Pizza, taproom downtown

There's more development activity in downtown Pensacola at 10 and 12 Palafox Place, the former Margarita's Mexican Restaurant and Pillars Gifts. Both locations, owned by Jim Flournoy, are being leased to Corey Fogarty, who will start renovations as soon as permits are issued.

"We are marrying the two spaces by taking out the wall between and leaving an exposed-beam open space, and renovating the building to upgrade the interior," Fogarty said.

His plans include naming his new business Hopjacks Pizza Kitchen and Taproom.

"We would like to create an environment of class, excitement and fun," Fogarty said.

Plans call for an approximately 4,000-square-foot, full-service restaurant/pizza kitchen and bar/taproom serving "top quality pizza with specialty meats, cheeses, fresh herbs and imported ingredients."

There will be courtyard seating, plus over 150 seats inside.

Hopjacks will have a full bar, if approved, and will feature both bottle and tap beer, and will be open at night and weekends.

"My business partner, a five-star, five-diamond chef, and I considered a number of locations and we felt that, for our concept, the most appropriate one was in the downtown Pensacola area. The climate here is one of excitement and growth, and the City of Pensacola is very supportive to new businesses," Fogarty said.

Fogarty is submitting plans to the city this week. He estimates construction will take about four weeks and is planning for a mid-November opening.