underbelly moving downtown

[t sizzle]

this might be old news, but just found out this weekend that underbelly is moving into the old ivy bar downtown.

[Dashing Dan]

I had thought that Underbellys was going to go into CoRK.  Score a win for downtown!

[TPC]

News to me. I hope they can keep the same vibe they had in 5 Points, I always enjoyed being able to see some low key local acts and sip on some good beer. Their backyard was a good draw that separated them from the typical indoor club/bar venue.

[tufsu1]

this is not old news...but it had been kept under wraps for the past few months...guess this means the deal has been inked

[Tacachale]

I heard this too, from the owner. The space is apparently around 4000 square feet, which is a lot bigger than the former Underbelly (and most of the other venues in town). This is great news for downtown and local music in general.

[Adam W]

It definitely sounds like a step in the right direction. Downtown entertainment venue options have really taken a hit over the past 10 years or so. I remember when the Milk Bar, the Moto Lounge and the Paradome were all open and near one another. It seemed like things were really headed in the right direction.

I heard the city generally works to limit the number of bars downtown, but that could always be just a conspiracy theory. Something about alcohol and Baptists.

[Tacachale]

^There was a conspiracy theory that First Baptist was buying up liquor licenses to make them harder to get. That one's not true.

The city doesn't specifically work against bars of most kinds (full-nude strip clubs are one notable exception), but there are some conditions that make it more difficult downtown. Largely this has less to do with the city (or churches) than it does with the general state of downtown, but for its part the city isn't making it any easier. For instance there's no reason sidewalk seating shouldn't be available for all bars downtown, but they still restrict it despite the proven results it's had since 2006.

[comncense]

Though I love the fact that ANYTHING being an addition to nightlife downtown and filling in formerly empty spaces, it seems downtown's venues are becoming a little one-dimensional. This is just my opinion of course. With TSI, Underbelly, 1910 (the spot next to LIT), Burro Bar and occasionally Dive Bar and Dos Gatos occasionally hosting live music, is there enough diversity in the acts they are hosting for each of them to be able to survive for the long run? For lack of a better word, if they are all hosting 'indie' type of bands, aren't you just dividing that audience up?

[CityLife]

Though I love the fact that ANYTHING being an addition to nightlife downtown and filling in formerly empty spaces, it seems downtown's venues are becoming a little one-dimensional. This is just my opinion of course. With TSI, Underbelly, 1910 (the spot next to LIT), Burro Bar and occasionally Dive Bar and Dos Gatos occasionally hosting live music, is there enough diversity in the acts they are hosting for each of them to be able to survive for the long run? For lack of a better word, if they are all hosting 'indie' type of bands, aren't you just dividing that audience up?

The thing is there are different "scenes" within the live music world. So the music played at some of the venues is quite different. Dos Gatos is the DT bar I go to most frequently and I never see "live music" there. They have DJ's, but its always been bar 1st, music 2nd.

Also, the indie, hipster, artsy kids are the ones that frequent DT bars. They are more likely to live in the surrounding neighborhoods (R/A, San Marco, Springfield). Many cities are first "revitalized" by the arts scene, the hipsters, the gays before the mainstream follows. Heck Jax Beach was a way different place 10-15 years ago. If you wore a collared shirt to The Ritz or Lynch's you'd get laughed at. Now its a totally different scene and more mainstream.

These bars are the pioneers and eventually the mainstream will follow. I just hope that DT bar/music scene can keep some of its edginess, independence,  and character if or when that happens.

[Tacachale]

Something else to keep in mind is that there's a huge dearth in live music venues across the metro area. The audience is much larger than the number of venues would suggest. If these places keep the quality of the acts and the experience up to their audience's expectations (Underbelly was always great for that), I have no doubt they'll be successful.

Plus, some more direct competition should be good for the concert scene locally. For many years the experience of the Jacksonville concert goer has involved a fair lack of options and a whole lot of driving to diffuse parts of town. This should have a positive impact on the culture.

[RockStar]

@Common, You'd be amazed at the variety of live music, dance and other edm that is going on downtown every week. The 1904 guys are bringing in touring acts as does Phoenix, TSI, Burro and Poppy, so it's not just the same local bands. Considering that every week you can hear dub step, hip hop, punk, indie, garage, metal, hardcore, etc it's a bit short sighted to call it one dimensional. In fact, the downtown music scene is the most diverse in the city. I saw Glen Campbell last week, Jake Shimabukuro Fri. I can see local faves Opiate Eyes this Sat at DG for their CD release party. Jane's Addiction in May... I could go on. Include Jack Rabbits in the mix, and forget about it...more dimensions than a playmate... 

That being said, I'm sure Underbelly will only add to the scene and add vibrancy to that first part of Bay St.

[comncense]

I stand corrected. Overall I just want downtown nightlife to survive. I've visited 99% of the venues downtown and I just hope that each business is able to be successful and not be a flash in the pan.

[ben says]

I stand corrected. Overall I just want downtown nightlife to survive. I've visited 99% of the venues downtown and I just hope that each business is able to be successful and not be a flash in the pan.

+1.

Anyone visit Poppy Love regularly? Whenever I go to Chomp Chomp, it sounds like they're having a great time in there, and the music is good.

[jaxlore]

interesting. ivy bar would need a complete overhaul to have the same vibe that underbelly had. i hope this comes to fruition.

[Adam W]

^There was a conspiracy theory that First Baptist was buying up liquor licenses to make them harder to get. That one's not true.

The city doesn't specifically work against bars of most kinds (full-nude strip clubs are one notable exception), but there are some conditions that make it more difficult downtown. Largely this has less to do with the city (or churches) than it does with the general state of downtown, but for its part the city isn't making it any easier. For instance there's no reason sidewalk seating shouldn't be available for all bars downtown, but they still restrict it despite the proven results it's had since 2006.

Yeah, I hadn't heard the one about liquor licenses, but that sounds far-fetched. I heard that the Baptists in the gov't didn't want a bunch of bars downtown - they wanted it to be more 'family friendly.' So they would do what they could to force the bars to close down. The accusations I heard dealt with the fire marshal. But it could all be a bunch of BS.

It's like the whole food truck thing. Clearly there is opposition for some reason (at least in the case of DVI). Some vested interest of sorts. But food trucks certainly can't make downtown any WORSE. They can only help or do nothing. It's worth a shot.

It's sad.