Even though downtown Ocala will be losing one of its major tenants with Bank of America, the new expected tenant will hopefully and more than likely be another bank.
The current location is a prime spot, situated just off of the square at Southeast First Avenue and Broadway Street. A bank has been occupying that corner since 1887, so it only seems appropriate that another bank will be moving in.
The downtown Bank of America branch is closing August 23rd based on the lack of traffic to the branch. Customers who need to visit a branch will still be able to go to the Southeast 17th Street and/or Silver Springs Boulevard location just west of 25th Avenue.
The increase in use and functionality of mobile and online banking has made actual bank branches less and less necessary, as is the case for the downtown location.
The U.S Attorney’s office, which is located in the same building as Bank of America, will not be leaving. Perhaps Lake City-based Columbia Bank or Chiefland-based Drummond Community Bank, who have recently expanded to Marion County, would like to set up a branch where Bank of America will be vacating.
The group that owns this building also owns the Marion Block Building, the building that houses Mark’s Prime Steakhouse and the building that houses the former home of the Melting Pot restaurant. The latter space will soon be home to an upscale barbecue joint that is already under construction.
For more details on the changes and development underway in downtown Ocala and at the sqaure, read the full article at ocala.com.
