The St. Joe Co. teaming with Johnson & Johnson to bring a Busy Bee fuel station and convenience store to northwest Florida.
The St. Joe Co. and Johnson & Johnson Inc. announced a joint venture to construct, own and manage a Busy Bee branded fuel station and convenience store at the corner of Nautilus Street and Panama City Beach Parkway (Highway 98) in Panama City Beach, Fla.
The Nautilus Busy Bee station is currently expected to include a c-store of approximately 13,000 square feet with an anticipated 14 fuel pumps and a carwash. It will be constructed on approximately 2.6 acres owned by St. Joe.
Johnson & Johnson, a 3rd generation family-owned business doing business as “Busy Bee”, which owns and operates Busy Bee stores in Florida and Georgia, is intended to be part owner in the Nautilus Busy Bee and manage the day to day operations of the joint venture and the Nautilus Busy Bee station. It’s anticipated the Nautilus Busy Bee will be the largest convenience store in the region and is intended to be the first of multiple Northwest Florida Busy Bee stores as part of the joint venture, with additional specific locations to be determined in the future.
Busy Bee stores are known for their unique selection of gourmet foods and merchandise, as well as their impeccably clean and well outfitted facilities and restrooms. Busy Bee has created a loyal customer following, and due to popular demand of its Busy Bee branded products, also launched an online store.
PANAMA CITY
Located at the signalized intersection of Panama City Beach Parkway and Nautilus Street, approximately one-and-half miles east of the lifestyle and entertainment centers of Pier Park and Pier Park North as well as in close proximity of the new Panama City Beach Sports Complex, the parties believe the Nautilus Busy Bee, once developed, will be well positioned to meet the fuel and convenience needs of traveling families and local residents.
“We are thrilled to partner with the St. Joe Company to bring a Busy Bee fuel station and convenience store to Northwest Florida,” said Elizabeth Waring, principal and CEO of Johnson and Johnson. “We look forward to serving the residents and travelers of this beautiful region and showing them why so many people love our Busy Bee stores.”
“The Busy Bee joint venture is another advancement of our strategy to pursue recurring operating income in a risk managed way for the creation of long term shareholder value,” said Jorge Gonzalez, president and CEO of St. Joe. “We believe Busy Bee has created a successful operation and an incredible brand following. We look forward to forming a great partnership and introducing Busy Bee to Northwest Florida.”