Dirty Dough Cookie Franchise Opens First Store In North Florida Market

 Congratulations to Caleb and Jalen Hutchinson and Stu Music for opening the first Dirty Dough Cookie franchise in the North Florida market. Known for its two featured products – decadent, baked-inside-out cookies and Dirty sodas and shakes, customized with various exotic flavors, the franchise is expanding from the west to the east coast markets. Stu, a Jacksonville native, is experienced in food franchise as an owner of Firehouse Subs in Colorado. The Hutchinsons, who have experience in business marketing and restaurant management, moved from Arizona to open and run the North Florida store. Open only for 4 weeks, their favorite product, chocolate chip cookies, are selling out by 1 pm. Plus, the store has quickly become the late night place for deserts and treats. And the store is set up to offer cookies as corporate gifts. Ed Randall, the Northeast Florida Market SBA/USDA Lender for Central Bank was able to arrange the SBA loan that made the investment possible. Dirty Dough Cookies is located at 90 Durbin Pavilion Drive (off Racetrack Road) and is open 7 days a week. Dirty Dough Cookies is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturdays. They can be contacted at stjohns@dirtydoughfl.com or call 702-556-2804. In this photo, Les is joined by (from left to right) Caleb and Jalen Hutchinson and Stu Music.

Eddie Daivid Creates New Jacksonville Automotive Empire

 Look out Northeast Florida, there is a Jacksonville entrepreneur who is rapidly expanding his automotive empire. Eddie David, an eight year veteran in the automotive industry, took a break and traveled around the world for a year. Then he came back to Jacksonville and hit the automotive industry hard by bringing together several businesses that serve customers’ various automotive needs. His most recent acquisition was a 39 year-old, well respected body shop, he named San Marco Paint and Body. With help from broker Julie Brigman of Transworld Business Advisors and Ed Randall, Central Bank’s Northeast Florida Market SBA/USDA Lender, Eddie acquired the business and property in a two and a half month closing time. In just a few months, Eddie has doubled the number of cars serviced per month than the previous owners. In addition to body and paint work for individuals, commercial fleet companies and insurance carriers, he also performs complete auto restorations. But the body shop is only part of Eddie’s automotive business. He also owns a used car lot and the Arlington Goodyear Tire and Service Center. There’s no telling how far this young businessman is going to expand. The shop is located at 3463 St. Augustine Road, Jacksonville (904-398-1127; SanMarcoPaintBody.com). Eddie is on the right in this “Lunch with Les” photo.