Latitude 30 at the Avenues!

[duvaldude08]

I wish Bay Street Station was still in the plans. But the recession killed ALL of our downtown plans. Man if the recession wouldnt have hit we'd really be booming right now. (sigh) oh well 

[duvaldude08]

no....it is in the old Toys R Us store...which is across from the mall!

since apparently you chose not to read the JBJ article, try looking at their website

Bizjournal links dont work on my phone man, they made some stupid changes to their site & now I can not read any of the mobile articles they used to have. Sux they made changes when the original site was JUST FINE!

I gotta agree with you.  The subscription part of the site works somewhat better, but overall I really don't like the changes to their site!

Agreed also. I HATE their new site. It is so annoying. I am about to get a degree in web design and I am taking notes on what NOT to do. I can say this, metrojacksonville is very user friendly.

[Bewler]

I'm sorry I provided links. Next time I will embed a video presentation and tutorial. LOL.

I'm sorry, I didn't read this comment. Could you provide a streaming audio?

Have you ever been to the Istanbul Grill? Curious how that place is...

It’s actually pretty good. Surprising considering its layout is basically Waffle House with Mid Eastern flair wallpapered over the whole place. They even kept the checkered sign. But yeah, their food is actually really good and their Hookahs are honestly a lot better than Casbah’s. That might just be because they’re still new and not coated with resin on the inside.

[Coolyfett]

no....it is in the old Toys R Us store...which is across from the mall!

since apparently you chose not to read the JBJ article, try looking at their website

Bizjournal links dont work on my phone man, they made some stupid changes to their site & now I can not read any of the mobile articles they used to have. Sux they made changes when the original site was JUST FINE!

I gotta agree with you.  The subscription part of the site works somewhat better, but overall I really don't like the changes to their site!

I used to read bizjournals everyday both Atlanta Business Chronicle & Jacksonville Business Journal, then all of a sudden error error error. Ive even sent them emails saying my phone wont open the URLs...smh! You think most people who read bizjournals are on the go. And why tote around a notebook when my smartphone does many of the same things. So they lost a regular reader by making the changes. As for the bowling alley at Toys R Us. I guess it sounds cool.

[tufsu1]

perhaps they actually want you to pay for the paper?

[Coolyfett]

no

[subro]

It's open....

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=532655

Latitude 30 opens on Southside

01/06/2011
by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer

One of Jacksonville’s newest entertainment businesses is considered “one large restaurant with entertainment options” by its creators.

The one constant at Latitude 30, a new 50,000-square-foot entertainment complex on Philips Highway across from The Avenues Mall, is that food service is available just about anywhere. Food is available at the Sunset 30 Tavern & Grill inside the center or outside on the adjoining patio.

There’s also food in the Skybox Sports Theater; the AXIS Bar; the CineGrille, a 90-seat movie theater; Latitude LIVE, a “Vegas-style showroom”; and The Lanes at Latitude 30, a 20-lane bowling facility equipped with plush leather couches.

“We developed this concept for a small ski town in Colorado, (called) Winter Park,” said Jacksonville native Damon Brush, founding partner of Latitude 30.

“We found that it fit in that setting and I saw there was nothing like this in my hometown, so we looked into bringing the concept to Jacksonville.”

The project cost $11 million.

A site at the St. Johns Town Center was considered, but the former Toys R Us store on Philips Highway offered a building, parking and access that suited the needs of the project.

“We are centrally located, so we can attract people from Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties,” said Brush.

The entertainment venue is promoted among several age groups, featuring 90 high-definition televisions, bowling, interactive video and prize games, billiards and movies.

The bowling facility is the first Brunswick Bowling and Billiards rep Eric Lindfors remembers being built in Jacksonville in the past 40 years.

The pin setters can be programmed to allow bowlers to practice knocking down specific combinations of pins, like the bedpost or 7-10 split. Also, each of the lanes is equipped with bumpers for younger bowlers. They can be deployed and retracted at the press of a button.

Another feature is the ticketless arcade. Some arcade games dispense tickets that customers can collect to redeem for prizes at the end of their stay. The machines at Latitude 30 record those credits on a game card, which eliminates the strands of tickets that can be accumulated in a night and also reduces expense of supplying the tickets.

The employees managing and staffing the complex are provided by Trifecta Management Group, which was hired by Brush and co-developer Brent Brown to manage the day-to-day operation of the complex.

General Manager Adam Kleinhenz oversees a staff of about 110 employees, including 14 salaried managers. He expects the staff to expand to about 130 within the month.

“We want to provide a fun experience for every age group. Adults can have just as much fun in the arcade as the kids can,” said Kleinhenz.

Latitude 30 is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday-Wednesday; 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Thursday-Friday; and 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday.


jwilhelm@baileypub.com

[simms3]

Saw that.  I can't believe we haven't had a new bowling facility built in the last 40 years!  If downtown picks up, maybe a small but upscale bowling spot like Ten Pin or Lucky Strikes could go in the Landing or nearby.

[RWNeal]

So it's basically Dave & Buster's with bowling added on?

[copperfiend]

I am pretty sure Dave & Buster's doesn't have a movie theater either.

[tufsu1]

or a live theater (for comedy shows and such) for that matter

[RWNeal]

or a live theater (for comedy shows and such) for that matter

Point. I kind of missed that part since they seem to be pressing the games so much.

[mtraininjax]

11 million on a new concept. I wish them all the luck in the world!

[tufsu1]

well based on this weekend (where people had mto wait 3+ hours for a lane) sounds like they'll do ok

[Shwaz]

I went to Latitudes last Friday. It was packed. The restaurant was nice and casual... we didn't eat there but I looked over the menu and the pricing seems reasonable with sandwiches and entrees from $7 - $12. The drinks were a pleasant surprise. I had an old fashioned and a mojito - both were tasty and affordable at $6. The bartender took her time muddling cherries for my drink and seemed generally concerned about if I liked it or not.  

The cinema looked to me like anything you might find in a big sports bar with a bunch of giant screens on top of screens on top of other screens. I'm not sure if it's solely for sports or if they show movies etc.

The bowling alley was by far the main attraction. The leather couches and coffee tables gave it a real loungy type living room feel. They did a great job on set up at the lanes. All the bowlers looked very comfy and it nice to have your drink with unlike regular bowling alleys.

The arcade, live music and DJ were lack luster imo - The band was a talented 4 piece with an acoustic guitar player / singer front man... but their entire set was bastardized pop cover song medleys that all sounded the same from start to finish. The DJ picked up in between sets blasting popular hip-hop and dance music and uncomfortably loud levels. To me it kind of ruins the lounge vibe.

All in all it seems like a nice new addition to the southside. I'll go again for some bowling, cocktails and appetizers with friends for sure.