Streetwear and sneaker chain DTLR is planning to build out a new store at Southside Commons, the Arlington shopping center just north of the former Regency Square Mall. The city of Jacksonville issued a permit for Vision General Contractors of GA LLC to construct 7,516 square feet of interior space at 651 Commerce Center Drive, adding a sales floor, fitting room and stockroom to the existing tenant space.
The project marks an interior alteration to an existing space rather than new construction, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record, which first reported the permit filing in a story by Karen Brune Mathis. Vision General Contractors is based in Summerville, South Carolina, with a Florida office in Port Orange handling the local buildout.
Southside Commons sits at the southeast corner of Southside Connector and Tredinick Parkway in the Regency area of Arlington, anchored by the Church of Eleven22. Landlord Sleiman Enterprises counts Planet Fitness, Michaels and Ross Dress for Less among the center's other tenants at the 297,764-square-foot property, which spans 27.29 acres and was built in 2004, according to Commercial Search.
A National Chain With Deep Mid-Atlantic Roots
DTLR describes itself on its website as your go-to destination for streetwear, sportswear and sneakers, carrying Nike, Air Jordan retro styles, Adidas and New Balance shoes alongside apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The chain is based in Hanover, Maryland, and operates more than 400 stores across 26 states.
The Southside Commons location would give DTLR seven area locations, including former City Gear stores it acquired at Anchor Plaza, Normandy Village and Santa Monica Center. The chain already has four Northeast Florida stores at Gateway Town Center, Highland Square, River City Marketplace and Orange Park Mall.
DTLR traces its history to 1982, when it launched in Baltimore as Downtown Locker Room before rebranding and merging with Philadelphia-based Sneaker Villa Inc. in 2017 to form DTLR Villa, growing from 43 Mid-Atlantic stores into a national chain, according to SGB Media. UK-based sportswear conglomerate JD Sports Fashion plc acquired DTLR Villa LLC for $495 million in February 2021, supplying the retailer with substantial international capital as it expanded nationally, per Front Office Sports.
That backing has scaled considerably since. As of June 2026, JD Sports operates more than 2,500 stores across North America under five retail banners — including DTLR, Finish Line, Hibbett and Shoe Palace — with the region now generating 38% of the company's global revenue, according to filings tracked by OTC Markets Group. North America has surpassed the UK as JD Sports' largest operating market. DTLR has also modernized its operations behind the scenes, partnering with retail technology provider Jumpmind in January 2025 to roll out mobile point-of-sale and inventory software across 2,000 Android devices in its stores.
Southside Commons Repositions Around Family Entertainment
The DTLR buildout arrives as Sleiman Enterprises reshapes Southside Commons with new anchors beyond traditional apparel retail. The landlord received city permit review in June 2026 for contractor Greenlogic LLC to begin interior demolition on the center's closed 80,000-square-foot Bealls space, clearing the way for NRG Adventure Park, an indoor extreme playground with climbing walls and zip lines. Sleiman also expanded quick-service dining at the center in May 2025 with a Buffalo Wild Wings GO location in Suite 140.
Regency Corridor Undergoes Major Transformation
Southside Commons sits directly across from what was once Regency Square Mall, now rebranded The Nexus at Regency after developer Blackwater Development acquired the 77-acre property for $19.1 million in April 2025. Demolition preparation began in July 2026 on the mixed-use project, which will replace the enclosed mall with apartments, retail outparcels, offices and internal streets, according to Action News Jax. City utility filings in April 2026 also identified Circle K as the tenant planning a 5,200-square-foot gas station and convenience store with eight fuel pumps on a 1.42-acre outparcel at the corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Monument Road.
The redevelopment hasn't been without friction. Mall tenant Impact Church filed a lawsuit in February 2026 against developer Blackwater Regency LLC and founder Rurmell McGee, alleging breach of contract, misrepresentation and service reductions following the mall purchase. The church claims it contributed $101,000 toward initial acquisition costs before being excluded from ownership, according to News4JAX. Hoodline has tracked the mall's outparcel approvals as the surrounding corridor continues to shift, with new retail like a NetCost Market grocery store also planted nearby and older tenants such as Ruby Tuesday departing the area after 24 years.
