J&J's Market site sells for $2.4 million

The developer planning a mixed-use project at the corner of Broadway and 20th Avenue South in Midtown has paid $2.4 million for the longtime home of J&J's Market & Cafe.

Land Development.com's purchase of the 0.30-acre site at 1912 Broadway gives the company led by Ardavan Afrakhteh a larger site for its project that's expected to include condos, apartments, a hotel and retail space.

The footprint for that project also includes the adjacent buildings that are home to the Noshville diner and the former home of Manuel American Designs. Land Development.com already owns the former Manuel location and has a pending contract to buy the Noshville building.

A public hearing is set for Tuesday before Metro Council on the company's request for specific plan zoning for nearly an acre. Last month, Land Development.com got a favorable recommendation from the Metro Planning Commission that included a limit of 350 residential units for the project.

"It's going to be a great asset to the neighborhood," Joe Johnson, who sold the home of J&J Market to Land Development.com, said about the planned project, which at one time was expected to involve a 25-story structure.

In 1972 Johnson's now-deceased father, Jay Johnson, opened the J-J's Market convenience store at the location where he previously had operated Dodge Cleaners since the '50s. Jay Johnson sold the business in the early '80s but continued to the own the property, which Land Development.com just bought.

At one time, music venue Bluegrass Inn, which was frequented by well-known acts, occupied the back portion of the building. The former health food store Sunshine Grocery was once the tenant for the space in the building now occupied by Midtown Gallery.

Sam Huh, the owner of J&J's Market, didn't return calls Wednesday to ascertain his plans now that the location has been sold.

Reach Getahn Ward at 615-726-5968 and on Twitter @getahn.