Wawa-Mangetsu top new wave of downtown changes

MELBOURNE — Demolition equipment made short work of the aging buildings near Mangetsu Sushi Bar & Korean BBQ this week, clearing room for the future Wawa at U.S. 1 and Strawbridge Avenue.

Mangetsu will close Aug. 27, then reopen a few months later at 841 E. New Haven Ave. The restaurant's relocation highlights a recent wave of retail-commercial changes across downtown Melbourne.

Though the move is only about three blocks westward, Mangetsu will relocate from a highway-style intersection to the pedestrian-friendly heart of the historic downtown.

"Once we have an opening date, we will be posting on Facebook for everyone to know. Thank you to all our supporters, we are more than gracious to have you and we hope to see you soon!" restaurant staffers posted Friday on Facebook.

Wawa won approval from the Melbourne City Council back in March to construct a convenience store with 16 fueling stations. Falling to the wrecking ball this week: a long-abandoned gas station, the old 60 Minute Cleaners, and the multi-unit storefront facing U.S. 1.

The storefront at 841 E. New Haven Ave. was formerly Fancy Flamingo. An electrical fire gutted the women's clothing shop in September 2011, ruining the interior. Fancy Flamingo later reopened across the street.

Four doors down from the future Mangetsu, Hurricane Creek Saloon — a country-western restaurant-bar — is slated to open soon inside the former PC Keats.

And next door to the future Mangetsu, Isabella's is winding down its store-closing sale, which kicked off in early June.

"After careful consideration, our family has made the difficult decision to close Isabella's. The changes in the retail world have made operating a brick & mortar business very challenging. We have given it our all, but despite our best efforts, will need to close our doors for good by the end of the summer," Isabella's officials posted on Facebook.

Other recent downtown Melbourne developments:

• Melbourne Main Street is moving its office to Vernon Place after operating on Municipal Lane for more than a decade. The new office opens Sept. 1.

• The Baby Patch is closing at month's end after 29 years due to retirement. The store's Waverly Place wall features the Florida Institute of Technology panther mural.

• Nourish (formerly Indian River Soap) is moving from 804 E. New Haven Ave. to 849 E. New Haven Ave., the former Go Fish Clothing & Jewelry Co. storefront.

• Jasmine Hookah Café & Lounge is slated to open inside the shuttered Vapor Spirits and Hookah building. The new venture is a second location of Lotus Hookah Café & Lounge on Babcock Street. Target opening date: Oct. 1.

The Wawa developer, Matthew Development, also started razing buildings this week — Cheryl Smith Realty, a LifeStyle Homes office and Indulge Hair Salon — to clear room for Palm Bay's first Wawa at Malabar Road and Emerson Drive.

Matthew Development is also building a Melbourne Wawa at Eau Gallie and John Rodes boulevards.

Contact Neale at 321-242-3638, rneale@floridatoday.com or follow @RickNeale1 on Twitter.