Jekyll Island is looking for shops and restaurants to fill 35,000 square feet of new retail space planned for the state park.

Jones Hooks, executive director for the Jekyll Island Authority, says information packets have been sent to potential tenants. The authority that operates the state-owned island had to take over the retail development recently after its private developer partner was forced out of the project because it lacked the money to begin construction.

Hooks told the authority's board Tuesday that plans call for three retail buildings with space for 15 shops and two restaurants.

The retail space is part of a larger makeover to jumpstart tourism and convention business on Jekyll Island. Project manager Jim Broadwell says retail construction should begin this fall and wrap up within a year.

Tags: tourism, Jekyll Island, Jekyll Island Authority