Demolition Has Begun at Regency Square Mall

Realco Recycling Co. started tearing down the East Mall section of the historic Jacksonville retail center.

Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Openings & Closings

A yellow excavator tears down a concrete mall wall at a construction site in Jacksonville. — Realco Recycling Co. began demolition at the Regency Square Mall in Jacksonville this week, clearing 371,444 square feet to make way for The Nexus at Regency redevelopment project. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Demolition crews have officially started clearing 371,444 square feet of the East Mall structure at the Regency Square Mall. The site is slated for redevelopment into a new project called The Nexus at Regency.

Why it matters

This demolition marks the end of an era for a property that opened in 1967 and serves as a major transition point for the future of the Arlington Expressway site. The redevelopment project seeks to repurpose 77 acres of land previously purchased for over $19 million.

Blackwater Development purchased the 77-acre site for over $19 million. The ongoing demolition of 371,444 square feet of mall space is expected to take six to eight months to complete.

The players

Realco Recycling Co.

This company serves as the primary contractor responsible for the demolition and site clearance of the Regency Square Mall.

Blackwater Development

This investment group purchased the 77-acre property and is overseeing the redevelopment plans for The Nexus at Regency.

JCPenney

The former retail department store building remains on-site and is currently slated for future renovation.

The details

Realco Recycling Co. began the process by targeting the former food court on the north side of the East Mall. Crews are currently capping off walls to protect adjacent structures, including the JCPenney building, which is slated for renovation, and the nearby Impact Church.

The mall originally opened to the public on March 2, 1967.
Retailers closed their doors at the facility in May 2025.
The city approved the official demolition permit in late August 2026.
Demolition work on the East Mall section began on September 20, 2026.
Project activity is expected to continue throughout 2027.

Market Landscape

The demolition follows the pattern set by the 2025 closure of Regency Square Mall as the city moves to clear obsolete retail assets. This transition marks a broader industry trend of converting sprawling legacy shopping centers into mixed-use developments to maximize land value.

Residents should expect ongoing construction activity and noise near the Arlington Expressway through 2027. Local commuters may experience traffic adjustments in the area as the former mall property is transformed into The Nexus at Regency.

The takeaway

The transformation of this site signals a significant shift in Jacksonville land use as outdated retail malls are repurposed for modern commercial needs. Residents can anticipate a long-term construction phase that will eventually alter the landscape of the Regency neighborhood.