approximately 5.4 million square feet of single- and multi-tenant Class-A, institutional quality light industrial and distribution facilities. Completion is anticipated this spring for the 520,000-square-foot cross-dock and 168,000-square-foot rear-loading speculative facilities currently under construction.

Companies located within the park are anticipated to ultimately employ more than 3,000 area residents.

Legacy Park at Tradition in Port St. Lucie is garnering national and regional accolades.

About the Economic Development Council of St. Lucie County

About Sansone Group

Sansone Group is a family-owned and operated national commercial real estate firm headquartered in St. Louis with six offices across the US. The firm specializes in development, facility management, and brokerage services in commercial and residential sectors. Sansone Group is committed to providing superior and comprehensive commercial real estate services for every customer through teamwork, creativity, hard work, faith, and professionalism. The company was founded in 1957 by Anthony F. Sansone Sr. and is now led by four of his sons as principals of the firm – James, Timothy, Douglas and Nicholas. Contact the Sansone Group at 314.727.6664 or www.sansonegroup.com.

Feb. 21, 2022|

Youth Guidance Receives New Roof from John’s Island Foundation, Individual Donors

Youth Guidance Receives New Roof from John's Island Foundation, Individual Donors

Phil Barnes, Executive Director, and Marcello Ferrari with Rhyne Roofing and Restoration on the Youth Guidance roof.

Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy has a new roof just in time for the new year thanks to the generosity of the local community. Funding for the roof replacement was provided by a generous $75,000 grant from the John’s Island Foundation, a matching donation from Jeff and Shari Wampler, Mary Lewisy, and additional support from individual donors.

The Youth Guidance building, located at 1028 20^th Place, was constructed in 1961. It originally served as Vero Beach’s public library. Youth Guidance purchased the building from Indian River County in 2017.

“There’s a lot happening under our roof – every day, we provide life skills, vocational training, tutoring, and healthy meals for children living in Indian River County,” said Youth Guidance Executive Director Phil Barnes. “Our roof was in dire need of replacement after years of withstanding severe weather and rain. The new roof will help ensure the safety of our children and allow us to launch into our capital campaign.”

Youth Guidance is currently raising funds to completely renovate the interior of its 8,600 square-foot facility. The new plans have been drafted by a local architect and include a workshop for trades programs, a commercial kitchen for culinary arts, dining room, technology lab, library, and multipurpose room.

“I can’t tell you how great it is to have a brand-new roof over our heads,” Barnes said. “This is going to be a game-changer for our kids and our organization.”

Youth Guidance Mentoring Academy is dedicated to enriching the lives of Indian River County youth through mentoring relationships that inspire trust, self-esteem, and positive futures. Founded in 1973, Youth Guidance provides daily meals as well as one-on-one and group mentoring programs to children and young adults ages 5-24 with limited resources.

After school, students complete their homework under the supervision of trained Youth Guidance staff. Then they participate in group mentoring programs that include vocational training, life skills, and STEAM (Science, technology, engineering, arts, and math). All programs and meals are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the local community.

If you are interested in learning more about Youth Guidance, please call 772.492.3933, or visit www.youthguidanceprogram.org.

Rhyne Roofing and Restoration placing material on the Youth Guidance roof.

Dec. 20, 2021|

St. Lucie County undergoing tremendous building boom along commercial corridors

Plentiful land for large-footprint distribution facilities is powering the growth

Jul. 8, 2021|

St. Lucie County launches Port of Fort Pierce master plan update

The central question facing St. Lucie County as it updates the Port of Fort Pierce master plan is how the port will handle future economic and social opportunities.

Jul. 7, 2020|

Massive residential, retail complex could transform downtown Fort Pierce

The 7.2 acres between Indian River Drive and Second Street in downtown Fort Pierce that formerly housed the H.D. King electric plant could be transformed into an $85 million development featuring a hotel, townhomes, condominiums, retail and office space.

Feb. 24, 2020|

Desirable undeveloped tract of land could decide Vero Beach future

While the City of Vero Beach is primarily built out, three highly visible properties are becoming available and the future of Vero Beach itself may depend on how they are developed.

Oct. 14, 2019|