Enson Market quietly unlocked its doors this week in the former Winn-Dixie on Old St. Augustine Road, turning a familiar southside supermarket shell into a sprawling international market. During its soft opening, the revamped store stocked aisles with imported pantry staples, fresh Asian produce and live-seafood tanks, while managers teased a full grand-opening celebration for the Southside in the near future. The debut adds one more player to a rapidly expanding field of specialty grocers in Northeast Florida.
What shoppers found inside
Early customers reported a broad mix of items tailored to Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asian cooking, along with hot-pot kits and ready-to-eat options, according to the Florida Times-Union. The paper noted that the store comes in at roughly 40,000 square feet and has been drawing steady midday crowds during the soft launch. It also reported that Enson is part of a multi-state chain, with other locations already operating in Gainesville and Orlando.
A Winn-Dixie transformed
The property at 11101 Old St. Augustine Road previously operated as a Winn-Dixie before changing hands and undergoing a full conversion into its current format, as detailed by the Jacksonville Business Journal. The outlet also reported that Enson Market plans a larger grand-opening event on Jacksonville’s southside once the final build-out is complete.
Part of a broader retail trend
Enson’s arrival follows a run of Asian-focused grocery openings in the area, including Lotte Plaza Market and RD International Market, which have begun to shift where locals go for imported ingredients, according to the Jax Daily Record. The Daily Record also notes that Teso Life, a Japanese lifestyle retailer, recently received a permit to build out a nearby Arlington location, a move that highlights growing national interest in Northeast Florida retail sites. For shoppers, the boom means more choices on the shelves, and probably a little more circling the lot for a parking space during peak hours.
What to expect next
Expect busy weekends and fuller parking lots over the next few weeks as curious shoppers explore the specialty sections and fresh seafood counters. Store managers told reporters they will tweak inventory based on customer feedback, and nearby residents say the market fills a long-standing gap on Jacksonville’s southside. We will update this story once Enson Market releases its official store hours and grand-opening date.
